Runaway

Starred review from December 7, 2020
In a stunning picture book debut, historian Shepard pens a free verse poem addressing Ona Judge, a young Black woman who emancipated herself from George and Martha Washing-ton’s ownership. Born to an enslaved Black seamstress and a white indentured servant, Ona grew up conscripted as a playmate for the Washingtons’ grandchildren until she was taken from her mother at age 16 and made a personal servant to Martha Washington. Employing the refrain “Why you run Ona Judge?” Shepard crafts impactful metaphors (“You were his money walking out the door”) and incisive questions, exposing the fallacy of Ona’s “good” treatment by conveying the inherent dehumanization that she and other enslaved people experienced. Tonal paintings by Mallett incorporate fabric collage, lending a sense of both immediacy and historicity. An evocative portrait that keenly interrogates the structures upon which America is built. Back matter includes an author’s note, timeline, bibliography, acknowledgments, and list of places to visit. Ages 3–6.

December 1, 2020
The true story of a young enslaved woman who escapes the family of George Washington. "Ona Judge, Ona Judge / Why you run away / Ona Judge?" So begins this inquiry into her quest for freedom; the question is repeated throughout the narrative. "You had fine dresses [and] soft shoes" and other material benefits most enslaved people lacked. Ona is passed around the Washington family, first a playmate for the children, then a personal servant and seamstress for Martha Washington, never working in the fields. But when an aging Martha gives Ona to her granddaughter Eliza, "now a mean and sassy woman," Ona walks out into the Philadelphia night. Here, the tenor of the text changes--"Didn't you know you broke the law?"--and the illustrations become dark as she makes her way around corners and hides in a basement. A framed picture--a departure from the full-bleed pages and spreads that depicts the current action--gives a glimpse of her future family life: "You dreamed a dream / You would make true." As she reaches a boat, and freedom, day breaks and readers see the first hint of Ona's smile. "Then run, Ona Judge, run." With a distinctive, haunting voice, powerful images, and thought-provoking story structure, this unique look at a remarkable young woman's life choices and decisions offers an utterly necessary but seldom highlighted perspective on the contradictions within our society's foundations. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.1% of actual size.) A powerful antidote to whitewashed cultural mythology. (author's note, timeline, bibliography, places to visit) (Informational picture book. 4-9)

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December 1, 2020
Grades K-2 Safety and freedom are the considerations Ona Judge must weigh in this historical picture book based on the life of a woman enslaved by Martha Washington. In the scenes of Judge's early life, she is always shown marginalized, frowning off to the side of her illustrious owners. "Why you run, Ona Judge?" is the narrator's refrain, which initially is supported by the idea that the young, Black woman's life was relatively privileged: she didn't work in the fields, was well fed and clothed, and saw history being made in the president's house. But Shepard quickly exposes the lie of that argument, showing that Judge had no choice in whether she stayed with her mother or even was given to someone else, and the reasons to run away, further emphasized by Mallet's finely detailed illustrations, will be self-evident to young readers. An author's note, time line, bibliography, and list of places to visit add important ways to help children gain a more nuanced view of American history. A fine addition to all collections.

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