Growing up a slave in South Carolina, Robert Smalls always dreamed of the moment freedom would be within his grasp. Now that moment was here.
Robert stood proudly at the Planter's wheel. Only seven miles of water lay between the ship and the chance of freedom in Union territory. With precision and amazing courage, he navigated past the Confederate forts in the harbor and steered the ship toward the safety of the Union fleet. Just one miscalculation would be deadly, but for Robert, his family, and his crewmates, the risk was worth taking.
Seven Miles to Freedom is the compelling account of the daring escape of Robert Smalls, a slave steamboat wheelman who became one of the Civil War’s greatest heroes. His steadfast courage in the face of adversity is an inspiring model for all who attempt to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Gr 3-7- Born and raised a slave in coastal South Carolina, Smalls worked on the docks, then learned shipbuilding and piloting. In an amazing feat of daring in 1862, he stole a Confederate ship by impersonating the captain, sent a rowboat to pick up waiting family members, sailed past five Confederate forts, and turned the ship over to Union troops blockading the area. Smalls became the first African-American captain of a United States vessel; he later served in the South Carolina legislature and the United States Congress. He was featured in Eloise Greenfield's collective biography How They Got Over (Amistad, 2003), but this book is an excellent vehicle to bring his story to a wider audience. Although presented in picture-book format, the text is detailed and there is a lot of it; the artistically beautiful but impressionistic images require some visual maturity from the audience. The oil paintings employ thick, bold strokes and deep saturated colors to convey Smalls's strength and determination in successfully delivering his and his crew's family members to freedom.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
Anonymous
Posted September 1, 2008
This is a true story about Robert Smalls, a slave born in 1839, who lived in South Carolina. While his master was kind to him, he grew to hate slavery because he saw the terrible treatment of other slaves. Working in Charleston, where he married and had children, he learned how to pilot steamboats along the coast. Following the attack on Ft. Sumter and the beginning of the American Civil War, Robert, his family, and his crew made plans for a daring escape to the Union forces. You will want to read this book to see how they tried to get away and if their plan succeeded. Biographical accounts, such as this one, which tell about interesting and exciting events in the lives of important people, whether famous or not, are an excellent way to learn more about the history of our nation. The author concludes with an Afterword which relates further information about the life of Robert Smalls and his role as a true hero in the story of African-American advancement, along with a list of sources in case anyone would like to do further study. This book is both fun and educational, and I think that children will like reading it immensely, as I did.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Review title: Lit Up With Hope. *Unusual color illustrations, unlike any seen in other books. At age twelve what was Robert's employment position? And what was his monthly "salary"? Do you know what a "wheelman" is? During the Spring of 1861 South Carolina and several other states left being a part of the U.S.A. and became known as the Confederate States of America and the northern states remained as the U.S.A. or "the Union." This was the beginning of the American Civil War. How do you think this impacted Robert's life? What happened in the Spring of 1862? As you read this biography you'll learn these and other facts.
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Posted September 18, 2009
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Overview
Growing up a slave in South Carolina, Robert Smalls always dreamed of the moment freedom would be within his grasp. Now that moment was here.
Robert stood proudly at the Planter's wheel. Only seven miles of water lay between the ship and the chance of freedom in Union territory. With precision and amazing courage, he navigated past the Confederate forts in the harbor and steered the ship toward the safety of the Union fleet. Just one ...