Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom: The Center for Cartoon Studies Presents

by Whit Taylor, Kazimir Lee (Contributor), Carole Boston Weatherford (Introduction)

This illuminating graphic novel biography about Harriet Tubman sheds new light on one of American history's bravest heroes.

​Harriet Tubman did something exceptionally She escaped slavery. Then she did something She went back. She underwent some thirteen missions to rescue around seventy enslaved people, using and expanding a network of abolitionists that became known as the Underground Railroad. She spent her life as an activist, speaking out for Black people and women's suffrage.  This modern account of her trip to save her brothers is detailed and authentic. Illustrated with care for the historical record, it offers insight into the life and mind of Tubman, displaying her as a woman with an unshakable desire to break the chains of an unjust society. It is a perfect anti-racist narrative for our times and deepens an understanding of just what freedom means to those who must fight for it.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Biography, History, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Comics

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Abby Frye]

It was good but I wanted more. I feel like this barely scratched the surface of her life and all she did.

[Moonkiszt]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

Harriet Tubman is one of my favorite heroes. . .before my group is all grown and gone, I will make sure to get my favorite heroes in their sweet heads, hearts and databanks for the future. Harriet is an example of relentless resilience, never-quitingness, to-the-deathness. . . ., you're-not-stopping-me-ish. The world, especially her world, needed that then, and we may not realize it, but we need it now. This is grandma-me making a deposit in to the most precious brains of my world, while I am able, while they are listening, their faces turned to me.

All things change. Moments of present, of intent, of interest move on. I'm jumping while their ears are mine. Harriet is a perfect place to start.

[J MaK]

(4.4) Riveting artwork and content highlighting Tubman’s humanity. This narrative inspires resilience by exploring her condition as an enslaved person rather than her status of being a slave.

[Liz Yerby]

This book manages to portray a chapter in her life, while also telling the broader story of her life. Really enjoyable and really necessary graphic novel.

[Melanie Dulaney]

Biographies on the life of Harriet Tubman abound and middle grade versions in graphic novel format are available as well, however, this Taylor/Lee work focuses on Harriet’s rescue of her brothers from their life of slavery. The dialogue also reveals her deep faith in God and in His calling on her life to risk her own freedom in order to bring others North and to new opportunities and choices. Cover art on this ARC copy looks to be near finished quality and is very appealing. Interior panels are well-sketched, but do not seem to be lacking in final colorizing and I look forward to seeing the finished copy. Target audience for this book is likely grades 3-5 and, along with extensive backmatter on important events and people in the 1840-1850s, will make a solid addition to the non-fiction graphic novel collection in many libraries with generous budgets. Thanks for the print ARC, Little & Brown Young Readers.

[James]

This comics biography of Harriet Tubman is carefully constructed, with well-illustrated vignettes from the abolitionist's life and a suitably serious tone. It offers a solid introduction to her life and work, but its treatment of its subject feels superficial.

Tubman's devotion to family and freedom are well-sketched, as is her deep faith, the sense of a personal, prophet-like connection with her god. But "Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom" feels like a book-report version of her life. It shares the highlights--moonlit scrambles up north, pulling her famous pistol on dubious companions--but it lacks the fire that might spark deeper insights.

Still, it's a respectable portrayal and worth reading.

[Kim Childress]

Highly recommend this EXCELLENT graphic novel retelling of the story of Harriet Tubman even the most reluctant readers would enjoy! Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom, by Taylor and Kazimir Lee, with illustrations created in partnership with the Center for Cartoon Studies, and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

I consider this a book to be read aloud with any child old enough to understand, appealing to all ages, including adult. Classroom potential? Absolutely.

For teachers, homeschoolers, librarians, historians, and more, this book also introduces readers to the Center for Cartoon Studies—which offers an additional curriculum opportunity fascinating in itself, the art and history of “cartooning.”

#HighlyRecommended #GreatSummerReading #BooksForReluctantReaders

[Joseph R.]

This short graphic novel presents the basics of Harriet Tubman's life as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. She grew up a slave in the antebellum South, specifically in Maryland (the top end of the South). She ran away to Philadelphia and became involved in helping other slaves to run away. The main action in this book is when she leads her brothers out of Maryland and to Canada. The authors do a good job weaving in details like the ever worsening slave laws and the variety of people who helped along the path to freedom. This is an okay book but not nearly as good as The Underground Abductor.

Mildly recommended.

