* Henry's Freedom Box    Ellen Levine

This is an excellent story about a slave named Henry who works his hands to the bone on a tobacco plantation and gets seperated from his wife and children because they are sold to pay off debts.  He decides he must get to Philadelphia and freedom, and to find his family again.  He creates an ingenius plan with a local doctor who is an abolishinst and helps heal his hurt, worn down fingers.  He needs to miss work so he pours acid on his hands that will enable them useless on the tobacco plantation, and he decides to mail himself in a box to Philadelphia.  He gets mailed from the help of his doctor, and soon has freedom.  It is a great read and makes you happy to know he got away to freedom.  This is great for any history lesson on slavery and the underground railroad and abolishinists.  It is best for younger children who understand a little about slavery, because there is not too much sad and upsetting content.  2nd grade and up will be able to handle this story and learning of slavery in a less harsh and traumatizing way.