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Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad Hardcover – January 1, 2007

by Ellen Levine (Author), Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)

4.9 1,695 ratings

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A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist.

Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Levine (Freedom's Children) recounts the true story of Henry Brown, a slave who mailed himself to freedom. Thanks to Nelson's (Ellington Was Not a Street) penetrating portraits, readers will feel as if they can experience Henry's thoughts and feelings as he matures through unthinkable adversity. As a boy, separated from his mother, he goes to work in his new master's tobacco factory and eventually meets and marries another slave, with whom he has three children. In a heartwrenching scene depicted in a dramatically shaded pencil, watercolor and oil illustration, Henry watches as his family—suddenly sold in the slave market—disappears down the road. Henry then enlists the help of an abolitionist doctor and mails himself in a wooden crate "to a place where there are no slaves!" He travels by horse-drawn cart, steamboat and train before his box is delivered to the Philadelphia address of the doctor's friends on March 30, 1849. Alongside Henry's anguished thoughts en route, Nelson's clever cutaway images reveal the man in his cramped quarters (at times upside-down). A concluding note provides answers to questions that readers may wish had been integrated into the story line, such as where did Henry begin his journey? (Richmond, Va.); how long did it take? (27 hours). Readers never learn about Henry's life as a free man—or, perhaps unavoidably, whether he was ever reunited with his family. Still, these powerful illustrations will make readers feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his extraordinary story. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–5—Inspired by an actual 1830s lithograph, this beautifully crafted picture book briefly relates the story of Henry "Box" Brown's daring escape from slavery. Torn from his mother as a child, and then forcibly separated from his wife and children as an adult, a heartsick and desperate Brown conspired with abolitionists and successfully traveled north to Philadelphia in a packing crate. His journey took just over one full day, during which he was often sideways or upside down in a wooden crate large enough to hold him, but small enough not to betray its contents. The story ends with a reimagining of the lithograph that inspired it, in which Henry Brown emerges from his unhappy confinement—in every sense of the word—and smiles upon his arrival in a comfortable Pennsylvania parlor. Particularly considering the broad scope of Levine's otherwise well-written story, some of the ancillary "facts" related in her text are unnecessarily dubious; reports vary, for instance, as to whether the man who sealed Henry into the crate was a doctor or a cobbler. And, while the text places Henry's arrival on March 30, other sources claim March 24 or 25. Nelson's illustrations, always powerful and nuanced, depict the evolution of a self-possessed child into a determined and fearless young man. While some of the specifics are unfortunately questionable, this book solidly conveys the generalities of Henry Brown's story.—Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Although the cover shows a young boy staring intently at the reader, this book is really about Henry Brown as an adult and a staggering decision he made to achieve freedom. Henry, born a slave, hears from his mother that leaves blowing in the wind "are torn from the trees like slave children are torn from their families." When his master grows ill, Henry hopes that he will be freed; instead, he is given to his master's son, and his life becomes worse. Eventually, Henry marries and has children; then his family is sold. With nothing left to lose, he asks a white abolitionist to pack him in a crate so he can be mailed to freedom. The journey is fraught with danger as he travels by train and then steamboat, but 27 hours later, he reaches Philadelphia. A brief author's note confirms the details of the story, but it's the dramatic artwork that brings the events emphatically to life. According to the flap copy, an antique lithograph of Brown inspired Nelson's paintings, which use crosshatched pencil lines layered with watercolors and oil paints. The technique adds a certain look of age to the art and also gives the pictures the heft they need to visualize Brown's life. Transcending technique is the humanity Nelson imbues in his characters, especially Brown and his mother--her dream of freedom deferred, his amazingly achieved. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Kirkus StarredNelson's powerful portraits add a majestic element to Levine's history-based tale of Henry “Box”Brown, a slave who escaped by having himself mailed to freedom in a crate. Depicted as a solemn boywith an arresting gaze on the cover, Henry displays riveting presence in every successive scene, as hegrows from child to adult, marries and is impelled to make his escape after seeing his beloved wife andchildren sold to slaveowners. Related in measured, sonorous prose that makes a perfect match for the art,this is a story of pride and ingenuity that will leave readers profoundly moved, especially those who mayhave been tantalized by the entry on Brown in Virginia Hamilton's Many Thousand Gone: AfricanAmericans from Slavery to Freedom (1993). (afterword, reading list) (Picture book. 8-10)

About the Author

KADIR NELSON illustrated two Caldecott Honor Books: Moses and Libre : Le long voyage d’Henri. Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange won the Coretta Scott King Award. Will Smith’s Just The Two of Us won an NAACP Image Award, and his new book, We Are The Ship continues to garner major awards. Nelson showed artistic talent at age three and began working in oils by age sixteen. Kadir Nelson lives in Los Angeles.

