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Freedom's a-Callin Me
Award-winning poet Ntozake Shange and artist Rod Brown reimagine the journeys of the brave men and women who made their way to freedom on the Underground Railroad.
Fleeing on the Underground Railroad meant walking long distances; swimming across streams; hiding in abandoned shanties, swamps, and ditches, always on the run from slave trackers and their dogs.
"ah might ge
...moreHardcover, 32 pages
Published
January 3rd 2012
by Amistad
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The seductive allure of freedom and its perils are described vividly in fifteen powerful free verse poems that mark various paths away from slavery through the Underground Railroad. Not only does the author describe the brutality of being whipped in "Never Again": "he got us hanging like hogs or fresh beef beating us" (unpaged), but she also points out the uncertainty about who to trust faced by those trying to find their way to freedom in "Look for the Broken Branch," and the mingled joy and re...more
Freedom’s a-Callin Me by Ntozake Shange
Genre: Picture book – Historical
Summary: Through a series of free verse poems and dark illustrations by Rod Brown, Shange’s book captures the many emotions of a slave seeking to flee the south by travelling on the Underground Railroad. It begins with a poem entitled “Freedom’s A-Callin Me” and ends with a poem called “Free Air.” In between are poems that capture the hope, the fear, the sense of loss at leaving behind loved ones, and the nervousness at searc...more
Genre: Picture book – Historical
Summary: Through a series of free verse poems and dark illustrations by Rod Brown, Shange’s book captures the many emotions of a slave seeking to flee the south by travelling on the Underground Railroad. It begins with a poem entitled “Freedom’s A-Callin Me” and ends with a poem called “Free Air.” In between are poems that capture the hope, the fear, the sense of loss at leaving behind loved ones, and the nervousness at searc...more
Aug 05, 2012
Dolly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
parents reading with their older children
This is a powerful, but disturbing group of songs or poems that describe the torturous life of a slave and the harrowing attempts to escape. The author pulls no punches as she describes the beatings and potential to be killed on the route to freedom.
The illustrations are just as stark, and show the brutality and fear in bold colors. The narrative is written in a slangy dialect that was a bit tough to read aloud, but from reading the note at the end, I see that the chants were rewritten to be mo...more
The illustrations are just as stark, and show the brutality and fear in bold colors. The narrative is written in a slangy dialect that was a bit tough to read aloud, but from reading the note at the end, I see that the chants were rewritten to be mo...more
Celebrated poet Ntozake Shange creates vingette poems beautifully illustrated in thickly brushed oil paintings by Rod Brown. Each vingnette describes a step along the path to freedom wrought with whippings, evil slave trackers (John Tanner), the harsh realism of Sojourner Truth, benevolent financiers with a bounty on their heads, and finally, freedom. Shange aptly captures the voice of the slave in this powerful picture, poetry book.
Shange, N., & Brown, R. (2012). Freedom's a-callin me. New...more
Shange, N., & Brown, R. (2012). Freedom's a-callin me. New...more
I am a longtime fan of Ntozake Shange's poetry, fiction and children's books. Her choreopoem For Colored Girls shaped my development and expanded my literary horizons as a young poet. Thus, it pains me that Freedom's a-Callin' Me, an otherwise powerful picture book poetry collection, is marred by an inexcusable error. In the poem "Death or Freedom," Shange confuses abolitionist Sojourner Truth, who was not actively involved in the Underground Railroad, with Harriet Tubman, the UGRR's most famous...more
Jan 29, 2013
Mel Raschke
added it
I was drawn into this book by the illustrations, then by the poetry. The voice sounds authentic, and the story is compelling. Just one false note--what I believe is a historical inaccuracy. On pages 14-15, an incident is described in which Sojourner Truth is leading group of people to freedom. When one man balks, she pulls out a pistol and offers him "death or freedom."
This is a well-known, often-cited incident from the life of Harriet "Moses" Tubman, but I cannot find a similar action attribute...more
This is a well-known, often-cited incident from the life of Harriet "Moses" Tubman, but I cannot find a similar action attribute...more
Voices of the Underground Railroad sing, shout, cry, and whisper in these poems that take the reader from the moment a slave decides to attempt escape to the moments slaves reach freedom in the north. A mix of emotions emerge from poem to poem: anger, fear, desperation, desire, gratitude, and ultimately, hope. The historical era slave dialect may make the reading and comprehension challenging for some readers; understanding seems to come easier when the poetry is read aloud, making this book goo...more
poetry format of picture book for older children. Slavery and Underground Railroad journey are not eventually pleasant to be read. I had to breath quitely as I read this book..Simple and controlled texts powerfully share voices from the journey of fleeing on the Underground Railroad..
In the voice of slave bent on escape, a series of free verse poems and impressionistic paintings reveal the struggle and journey to freedom. This is a worthy addition to the growing list of PB titles which. Deal deeply and honestly with the reality of slavery.
Powerful poetry told from the point of view of an escaped slave, travelling north to Canada. Would love to use this in a middle or high school social studies class. Probably not appropriate much younger than fourth grade.
Ntozak Shange free verse combined with Rod Brown's soulful illustrations follows the trials and trevails of slaves traveling on the Underground Railroad and provide a stark and powerful journey to freedom.
Shange's poems seem so true and the paintings by Rod Brown are almost frighteningly realistic. One small flaw: is Shange confusing Sojourner Truth with Harriet Tubman?
Beautiful illustrations and moving language. It really conveys the heartbreak and devastation of slavery and the hope for freedom. Very powerful.
This collection of poetry about slaves seeking freedom are emotionally stirring. Could be used with upper elementary on up to even High School.
An emotionally challenging collection by master poet Ntozake Shange. Well-crafted poems and illustrations will be welcome in educational settings.
Powerful, emotional and brutal poems, accompanied by graphic paintings, are haunting, but few are appropriate for elementary school.
Not an easy read. Beautifully done. Sure to be an award contender, and justifiably so. Belongs in every library.
A book of poems about an escaping slave on the Underground Railroad.
A stirring collection of poems with equally powerful illustrations.
I got chills reading this book. This is another "picture book" that is deceiving. The subject of FREEDOM'S A-CALLIN ME and the illustrations are for a much older audience than small children. It can be used in middle or even high school as a reference.
It is written in poetry and of the language of slaves and of their journey North to freedom.
AR 5.5
It is written in poetry and of the language of slaves and of their journey North to freedom.
AR 5.5
This story is 15 free-verse poems that tell the story of a slave seeking freedom and fleeing to the south. This is a very powerful book that does not shy away from the brutality that slaves experienced. Definitely more appropriate for upper elementary than lower elementary. Could even be used in middle school and high school.
This is a story of escaping slavery and reaching Canada. It is told through poetry. While the poetry does carrry the narrative, I really found them difficult to concentrate on. Overall giving two stars is being generous as I really found this difficult to read.
Powerful, brutal, and explicit-- this book of poetry about the underground railroad isn't appropriate for young children. Perhaps a HS collection?
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May 14, 2013
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Ntozake Shange (pronounced En-toe-ZAHK-kay SHONG-gay) is an African-American playwright, performance artist, and writer who is best known for her Obie Award winning play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf.
Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.
More about Ntozake Shange...
Among her honors and awards are fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund, and a Pushcart Prize.
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