Working for Freedom: The Story of Josiah Henson

by Rona Arato

Josiah Hensons life is an epic tale of one mans battle against evil and ignorance. By the time he was six, Josiah had been sold three times. When he was nine, his familys owner beat him for trying to learn to read. In spite of his physical pain and emotional heartache, he never lost the sense of morality that was his bedrock. After his escape, Josiah became an advocate for those still in bondage. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, he led 118 slaves to safety in Canada. Working for Freedom is the story of a man who proved that one person can make a difference in defending and promoting human rights.

88 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

RONA ARATO was born in New York and grew up in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in magazines and newspapers in Canada and the United States. She taught elementary school in Los Angeles and Toronto, adult creative writing for the Toronto District School Board, and has conducted business writing workshops for profit and nonprofit organizations. From 1994-1998, she was an interviewer for Survivors of the Shoa, a Steven Spielberg project that recorded the histories of Holocaust survivors. Rona Arato lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul.

Reviews

[Rob Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never heard of Josiah Henson until I found this book on Amazon, and I was so intrigued by what I was able to learn about him on Wikipedia that I ordered the book! This volume is a great overview of the life, ministry, and legacy of Josiah Henson, who was born into slavery in Maryland but escaped to freedom in Canada, where he became a conductor on the Underground Railroad, a Methodist minister, and founder of the Dawn community in Ontario. Although targeted at preteen-to-teenage readers, the book's riveting narrative kept me turning the pages, night after night, until I finished it. Sidebar articles give the reader valuable background information about life in 19th century America and Canada and explain customs and concepts that might be unfamiliar, and the illustrations (some photos are included!) help readers to see Rev. Henson and his world through 19th-century eyes.

Josiah Henson deserves to be widely remembered and celebrated for his work as an abolitionist and tireless advocate for equality among all people. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American and Canadian history, especially in the 19th century.