How did people escape on the Underground Railroad? What was it like to land on Ellis Island?How did it feel to travel the Oregon Trail in a covered wagon? Ellen Levine has revealed worldsof fascinating adventure with her nonfiction books for young readers.Although Ellen Levine enjoys reading and writing fiction, most of her books for young readershave been nonfiction. "Writing nonfiction lets me in behind the scenes of the story. I enjoylearning new things and meeting new people, even if they lived 200 years ago.""Real heroes," Levine says, "aren't necessarily on TV or in the news. They can be ordinarypeople who are willing to take risks for causes they believe in. Nonfiction offers a way tointroduce young readers to real people who have shown tremendous courage, even when facedwith great danger. All of us have the potential. And one doesn't have to be a grown-up," sheadds.When she's not writing, Levine likes to share the excitement of research and the importance ofaccuracy with young readers. "Many young people think research is dull; you go to anencyclopedia, copy information, give it a title, and call it a report." Using her books asexamples, Ellen explains how to get other, more interesting information. "I may not mention theexact words, but I talk to young people about primary and secondary sources. If I'm speakingwith third graders, I ask them, 'Where would I go if I wanted to find out what it's like to be athird grader?' Most will say, 'Read a book.' But when they say, 'Ask a third grader,' I knowthey've understood what I mean by a primary source of inspiration."For If You Were an Animal Doctor, for example, Ellen witnessed an emergency operation on acow. While doing research in Wyoming for Ready, Aim, Fire!, her biography of Annie Oakley,she got to hold the gun Ms. Oakley is believed to have shot in the presence of the Queen ofEngland. "It gave me such a strong feeling about this person," she says. "That's part of research,too."Ellen Levine is the author of many acclaimed books, both fiction and nonfiction. Among them:If You Traveled West in a Covered Wagon, If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island, I Hate English!, If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King, and Secret Missions. Her recent book, Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories, was named one of the Ten Best Children's Books of the Year by The New York Times, and Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association.Ellen divides her time between New York City and Salem, New York.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press (January 1, 2007)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 043977733X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0439777339
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 9 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD490L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.25 x 0.25 x 11 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #59,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #55 in Children's 1800s American Historical Fiction
- #72 in Children's Books on Prejudice & Racism
- #194 in Children's Black & African American Story Books

Customer Reviews:
4.9 1,695 ratings

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Ellen Levine

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Ellen Levine has always been drawn to stories of people who struggled for justice, and of ordinary people who did extraordinary things. She was fascinated by Henry "Box" Brown, whose escape is recounted in The Underground Railroad by William Still, first published in 1872. Ms. Levine was awed by Henry's ingenious idea and moved by his incredible courage. Among the author's award-winning books are Freedom's Children, winner of the Jane Addams Peace Award and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and Darkness Over Denmark, a Jame Addams Peace Award Honor Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. She lives in New York City and Salem, New York.

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Philip B.

A Must Have for a Child's Library

Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020

Verified Purchase

Everything about this is incredible - the art has so much emotion and feeling imbued into it. You really can feel the story just in the images. The art is realistic and conveys so much detail (just look at the cover to get a sense of how powerful the art is).

As for the story, it's masterfully told - it has really good pacing for a children's story, the emotions unfold naturally and powerfully, and it really conveys its message in a clear and consistent manner. Children's books can really be atrocious in how they tell a story but this book is excellent.

2 people found this helpful

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AJS & EMS

Good discussion starter

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

This was such a great book. Igot it for my four year old who I would like to be as knowledgeable as possible on the poor treatment of African Americans in our history. I was uncomfortable with the author describing the master as "good" but it lead to a discussion with my son so that was a valuable lesson there as well. Please read this to your children.

2 people found this helpful

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ChangingLeaves

Beautiful Book

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2020

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This is a beautiful book. The illustrations are stunning. The story is fairly simple and easy to follow however - I read it to a 4 1/2 yr old and the content is a bit too complex for him. So I improvised :) But a gorgeous book that we will revisit next year.

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2023

Verified Purchase

It is a book that opens the mind to the horrors of slavery in a rewarding way. Not only is the story about a young man’s survival but hopefully the reader will want to learn more

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E

I’m SO glad I purchased this book!!!

Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2020

Verified Purchase

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book!!! Fascinating true story. I was in TEARS reading this! I felt as though I was transported into the pages. My heart broke as I read the words. The illustrations are amazing! I purchased this book to help me teach American History to my son. I’d give it TEN stars if I could.

10 people found this helpful

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Godschild

Nice Read.

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2022

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This was a nice read for children during the month of February for Black History month.

One person found this helpful

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Nicole Robbins

Raw and true story

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2021

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Raw and true story about Henry and slavery for kids. Probably not suitable for sensitive kids, but mine are 7 and 11 and they liked the story. Discussed the feelings Henry felt in the beginning, middle and end, also character traits. Great book to start a discussion about slavery.

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2023

Verified Purchase

I use this book with my reading groups my students were amazed that someone could Mail themselves in a box. They enjoyed it

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So so

Powerful illustrations

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

What a fantastic book, with the most powerful illustrations! A true story telling the tale of the pain of growing up as a slave. This is a must for any history topic on slavery in Key stage 1 and above. I highly recommend.

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Quratulain Khan

Reviewed in Canada on February 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

I think I would recommend this book to everyone who care about slavery and think everyone should be equal and live in peaceful time.

Javier Mancebo

Historia algo triste, los dibujos muy buenos.

Reviewed in Spain on March 26, 2015

Verified Purchase

Los dibujos me han encantado, y la historia también, pasa que es una historia algo dura para un niño porque habla de la esclavitud y porque aunque el libro trata de terminar con final feliz, no es del todo posible dado el tema que está tratando. Aunque es un libro ilustrado yo diría que es ideal a partir de unos 10 años por el tema que trata.

One person found this helpful

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LibraryLady

Beautiful

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

Beautiful picture book - great for introducing the topic of slavery with lots to discuss with children of all ages.

Sara

Excellent Book!

Reviewed in Canada on March 8, 2014

Verified Purchase

A wonderful way to teach Black History to elementary students. The writing in this book was beautiful. This story resonates with you long after you've finished reading it.

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