BIBLIOGRAPHY
Curtis, Christopher P. 2007. Elijah
of Buxton. New York: Scholastic. ISBN: 9780545104739
PLOT SUMMARY
Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman, first free-born child in
Buxton, Canada, tries to prove to the family and neighbors that he is mature
and no longer a “fra-gile” little boy. As he seeks justice for a friend, Elijah
faces situations that require the maturity most adults do not possess.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Elijah of Buxton
is a fictitious coming-of-age tale with some truth sewn in. Elijah Freeman, 11,
struggles with being “grown-up” enough for the grown-ups. Readers will relate
well to the boys Elijah strives to be as his fears get the best of him. The
adults in the Settlement live disciplined lives representative of the lives
they found freedom from. They work hard and take pride in what they have,
knowing it was earned, fearing it could be taken away with one wrong move.
Much of the information included in the text builds
background information about the characters and Settlement. While the readers
may think these details are unimportant, as the plot unfolds, they will see how
important each one is. While the text is easy for children to understand,
Curtis does not refrain from giving even the gory details about the adults’
freedom stories or the dicey situations Elijah finds himself getting into.
Curtis explicitly states the setting of the story, offering
some background information within the plot such as the regulations for the
appearance of residents’ homes. As the characters go into other places (the
woods, neighboring settlements, cities in the United States), Curtis does a
fine job of depicting the surroundings. The Settlement and its strict
regulations and rules reflect the stringent ways the citizens lived as they
hesitantly enjoyed their freedom.
The themes covered in the text reveal challenges faced by
the people of this era as well as challenges readers would currently face. Elijah
faced the man versus man conflict of growing up from a frightened child to a
courageous young man. He has many chances to prove his maturity but fails. He
is faced with the chance to find justice for a friend. In his final task, he
proves to be a hero and shows his family, neighbors, and peers how he has
grown.
Another theme dealt with in this book is the timeless good
versus evil. Elijah thought he could trust the man known as the Preacher.
Readers are quickly introduced to this man and can see how Elijah looks up to
him, regardless of his parents’ warnings. Unfortunately, as is part of growing
up, Elijah learns that not everything (or everyone) is what he seems.
A significant quality of this book is its language. Rather than narration from a third person,
Curtis places Elijah in the seat of narrator. As such, Elijah’s language
showcases the dialect typical for a person from his upbringing and culture. The
entire book is written as if this eleven year-old boy were speaking aloud, with
the use of improper grammar and popular slang terms. The use of this vernacular
gives validity and genuineness to the book.
Curtis offers an author’s note at the closing of the text to
describe more about the Settlement and give more information about his
inspiration for the book. He states that
while the story is mostly fictional, it is based on pieces of truth. The author
is an award-winning author known for his historical fiction, which helps
establish even more credibility. While sources are not directly cited, Curtis leads
readers to his own website for more information about the Elgin Settlement and
Buxton Mission of Raleigh. He also encourages readers to visit or further
research the Settlement for more facts about life in this era.
AWARDS AND REVIEWS
Newbery Honor Book, 2008
Coretta Scott King Award Winner, 2008
Book of the Year Award for Children, 2008, Canada winner
“This arresting, surprising novel of reluctant heroism is
about nothing less than nobility.”
—Horn Book,
Nov/Dec 2007
“Curtis's talent for dealing with painful periods of history
with grace and sensitivity is as strong as ever.”
—School Library
Journal, Oct. 2007
CONNECTIONS
Other Books by the
Author
Curtis, Christopher P. 2000. The Watsons go to Birmingham-1963. New York: Laurel Leaf. ISBN:
9780440228004
Curtis, Christopher P. 2004. Bud, not Buddy. New York: Laurel Leaf. ISBN: 9780553494105
Alternate Endings
Books don’t always end the way we expect them to. Rewrite
the last chapter (or two) to tell the ending you expected.
The Real Buxton
Use the Author’s Note as a starting point to further
research the Elgin Settlement and Buxton Mission of Raleigh. Present your
information in a trifold brochure detailing the features and characteristics of
the Settlement.
Fugitive Slave Law of
1850
Find out about the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. Why did this
law make it risky for African Americans living in the Settlement, which was in
Canada, to cross over to Detroit, which was in the USA? How did the law make it
unsafe even for those born in freedom, like Elijah Freeman?
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