Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis, C. P. (2007). Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic.

“Looky there, look at that land! Look at those trees! Have you ever seen anything that precious? It’s the land of the free!”

Elijah Freeman, was the first child to be born free in the Buxton settlement in Canada West, but unfortunately for him that wasn’t the only memory people associated with his name. The folks couldn’t seem to forget when Frederick Douglass came to the settlement and the accident that happened. The grown folks didn’t talk about how good Elijah was at rock chunking and how quickly he could fill a stringer with a nice collection of perch and bass.

In the story, Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis, you get a glimpse into the Buxton Mission of Raleigh that was established in 1849, through the eyes of Elijah, a soon to be twelve year old fragile boy. You will get to read about historical elements so prevalent in the time this story was set including the Underground Railroad, stories of abolitionists and slavers, and the Liberty Bell purchased from Pittsburgh by slaves to ring in the freedom of the new slaves escaping to Buxton.

If you choose to read this amazing story you will find the answer to these question and so many other things to keep you interested and the pages turning: What was the accident with Mr. Douglass? What happened when the carnival came to Buxton? Why does Mr. Leroy slap Elijah to the ground? Why is everyone always thinking Elijah is fragile? Why does Elijah travel to America when there is such a risk of him being caught by paddy-rollers?

Just like the folks in Buxton ask the new-free slaves when they arrive, when you read this book all you will be left wondering is “What kept you?”