[Joanne]

The colors are quite muted-maybe too much so, but there’s a lot of info in the introduction and more citations in the afterword for those who’d like to learn more about Harriet Tubman’s courageous endeavors. The story itself features just one of her many trips below the Mason-Dixon Line; but the fact that danger didn’t ever really disappear for escaping slaves was driven home. So a fair introduction but not thorough or lively by any stretch.

[Ziyanna Solomon]

This book is about how Harriet Tubman had to go on a mission to save her enslaved family members after she was already had gotten away after a few months of her being free their was new law that said " all slaves must return to their owner" this quote proved that they never had a freedom they just had it until the court or jury had a say so on what to do with slaves that had no owner so my thoughts about this book is always fight for your rights no matter the consequences

[Darcy Roar]

An excellent snap shot of a book detailing one of Harriet Tubman's many trips as a conductor on the underground railroad. The coloring in this book is absolutely perfection, all moody blues and dusty pinks, giving the story a twilight feel that pairs so well with the clandestine nature of the story. An excellent read, well worth your time.

[Emily]

On the one hand, I learned a lot about Harriet Tubman that I didn’t know and the illustrations were lovely. On the other hand, the way the story was constructed was unnecessarily confusing in parts. Going from a Harriet being interviewed as an adult then going to a childhood flashback, stopping mid flashback, and then never going back to it was odd.

[Robert]

Written with Whit's usual careful attention to factual detail without losing any of the gripping drama of the narrative. Kazimir Lee's graphics fully bring this history to life. This would be an excellent addition to any middle or high school syllabus.

[Jennybeast]

I liked the art and the layout and the fast pace -- however, unless you already know a lot about Harriet Tubman's story, you won't learn more about it here. The text is sparse, the imagery is atmospheric and the story line is pretty bare bones.

[Sesana]

This isn't intended to be a comprehensive biography of Harriet Tubman. Instead, it's basically one episode in her life, helping her brothers escape slavery, with a lot of context. Very well-written, with authentic dialog and really good art.

[Raj Bowers-Racine]

As did the CCS biography of Harry Houdini, this book focuses on a single elucidatory episode in the subject's life rather than the full picture. In this case it's the trip that Harriet Tubman made to smuggle her brothers out of slavery and into Canada.

[Erin]

Really beautiful use of colors. The actual narrative was very short and I prefer Nathan Hale’s bio of her.

[Edward Sullivan]

Good art but a rather sketchy narrative Tubman's life and work.

[Michaela]

Graphic Novels are not my preferred medium, but my kids adore them - we read this one together.

[Amy Pickett]

A strong visual introduction to the extraordinary life of Harriet Tubman.

[Brandy]

Great graphic novel! Love the illustrations (pictures? What do you call them for graphic novels?

Anyway, it's a great book. Highly recommend.

[Grg]

The courage displayed here is humbling.

[wildct2003]

Ok book. I prefer the one by Nathan Hale.

[Katie Randall]

I liked the art and appreciated the story notes. I know this book is for a younger audience so while I would have preferred much more detail, I still think this was a great read.

[Lisa]

Graphic novel biography for older readers.

[M Aghazarian]

Learned about some local people + history

[Sharmaine]

12m49s
3.25/5 stars

[Gisele]

A great graphic novel to introduce middle graders to the Underground Railroad. I appreciated the panel discussions at the end of the novel...learned a few new facts about Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom would be a good addition to a classroom library.

[Jaclyn Hillis]

Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom by Whit Taylor and Kazimir Lee is an illuminating graphic novel biography about Harriet Tubman that sheds a new light on one of American history's bravest heroes.

Harriet Tubman did something exceptionally courageous: She escaped slavery. Then she did something impossible: She went back. She underwent about thirteen missions to rescue around seventy enslaved people, using and expanding a network of abolitionists that became known as the Underground Railroad. She spent her life as an activist, speaking out for Black people, and women's suffrage.

This modern account of her trip to save her brothers is detailed and authentic. Illustrated with care for the historical record, it offers insight into the life and mind of Tubman, displaying her as a woman with an unshakable desire to break the chains of an unjust society. It is a perfect anti-racist narrative for our times and deepens an understanding of just what freedom means to those who must fight for it.

I thankfully learned about Harriet Tubman in school and in readings since, but I still learned something new reading this. I had no idea that she suffered a traumatic head injury and was afflicted with seizures, chronic headaches, and even bouts of narcolepsy. She suffered so much at the hands of slave owners and racism, and she was still a light to so many.