HARRIET TUBMAN

A loving tribute to Harriet Tubman kicks off a chapter-book series spinoff of the She Persisted books created by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger.

There are many books written about the incredible historical figure that is Harriet Tubman. This chapter-book biography humanizes “Minty” and brings her to life in ways many other texts for children do not. With language that reflects contemporary usage (enslaved people rather than slaves in most cases) and makes clear the brutality of the period, Pinkney introduces young readers to intimate details of Tubman’s life, referring to her subject as Minty during her youth and Harriet after her marriage. Readers will meet Minty’s loving parents, Old Rit and Old Ben, wince at the cruelty of the Brodess family and other people who trafficked enslaved people, and cheer for Harriet as she navigates the complexities and intersectionality of surviving as a Black woman in the pre-emancipation United States. Pinkney’s powerful prose details Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad and, later, as a Union spy—and her fruitless advocacy for a pension afterward. Flint’s grayscale artwork, done to emulate Boiger’s style, gracefully accompanies the writing, creating a mood that explores the gravity of Tubman’s life and deeds while still making her approachable. This is the first of 13 books, to be published one per month, that will bring the stories of monumental women to the forefront.

Pinkney and Flint have created a standout series opener.