The Legend of Freedom Hill

by Linda J. Altman, Cornelius Van Wright (Illustrator), Ying-Hwa Hu (Illustrator)

Overview

A fictional story set during the California Gold Rush, in which a girl teams up with her best friend in search of gold to buy her mother's freedom from a slave catcher.

In the 1850s, during the time of the California Gold Rush, Rosabel and Sophie become best friends because they are both outsiders. Rosabel is African American and Sophie is Jewish. Rosabel has freedom papers, but her mother, Miz Violet, is a runaway slave. They have escaped to California, where slavery is against the law. But Miz Violet is not completely safe. The Fugitive Slave Act allows runaway slaves to be captured and returned to their owners.

When a slave catcher shows up and takes Miz Violet away, it is up to Rosabel and Sophie to put their clever minds together and come up with a way to free Miz Violet once and for all.

Using lively language that evokes the West of Gold Rush days, Linda Jacobs Altman has crafted a heartwarming story of love, bravery, and friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620140628
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	06/01/2000
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	921,942
File size:	27 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Linda Jacobs Altman is the author of Amelia's Road, published by Lee & Low, and named a "Choices" selection by the Cooperative Children's Book Center. Altman, who lives in Clearlake, California, frequently writes for the educational market.

Cornelius Van Wright and his wife Ying-Hwa Hu have illustrated dozens of award-winning books. Their illustrations have been praised by Kirkus Reviews as "bright, detailed and dynamic, vividly depicting ... characters' facial features and personalities." Van Wright, a native New Yorker, lives in New York City.

Ying-Hwa Hu and her husband Cornelius Van Wright have illustrated dozens of award-winning books. Their illustrations have been praised by Kirkus Reviews as "bright, detailed and dynamic, vividly depicting ... characters' facial features and personalities." Hu, who was born in Taiwan, lives in New York City.

Cornelius Van Wright and his wife Ying-Hwa Hu have illustrated dozens of award-winning books. Their illustrations have been praised by Kirkus Reviews as “bright, detailed and dynamic, vividly depicting . . . characters’ facial features and personalities.” Van Wright, a native New Yorker, lives in New York City.

Ying-Hwa Hu and her husband Cornelius Van Wright have illustrated dozens of award-winning books. Their illustrations have been praised by Kirkus Reviews as “bright, detailed and dynamic, vividly depicting . . . characters’ facial features and personalities.” Hu, who was born in Taiwan, lives in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 1-4-Altman uses a folksy, third-person voice to describe a fictional episode set in California during the Gold Rush. The story concerns the friendship between outsiders Rosabel, an African American, and Sophie, a Jewish girl. The tale turns on the fact that Rosabel has her "freedom papers," but her mother does not. When the woman is captured under the Fugitive Slave Act, the girls hatch a plan to free her. Conveniently, they find gold in a nearby cave that is worth enough to buy freedom for Rosabel's mother and the five other prisoners on the slave wagon. The ending stretches credibility a bit, but the book is competently painted and has curricular possibilities for a topic not typically treated in picture books. The watercolors are rendered in a muted palette; the main characters appear in sharper focus and slightly brighter colors. Consider where period picture books are popular.-Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

"Cultural and historical facts are smoothly integrated into the story, but the focus is squarely on the friendship. . . Children will identify with the spunky, resourceful girls and enjoy the expeditious resolution. With multicultural and historical themes, this original 'legend' will enhance social studies curricula, especially in California." — Booklist

Best Children's Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
Children's Books of the Year - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

From the Publisher