Friend on Freedom River by Gloria Whelan is a fantastic book in the Tales of Young Americans series. This series features over twenty richly illustrated and beautifully told stories that are a window into seminal moments of American history. Some stories are based on true stories while others are a blend of historical fiction and fact. All are well-told and inspiring.
“Son, you’ll be in charge of the farm. If you don’t know what to do, just do what you think I would have done.”
Friend on the Freedom River is set on the icy Detroit River in the 1850s. Young Louis is trying to be the man of the house since his father left to go north to work in the winter logging camps. Louis's father had a habit of carrying slaves across the river to freedom in Canada. His mother had begged him to stop. “The new Fugitive Slave Law means jail for anyone helping slaves escape.” But, Louis’s father could not stand to see souls sent back to slavery.
“Are you a friend?”
“What do you seek?”
“Freedom.”
“Have you got faith?”
“I have hope.”
When Louis had exchanged those words with the sound in the bushes, he knew that runaway slaves needed him to do what he thought his daddy would have done. Despite the cold, the icy night, the strong wind, and his mother’s warnings, Louis considered helping this woman and her two children. “Our master sold away these children’s daddy. They were going to sell away Tyler just like he was no different from a horse or a cow. If you don’t take us, we might as well jump in and drown ourselves.” So, Louis did what he knew that his father would do.
Of course, we follow Louis and his passengers to the other side. Not all of the Tales of Young Americans books have perfectly happy endings, but this one does.
As per usual with Gloria Whelan, the writing is elegant and robust. The illustration by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen is magical.