SOLVED. Childrens fiction chapter book about freed slave boy whose father dies before they are reunited. Read in early 90s. [s]

[Ana]

I read this book sometime after 1992, and before 2000. It is a chapter children's book. The main characters are children. I believe the setting was in the midwest, possibly Chicago. A young black boy arrives in the city to meet his father who has bought him from his master, and they are to be reunited and live together. His father unfortunately has recently died and though he is alone, he is befriended by a young brother and sister who take him in to their family. The book was a softcover book, with a forest-like color palette. SPOILERS........


The family who takes him in has a mom, the brother and sister, and possibly a grandpa. They help the newly freed boy, but unknowingly take on some boarders who are slave catchers. The boy's freed papers are ruined when he saves one of the family members from drowning, and before the replacement papers arrive, the boarders kidnap the boy and he is sold back to slavery. The brother and possibly the sister go down south and help him escape. WHen they arrive back, the boy considers going to Canada but ultimately gets off the boat and chooses to stay with his new friends.

[Rainbowheart]

Are the white children the main POV characters in the story, or the freed slave boy?

[Ana]

Rainbowheart wrote: "Are the white children the main POV characters in the story, or the freed slave boy?"

I think it's more from the white children's POV if I recall correctly.

[Ana]

By Secret Railway: A Story of the Underground Railroad

This is the book I was looking for.

[Kris]

Great. Glad you found your book, Ana. Thanks for the update.