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| Photo by: L. Propes |
But what happened to the freed slaves once they were in Canada?
Elijah of Buxton tells the story of Elijah, the first (fictional) child born in the settlement of Buxton, in what is now western Ontario. Buxton was founded by an abolitionist white Presbyterian minister to be a town for freed slaves. Buxton was not the only town whose initial residents were mostly former slaves, but it was the most successful (Curtis, 2007). Elijah's status as the first child born in Buxton means he receives just a bit more attention than the other children born there after him. Over the course of the story, Elijah learns to appreciate the very freedom he has because of his birthplace. Between overhearing stories from the adults in Buxton and his own involvement in an attempt to aid a fellow resident purchase his family's freedom, Elijah sees his freedom for the precious gift that it is.
Elijah Freeman is an ordinary eleven year-old boy. He has school, chores, his friends, and a talent for throwing stones at his intended targets. Elijah's mother calls him "fra-gile". Elijah isn't physically fragile. He's a sensitive and often perceptive young man who often wears his heart on his sleeve. Elijah also happens to have a healthy fear of snakes. His parents, both escaped slaves, want Elijah to make the most of the opportunity that freedom have given them all. The novel covers the rhythm of life in Buxton over the course of several months. New residents arrive in Buxton with origins shrouded in mystery. One resident finally has acquired enough money to purchase his wife and two children. Slave catchers are rumored to have made it as far north as Canada. A carnival comes to the neighboring town.
An underlying tension permeates the novel, introduced in the opening pages. It often revolves the character of the Preacher, a man Elijah can't bring himself to trust completely, even though he feels a minister ought to be trustworthy. Elijah's dealings with the Preacher always leave him unsettled, and feeling that something wrong has happened and unsure of how to articulate his feelings. Plus, the Preacher refuses to live in Buxton and abide by its rules. His past is a blank page to the Buxton residents. The stories he spins about how he manages to acquire certain things, like a pair of matched pistols, ring hollow. But, he is the Preacher. There's also the tension between the adults, who remember their lives of often harsh servitude, and the children who have only known Buxton. There is also the tension of the escaped slaves, remembering their family members that were left behind in the South.
The pace of the novel meanders a little. It feels like a river, flowing placidly along its course, curving and twisting as the landscape changes until it hits a sudden drop and the action comes in a rapid burst until it levels out again. There are several instances in the book where the action rises and falls, but the actual climax of the novel occurs late in the book. It does, however, drive the final nail into the coffin for Elijah's "fra-gile" nature. The pace of the novel complements Elijah's maturation, as it happens with so many children, in fits and starts.
Curtis writes the narrative of the novel from Elijah's point of view, so not only is the dialogue written in dialect, so is the narrative text. There are a few terms that might be unfamiliar to some readers, but their meaning is clear from the characters reactions. Their voices can clearly be heard inside a reader's head, and this novel would lend itself well to a read-aloud. The language is appropriate for the time period and for the age of the story's narrator.
Curtis is a master in this book of showing the reader events and their effect on the characters, rather than just telling them. He often shows the readers the effect of slavery on families, particularly when a new family, the Taylors, arrives in Buxton. The Misses Duncan, sisters, recognize Mrs. Taylor as their baby sister, sold to Arkansas from North Carolina when Mrs. Taylor was just a small child with their brother. Curtis allows the situation of unfold through the dialogue between the Misses Duncan and Mr. Taylor and Elijah's private observations about the way the adults act in this potentially disruptive situation. Elijah is, in fact, an ideal observer of the life in Buxton. As a child, he often fades into the background and overhears conversations that he would otherwise not be privy to had the adults known he was listening. Elijah's internal commentary also displays his growing maturation and provides a window into the community politics of Buxton.
