HARRIET TUBMAN

Words and images depict Harriet Tubman’s dangerous work of leading enslaved people to freedom.

This graphic-novel treatment of a part of Harriet Tubman’s life focuses on the aftermath of her own flight to freedom and her early efforts to liberate others from slavery. The first few months were disorienting and scary for a woman who had lived her life in bondage. In flashbacks, readers can experience its harshness. When she receives word that her brothers are about to be sold further south, Harriet begins to prepare to bring them to freedom. The journey is a harrowing one, but Harriet’s commanding leadership successfully guides them to Philadelphia, then to upstate New York and finally Canada. In addition to some of the more familiar aspects of Tubman’s story, this volume shines a light on both the dramatic aspects of freeing enslaved people and the emotional healing required of those who were successful in their quest for freedom. The strong family ties are a significant focus and demonstrate the motivations of many who worked in the Underground Railroad movement. The graphic format works exceptionally well in telling this story, Lee’s paneled images heightening the tension and carrying a significant weight in the storytelling. An essay by Carole Boston Weatherford opens the story; notes on specific panels that follow it are a distinctive feature that provides context and supporting information.

An insightful and fresh addition to the story of an iconic figure.