The Escape of Robert Smalls: A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery

by Jehan Jones-Radgowski, Poppy Kang (Illustrator)

Overview

The mist in Charleston Inner Harbor was heavy, but not heavy enough to disguise the stolen Confederate steamship, the Planter, from Confederate soldiers. In the early hours of May 13, 1862, in the midst of the deadly U.S. Civil War, an enslaved man named Robert Smalls was about to carry out a perilous plan of escape. Standing at the helm of the ship, Smalls impersonated the captain as he and his crew passed heavily armed Confederate forts to enter Union territory, where escaped slaves were given shelter. The suspenseful escape of the determined crew is celebrated with beautiful artwork and insightful prose, detailing the true account of an unsung American hero.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781543512816
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	09/01/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,125,407
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	740L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jehan Jones-Radgowski is the author of seven children's books. She received a bachelor's degree from George Mason University and her M.A. from George Washington University. She is also a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. She has lived with her three kids, husband, and dog worldwide, including the Dominican Republic, Germany, South Africa, Spain, the Russian Federation, the United States, and Venezuela.

Interviews

#OwnVoices; A little known story of courage, hope, and peril during the Civil War era, this book presents a narrative of the escape of Robert Smalls, an enslaved man who went on to become an American Congressman and hero.; Back matter provides additional historical context to Robert Smalls' escape and his life as a free man.; Consultant reviewed this material to ensure historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity.

Editorial Reviews

Using the cover of night, Robert Smalls, a black man born into slavery on April 5, 1839, in Beaufort, SC, disguised himself as the captain of the Planter, a Confederate steamship. The Confederation relied on the Planter to transport weapons. Getting caught would ensure a harsh punishment and guaranteed capture, perhaps even death. Smalls and the crew, enslaved men seeking freedom, traveled the perilous journey in the early hours of May 13, 1862, past several heavily armed Confederate forts. Their goal was to meet their families hiding in secret then enter Union territory where escaped slaves were given shelter. It would involve a ten-mile journey and a careful entry to their destination so as not to be mistaken for actual Confederates. Their story is told in this beautifully crafted book through suspenseful artwork and perceptive prose. It is a tale of courage and hopes alongside the peril of the Civil War era. Robert Smalls made that escape and later went on to become an American Congressman and a hero.

The Children's Book Review - Dr. Laura Kieselbach

This treats slavery and the very real threats faced by Robert Smalls and those who escaped with him honestly but without graphic detail. The story is told in an exciting, but not sensationalized manner. It definitely fills a gap in telling the stories of escaped slaves and I would highly recommend it.

Jean Little Library

09/01/2019

PreS-Gr 2—In 1862, an enslaved man named Robert Smalls led a crew of other enslaved persons and their families on a daring escape by piloting a steamship through Confederate territory and into safe waters controlled by the Union Navy. This picture book covers the background of how Smalls began working at docks and on steamships, but focuses mainly on the night of the escape. The heart of the story spotlights the bravery and resourcefulness of Smalls as he plots and carries out his plan. The afterword includes a photo of Smalls, more information about his life, slavery, and the Civil War. There is also a glossary and suggested "read more" list. The illustrations are well done, often using darker colors to represent the night time and gravity of the voyage. None of the harshest parts of slavery are examined too closely, which is unsurprising in a book for young children, but the consequences for attempting such a risky escape is made very clear. VERDICT A good purchase for public and elementary school libraries wanting to expand a nonfiction collection on slavery and the Civil War. This book will work well for one-on-one sessions with younger readers and in groups of older children.—Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

School Library Journal

2019-05-12
The true story of an unsung African American hero who deserves to be remembered.

Born a slave in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1839, Robert Smalls began working on the Charleston waterfront at 12 and convinced his master to allow him to keep some of his earnings. In 1861, Smalls became a crew member on the Planter, which transported supplies, personnel, and artillery to the Confederate forts. Eventually becoming wheelman—the crew member who steers—Smalls learned all the necessary skills for navigating the ship. One night, when the captain was on shore visiting family, Robert steered the Planter—loaded with supplies, weapons, the other enslaved crewmen and their families—out of the harbor, past the heavily armed Confederate forts Johnson and Sumter to Union-controlled waters, where the crew raised a white sheet and surrendered to the Union. "Freedom, at last." The illustrations, primarily in browns, greens, and blues to evoke the nocturnal and maritime setting, will help readers envision the time and place of Smalls' escape. The informative backmatter, including a photograph of Smalls, offers an overview of his life and later career as a U.S. congressman and a landowner (of his former master's home). The glossary and bibliography identify other good sources of research on Smalls.

Ideal for piquing readers' interest in a determined and inspiring historical figure. (Picture book/biography. 7-11)

Kirkus Reviews