This is a look at a place that isn't even on the radar of most American history classes. Of course most students have been taught that many escaped slaves ended up in Canada, but their class narrative ends at the 49th parallel. Curtis visited the settlement of Buxton (it still exists, but primarily as a museum) and used many of their resources to construct the history of Elijah and his community. Several events in the book were inspired by actual events, which he notes in an author's note at the end of the novel. He even remarks that Buxton was such a successful town due to the strict rules that governed the appearance of houses and their property in a mid-eighteenth century precursor of a homeowners association. Small details, like how long it would take for mail to be delivered to Buxton from the United States or the value of a nickel, bring the historical era to vivid life. Curtis offers a small reference list in a brief history of Buxton (aka the Elgin Settlement at Buxton) as well as a timeline of the history of Buxton, and encourages readers to try to visit the museum.
This would be an excellent resource to use in a history class, especially if they are studying the role of slavery in U.S. history. This would also be an excellent story to tell during African-American History Month, because it would probably be a brand-new episode of African-American history for many students to experience. The Buxton National Historic Site and Museum has a website that includes teaching resources for classrooms (see "The Learning Centre" tab). The Día Family Book Club has a free downloadable lesson plan that can be used in a family literacy program about Elijah of Buxton.
Elijah of Buxton is a Newberry Honor book, the winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, and the winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction. It is also available as an audiobook, read by Mirron Willis.
Other books suggested by the Buxton museum include: I Came as a Stranger by Bryan Prince, The Last Safe House by Barbara Greenwood, North Star to Freedom by Gena K. Gorrel, and Many Thousand Gone by Virginia Hamilton.
Christopher Paul Curtis has written many books about the African-American experience throughout history. His novels include The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963 (Newberry Honor; Coretta Scott King Honor); Bud, Not Buddy (Newberry Medal winner; Coretta Scott King Award); The Mighty Miss Malone, Bucking the Sarge; and the upcoming The Madmen of Piney Woods, a companion book to Elijah of Buxton.
Readers can also visit Curtis' website at www.nobodybutcurtis.com.
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"It's funny, it's sad, and it has characters who do their best to stand up to what's in front of them and do the right thing. Humor and horror and courage are never far apart in this story, sometimes intertwined in a single scene. Curtis is a masterful storyteller, and this is his best work yet." -- Dean Schneider, Book Links, 2008
"Elijah is an engaging protagonist, and whether he is completing his chores or lamenting his Latin studies or experiencing his first traveling carnival, his descriptions are full of charm and wonder. Although his colloquial language may prove challenging for some readers, it brings an authenticity and richness to the story that is well worth the extra effort it might require... His guileless recounting of the people he meets and the horrors he sees will allow readers to understand the dangers of the Underground Railroad without being overwhelmed by them... Curtis's talent for dealing with painful periods of history with grace and sensitivity is as strong as ever." -- Kim Dare, School Library Journal, 2007
"Curtis deals with the difficult topic of slavery from a youthful perspective, allowing Elijah to learn of its sadness and pain first hand. This is done without overwhelming the reader, by infusing the novel with humor. Character development and voice are great strengths of this terrific novel." -- Spencer Korson, Library Media Connection, 2008
"Curtis' rare combination of humor, suspense, and emotional depth approaches the subject of slavery obliquely at first but gradually leads Elijah to the human tragedy at its core." -- Booklist, 2008_________________________________________________________________________________
References:
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2007. Elijah of buxton. Boston: Sandpiper.
Dare, Kim. 2007. Elijah of buxton. School Library Journal 53 (10) (10): 146-, http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2048/login?url=http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=27080818&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Elijah of buxton. 2008. Booklist 104 (9) (1): 12-, http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2048/login?url=http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=28830502&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Glantz, Shelley. 2008. Elijah of buxton. Library Media Connection 26 (4) (01): 71-, http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2048/login?url=http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=28106064&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2048/login?url=http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=a9h&AN=35265694&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
The compromise of 1850 and the fugitive slave act. [cited March 23 2014]. Available from
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2951.html.
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