Elijah of Buxton

Elijah of Buxton. Christopher Paul Curtis. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. 344 pages. $16.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-439-02344-3. Grades 4-7.

My Thoughts/Potential Reactions…

I found it difficult to get in to this story, and once I did push through my initial hesitance I still couldn’t get engaged. While I appreciate the new knowledge I have gained about the Elgin Settlement and Buxton Mission of Raleigh, as well as the fact that Canada did become a place of refuge for runaway slaves, I did not particularly enjoy this book. I think this book is very well written, and that Christopher Paul Curtis does an amazing job with the dialect, but it just didn’t appeal to me. I wonder if readers in the target audience would feel the same way.

I think some readers would be distracted by the dialect in the story, especially if they are not strong readers. I also think that some readers may find this book boring. Yes, there are some action filled, amusing aspects (running through the woods to get away from Mr. Leroy, the snake in the cookie jar experience, the carnival, the hunt to America for the Preacher), but I thought they were far and few between. I also think that young readers will be bored by all the talk of Elijah’s fragility. I know all of this examination and wonder of being grown is supposed to develop his character and make us relate to him, but it just got on my nerves. I hope that some young readers can identify with his growing up, but it didn’t happen for me and I doubt it will for every reader. I do think kids will laugh at the classroom scene where Cooter and Elijah ponder the meaning of “Familiarity breeds contempt.” That was one of the funny, memorable parts. I felt that this book just dragged on and was a little lengthy and I think kids will react similarly.

Clearly, however, since it is the recipient of the Coretta Scott King and Newberry Honor Awards, this book is an excellent addition to children’s literature. I do think some kids will love this historical fiction novel due to the tumultuous and emotional time period it depicts. I am sure that some readers will be touched by the story of freed slaves and the stress of leaving your family behind. I think this book would be an interesting tool in teaching about this time period in the classroom and that kids would prefer this to textbooks. I am glad that there is not a definite ending and that everything doesn’t get wrapped up neatly at the end of this story. If it did so I feel like the book would be sending a false message, since more times than not slave stories ended in tragedy. I think this might be a downer for some readers, but I admire its honesty.

I hate that I am ragging on this book, but I have read so many GREAT books this summer and this one didn’t register on my fantastic list. I would much rather recommend I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly: The Diary of Patsy, a Freed Girl to readers looking for a novel about slaves. Of course these two books do tell completely different stories, but I found Hansen’s novel more relatable and easy to read. Granted, I think Elijah of Buxton would be more appealing to the male reader. Elijah’s point of view, the mystery pistols, breaking the rules, ragging on the girls, getting in trouble, etc. are all things that would make boys enjoy this story. I am not sure if girls would find a character they could relate to and be interested in following. I do think that this piece of literature should be publicized and acknowledged and I am glad I read it, but it just wasn’t one of my favorites.