Elijah of Buxton

Step into 1860s Buxton, Ontario — a real settlement built by families who escaped slavery — through the eyes of eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman. Elijah has a claim to fame: he's the first child in town born into freedom. But most folks just see a jumpy, talkative kid who's afraid of snakes and gets teased for being "fra-gile." That changes fast when a con man swindles a family friend out of money meant to buy relatives out of bondage in the South. Elijah sets off across the border to track the thief down, and along the way comes face-to-face with the brutal reality his community fled — forcing him to find a courage he never knew he had. Written with Christopher Paul Curtis's signature blend of humor and heart, this multi-award-winning novel — a Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Award winner, and Scott O'Dell Award winner for historical fiction — is a powerful, funny, and moving read for middle-grade readers and up. This edition includes bonus "After Words" content: an author interview and additional historical background.