Box

By Carole Boston Weatherford, Michele Wood (Illustrator)

A man risks everything to escape slavery by mailing himself to freedom.

6.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.1/5 Goodreads · 847 ratings

56 pages· 3,020 words· Est. 24 min read-aloud

$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Henry Brown, born into slavery, loses his family to the cruel trade. With nothing left, he devises a daring escape plan: shipping himself in a box to freedom. As he navigates the perilous journey, aided by the Underground Railroad, will he find the liberty he seeks? This powerful narrative, told in poetic stanzas, captures the resilience and courage of a man determined to reclaim his life. Vivid illustrations and historical context enrich this tale of hope and defiance.

"You don't know the worth of the well until it's dry."

— from the book

From the publisher

In a moving, lyrical tale about the cost and fragility of freedom, a New York Times best-selling author and an acclaimed artist follow the life of a man who courageously shipped himself out of slavery.

What have I to fear?

My master broke every promise to me.

I lost my beloved wife and our dear children.

All, sold South. Neither my time nor my body is mine.

The breath of life is all I have to lose.

And bondage is suffocating me.

Henry Brown wrote that long before he came to be known as Box, he “entered the world a slave.” He was put to work as a child and passed down from one generation to the next – as property. When he was an adult, his wife and children were sold away from him out of spite. Henry Brown watched as his family left bound in chains, headed to the deeper South. What more could be taken from him? But then hope – and help – came in the form of the Underground Railroad. Escape!

In stanzas of six lines each, each line representing one side of a box, celebrated poet Carole Boston Weatherford powerfully narrates Henry Brown’s story of how he came to send himself in a box from slavery to freedom. Strikingly illustrated in rich hues and patterns by artist Michele Wood, Box is augmented with historical records and an introductory excerpt from Henry’s own writing as well as a time line, notes from the author and illustrator, and a bibliography.

Awards

Newbery Honor (2021)

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 56
Words: 3,020
Reading age: 10–13
Audience: Picture

Themes & topics

Books about 19th century Books about slavery Books about history Books about abolitionists Books about activism

What readers & critics say

Reviews

6.0

out of 7

6.0

“Based on the true story of Henry Brown. Born a slave, tells one man’s story of his experience with slavery, with family separation, and of faith and courage. The story is told effectively in poetic form, in six-line stanzas, each with a bold heading that emphasizes the theme of that block of text. Although this is a picture book, the content makes it more for suitable for middle graders and above. It could be used effectively in the classroom for discussions of slavery, trade, nineteenth-century U.S. history, human rights, geography…It would be a shame if this book was overlooked by older readers because it is a picture book. The story comes to life through illustrations by Michele Wood with bold paintings in vivid colors. In both text and illustrations, the book resonates with authenticity of the black experience in America during the early to mid-1800s.”

Grammy

Trusted reviewer

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