Coretta Scott King Award

Nelson, V.M. (2003). Almost to freedom. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publishing. (picture from Amazon.com)

"A doll is a witness who cannot die,
with a doll you are never alone." -Margaret Atwood

Told through the viewpoint of a slave girl's doll, Almost To Freedom gives the reader a peek into the cruel and frightening world of slavery and the Underground Railroad. Lindy and her mom, Miz Rachel, work on plantation in Virginia. Lindy's rag doll, Sally, begins her story by describing how she was made and how "bein' Lindy's doll baby is a right important job." Sally tells of the work Miz Rachel, Lindy and the others do on the plantation and tells about the "best times" when the folks are laughing and singing, but she notices that the talk of freedom is a serious subject. After Lindy's father is sold because he tried to run and Lindy is whipped for asking how to spell her name, Miz Rachel wakes Lindy in the middle of the night in order to use the Underground Railroad to run away and meet Lindy's father. When Sally and Lindy become separated, Sally discovers that no matter whose doll baby she is, she will always have a "right important job."

Slavery in the south and the desperation and trials the slaves endured are effectively communicated from the vantage point of the doll, endearing the reader to the family. This book would be a great book to use to prompt interest in the function of the Underground Railroad and promote research and discussion about the ways in which the Underground Railroad "workers" developed secret signs and strategies to aid the escape of thousands of slaves. Colin Bootman's paintings illustrate the story with much attention to detail, showing the emotional and physical stuggles of the story. The deep purples and rich browns recreate a world in which the reader can be an eyewitness to one of the darkest eras of American history.

This story nearly brought me to tears at the glimpse into the era of slavery. The illustrations complement the "diary-like" account of this family's escape to freedom through the underground railroad. I followed the reading of this story with the reading of Laurence Yep's novella, Hiroshima. These stories clarify the importance of knowing the history of the country. To know what has already come to pass in order to analyze and evaluate the positive and the negative historical events that have shaped the country is not just of educational significance, but should be viewed as a responsibility as an American citizen. There are so many questionable actions in American history that studying them and making sure they are not forgotten is part and parcel to developing tomorrow's leaders.

Learn more about the Coretta Scott King Award.