Freedom Stone

by Jeffrey Kluger

Lillie's papa believed in freedom-for him, his family, and all the slaves on the Greenfog plantation. So when the Confederate Army promised freedom to the family of every slave who served in the Civil War-whether they came home or not-Lillie's papa decided he had to take the chance.

But when Lillie's family got the news that her papa was killed, they weren't freed. The army claimed that Lillie's papa was a thief. Lillie knew that couldn't be true! Even worse, the master started making plans to sell off Lillie's little brother, Plato. With the help of an old slave, Bett, who bakes bread that bends time, Lillie travels to the battle during which her father died to find out the true story. Using a little magic of her own, Lillie rights a few wrongs and buys her family their freedom. This is a beautiful tale filled with magic and hope and love.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Civil War, Juvenile

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2011

About the author

Jeffrey Kluger is Editor at Large at Time, where he has written more than 45 cover stories. Coauthor of Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, which was the basis for the movie Apollo 13, he is also the author of 13 other books including his latest book Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story.

Reviews

[Suzanna Codd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was disappointing. I picked it up because I read it was about the civil war, but it isn't, it only takes place while the American Civil War is going on. Slavery was a big factor in the war but this book didn't go into the North vs South at all. It just circled around the main character, a slave girl named Lillie, and her right to freedom. I would have liked more politics of the time included in this novel. I also didn't like how magic was involved. The war is interesting by itself, and doesn't need fantasy to make it more surreal.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good. When Lillie went back in time, I was hoping she could save her father. But then he shows up dead and it is all I can do to keep myself from crying. I wish the father made it, but I am glad that she and her family ended up free.

[Starr · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were things that I liked and things that bothered me. The things that bothered me the most was the way that Lillie nonchalantly faced things, though the consequences if she was caught was the whip at worst and death at best. To me this was more of a watered down portrayal of slavery, and I understand that this is juvenile fiction. Though it is an ugly and tumultuous time, it is a part of the United State's history. I think if you choose to write about this time, in honor of the men and women who lived/survived it and the men and women who fought to change it, you should do so accurately - regardless of the target age group. Other than that, it was an optimistic story, resolution at the end was not all that believable but, okay.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absoulutly loved this book, there was never a dull moment. There are many books out there on slavery, but this book by far is the most original in my opinion. Bett the baker with her magical stone in her brick stove, very original, would have never thought of that. With the mix of love interest, action, and even a pinch of magic, this turned out to be a great read.

[Betsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

One Sentence Review: A disappointing mix of magic and historical fiction where the strength of the story itself should have carried it along, fantasy or no.

[Shazzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

As posted on Outside of a Dog:

Jeffrey Kluger's Freedom Stone is an odd little book. Part historical fiction, part magical fantasy, it meshes together in the story of one slave child trying to write a wrong, save her little brother from being sold and see her family free. Lillie is thirteen years old when her father is killed fighting for the Confederate army, an act that should have freed her, her mother and her brother, Plato. But when a sack of Union gold is found on her father's person, he is called a thief, and their Master not only keeps the gold for himself, but refuses to free Lillie and her family. Lillie must prove her father was an honest man, and goes about doing so with the help of Bett, the old slave woman who bakes bread. Because Bett has a secret. Her baking can bend time, making it slow down, like the bees outside her cabin, or sped up, as Lillie needs it to do one night when she has a mission at another plantation.

I wasn't sure how I felt about Freedom Stone when I finished it. It had taken a day or two to really get into the story, though once it hit its stride, I was invested and eager to get to the conclusion. There was just something that unsettled me, and I think I know now what it was. The magical element of the story, while inventive, was not really needed. This was a story that could have been told, with only a few changes, with no magic at all. I would almost say the magic was wasted. Lillie is a wonderful character, full of strength and courage, and her story has a certain charge to it that would have been just as interesting without the magic of Bett's stones.

I would still recommend Freedom Stone to readers. My only issue was in wishing the magical elements of the story had been better integrated. As a whole it has value as historical fiction, and its point of view (acknowledging that slaves weren't simply, magically freed when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation) is one that you don't see very often and was interesting to read. And Lillie is definitely a character worth getting to know.

