Review: ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis

1. BIOGRAPHY

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0439-02344-3

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman is the first baby born free in Buxton, Ontario, a settlement for runaway slaves which was established in 1849. His mother calls him a “fra-gile” child due to his sensitive and gullible nature which sometimes gets the better of him. This begins to change when Elijah’s friend, Mr. Leroy, is tricked out of the money he was going to use to purchase his family out of slavery, by a smooth-talking, self-proclaimed “preacher.”  Elijah feels responsible and bravely sets out to help Mr. Leroy rescue his family and bring the preacher to justice. On this dangerous journey to America and back, Elijah sees for the first time the terrible way slaves are treated, and learns what it truly means to be born free. He grows in maturity from a “fra-gile” boy to a strong, brave, and resourceful young man.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Christopher Paul Curtis brings the characters to life in this entertaining book as he details what life would have been like in the Canadian refuge for escaped slaves. Through careful research, he has woven the two aspects of this story together: the fictional characters who make Buxton, Ontario their home, and actual events. Curtis has created a story which teaches and entertains at the same time. The author’s note at the end of the book contains more information about the actual settlement of Buxton which was founded by a white Presbyterian Minister, Reverend William King.

The humorous and somewhat gullible Elijah with his unsophisticated dialect is an apt guide through this book. This story, told from the first-person perspective of a child, will stir the emotions of the reader. There is humor when Elijah and his friend think that the phrase their teacher has written on the chalkboard, (familiarity breeds contempt), means that they are going to study sexual reproduction. Readers are almost brought to tears when the former slaves in the settlement welcome a newly escaped slave family to Buxton. Although it starts out a little slowly as various characters from the settlement are introduced, once a letter from America arrives the action becomes spell-binding. Young readers who love adventure stories will be enthralled by the danger Elijah faces, feel his horror when he sees the conditions re-captured slaves are kept in, and cheer him on as he heads back home to safety.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “Curtis brings the story full-circle, demonstrating how Elijah the "fra-gile" child has become sturdy, capable of stealing across the border in pursuit of the crooked preacher, and strong enough to withstand a confrontation with the horrors of slavery. The powerful ending is violent and unsettling, yet also manages to be uplifting.”

BOOKLIST starred review: “Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller.”

5. CONNECTIONS

This is an excellent novel to read with a class during Black History Month. It should be taught in conjunction with studying the Underground Railroad. Students should use non-fiction sources such as the internet and research books in the library to find information about the people who helped escaped slaves to safety and learn more about where they settled.

*More books by Christopher Paul Curtis:

Curtis, Christopher Paul. The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963. ISBN 044022800X

Curtis, Christopher Paul. Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN 0440413281

*Novels about the Underground Railroad

Coopey, Judith Redline. 2010. Redfield Farm: A Novel of the Underground Railroad. ISBN 0978924746

Tobin, Jacqueline L. 2000. Hidden in Plain View: A Secret Story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad. ISBN 0385497679