[Sofia C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: It was not long ago that Lillie got the news her father had been killed in battle. Freedom Stone by Jeffrey Kluger tells the the experiences of a young slave girl living on a plantation in Greenfog, Ohio. She is a strong, brave, and determined girl who knows what’s best for her family. Lillie’s father joined the Confederate Army as soon as they made the promise that every slave who served, was granted freedom for his family. But, when the war ended Lillie’s father was found with money that could not possibly be his, and was declared a thief. Then, another wave of grief hit when the slave master made plans to sell Lillie’s younger brother Plato. Suddenly, Lillie remembers one of her father’s comrades and seeks help from him. With limited time left, Lillie also turns to one of the wisest people she knows, Bett. Bett is an elderly woman who bakes bread for their master, but she has a secret. Her bread can bend time, all because of a magical stone from Africa. Bending time can be a risky business, but Lillie decides to take this final leap of faith. With the help of Bett, will Lillie be able to prove that her father died an innocent man before her cruel master sells off Plato? Or will she live knowing that she could have saved her brother?

Opinion: I think Freedom Stone was a fantastic novel. It was well written, had a great storyline, cliffhangers, and lots of exciting action. This book was also very educational in many ways, displaying the injustice and cruelty towards those of color not too long ago. I loved this book because it taught me quite a bit about traditional African tribes and their special crafts. It was also very touching in the sense that a young girl like Lillie had the bravery that she did to go and try to gain freedom for her family. Freedom Stone is an incredible historical fiction novel, that can help you learn about the time of slavery, and even a little magic.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that blends fact and fantasy. The details about life in slavery are excellent. The author doesn't spare the harsh realities but handles slavery in an age-appropriate manner. The characters are a bit stereotypical, especially the white ones. Even so, I liked Lillie a lot and identified with her stubbornness. I admired Lillie's willingness to do whatever she could to become free and Mama's pride. The only thing I didn't like was the third person narration. I think it should have been first-person from Lillie's point-of-view or alternate between Lillie and Cal. I felt too detached from the story with the third-person narration. I usually don't like fantasy/supernatural/time travel stories but I really liked this one. The magic made the story stand out from all the other stories about slavery. It was believable because the author set parameters about what it could do and how. I liked that the magic is African, a good reminder of the heritage that was taken away from those who were enslaved. This is a great book for anyone ages 10+.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freedom stone was a great book because it starts okay but then it gets so interesting that you want to finish the book.Also the book was suspenseful because I wanted to know if it was true that Lillie's father stole the coins that they found in his coat after he had died in the war. The author was really good at creating a cliffhanger in the middle of the story. For example, "A telegraph message was sent to the Big House telling the Master that upon Papa's death, he had been found in possession of a small purse of coins, and Yankee ones at that he was assumed to have stolen. Since he couldn't pay for his crime, the family would have to, and the promise of freedom that had been made to them would be denied. "( page 20 ) The small purse of coins makes the reader wonder Lillie's father really did steal those coins. This was an excellent way on how to keep the reader interested in the story. This is just one example on the suspense in the story to find out the ending of this story read... Freedom stone

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strange little bit of magical realism that I'm sure a lot of folks will be chewing over and puzzling. In the end I think it works, though. Lillie's family was promised their freedom in the event that her father, serving the Confederate army, served out his time. Unfortunately, after his dead Lillie's papa was found with Yankee gold on him, leaving his family enslaved. Worse still, a slave trader is due at the plantation and Lillie's fairly certain her little brother Plato is close to being sold away to a shipping life. Determined, the girl decides that the only thing to do is to find out the truth behind the gold found on her father. Even if that means defying her slaveowners. Even if it means using magic. The mix of history and magic could have been just awful in the wrong hands, but Kluger is very careful with his material and manages to produce something entirely original without straying into dangerous/ridiculous territory. - B

[Anda Rosca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes time during the period in which slavery had still existed.
the main character in this book is Lillie who lives with her mother and little brother. Her father was killed during the war between the States. he had decided to fight so he can be free along with his family. When Lillie and her family received the new they were heartbroken. The army had also made a discovery that her father was a thief and the promise of Lillie's family being free was broken.
Lillie knows that her father was never a thief but she can't do anything about it until the master of the plantation decides to sell her little brother.
With the help of an old slave,Bett, who bakes break that bends time Lillie is determined to find out the real truth about her father and free her family.

[Sarah Welton-Lair · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've read a historical fiction novel from the point of view of a slave during the 1800s, so this was refreshing. Told from the perspective of a slave girl in South Carolina nearing the end of the American Civil War, it's a novel that really shows the bad things about being a slave, along with the fun things they were allowed to do. What threw me off a little was the fantasy element in this. An old slave woman named Bett, who bakes the bread for all the slaves, has two magical stones that can slow down, speed up, and even reverse time. While it was an interesting concept which I had never encountered before, it was a bit strange since the rest of the novel was so realistic. The only other complaint I have is that, for being 13 years old, the main character acted a little young. Otherwise, good book!

[Malena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, even though I honestly had low expectations for it at the beginning. I thought that it was just going to be another boring, sugar-coated, simple story-telling of the civil war, but it was more than that. Freedom Stone always captured my attention with the originality of the plot and emotional struggles between charcters. The magic elements also added a subtle touch of fantasy without making it sound too fairytale-ish. I think that this book is a contender for the 2012 Newbery Medal.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a magical book (literally) about a girl named Lillie, living on a tobacco plantation. Her father has been killed in a war, unfairly accused of stealing Yankee gold, and her mother is struggling to support their family without him. On top of that, her brother Plato is about to be sold to the shipyards. With the help of Bett, an old woman who bakes bread that warps time, and a certain pair of magic stones, Lillie is going to need as much help as she can get. Can she clear her father's name, save Plato from being sold, and earn freedom for her family?

[Mel Raschke]

Lillie, her little brother, Plato, and her mother are slaves on a South Carolina plantation. Their father took a chance and joined the Confederate army, with the promise that he and his family would be freed after the conflict. Papa's been killed, but Mama and the children were expecting their freedom until word came that a bag of gold was found on Papa's body. Presuming it was stolen, freedom has been denied. When it becomes obvious that Plato may soon be sold away, Lillie is determined to prove that her father was not a thief and that the freedom promise should be honored.

[Kris Springer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Either a 2.5 or a 3. Disappointed in this one. Writing was average, not amazing, and the fantasy element just wasn't believable at all. I wanted to believe, but I also kept comparing this (in its tone, especially) to Never Forgotten by McKissack, and Freedom Stone came up short. I did root for the protagonist and her family, yet the fantasy part of this story kept me from suspending my disbelief, so it really took me a long time to get through this.

[Nancy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent story of a young slave girl in 1863 who is dealing with the turmoil in South Carolina as the Civil War progresses. Her father has died in the war but has been falsely accused of stealing money from a white man. Lillie is determined to clear his name and also to save her little brother from being sold as a cabin boy for a ship, even if she has to use some Ibo magic to accomplish her goals.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read about the Civil War on a plantation in South Carolina. One of the characters, Bett, has magical powers which she activates from a brick in her oven as she bakes cakes. Bett even allows time travel so that Lillie can clear her father of being a thief and free Lillie, her brother, and father.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would waver on this one as a 3.5 or a 4. I liked the characters, and I found the weaving of fantasy and historical fiction to be interesting. I wonder though if the author included too many factual asides that it slowed down the pacing. I'm interested in hearing what other Newbery club readers have to say about this one.

[Kristina Tran]

This book is very good it brings the pains of being a slave and the difficulties of being free during the civil war. Lillie and Cal have suffered a lot but they still hold there heads high and that gives the sense that they still have they're pride. The scene of the war is so detailed I can see it in my mind.

[Malissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a huge fan of anything that isn't realistic but this was a really well done story. The characters are very real, the pacing was perfect and you just wanted to know if everything worked out for everyone.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the writing style, I liked the story flow. I liked the characters. What would have made the story better would have been omitting the magical elements. They weren't believable and took away from what started out to be an engaging page-turner. I was disappointed.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good with a satisfying ending. A slave girl wants to find out the truth about her father--could he have stolen Yankee gold? The ancient woman who knows Aftrican secrets helps her bend time and learn what she needs to know. Lots of sensory images, but not bogged down by them.

[Embrc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spirited characters, well written with lots of historical research. Mix of fantasy, drama and history. Starred review in Booklist. Ages 9+ -AM

[Deena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not fully historical fiction, not really fantasy...not sure where it fits and it wasn't amazing enough that I want to spend time figuring it out.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after my daughter recommended it, and it was a great read. I love reading books where the protagonist is a young girl with intelligence and courage, and this did not disappoint.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

best

[Disney_World · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much spoiling if you wanted to know so you can read it if you want.

























A great book! I know its a fantasy book. Duh, you cant really travel back and time and meet someone who had died. Still great book did not want to put it down. I also did a school project on it and just from my chapter I made up. My teacher and a few classmates want to read the actual book. Also I am not that good at writing.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome! This book is the perfect mix of magic, adventure, and history! There was so many surprises. I only have good things to say about this book!

[Scarlett Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally think that the book was good, but not