Henry's Freedom Box

Levine, Ellen. 2007. HENRY'S FREEDOM BOX. Ill. by Kadir Nelson. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439928788

*Plot Summary

Henry Brown is a slave in Richmond, Virginia in the mid-1800s. Henry’s life is full of injustices: he doesn’t know his birth date, he is separated from his mother and siblings, and he is eventually separated from his wife and children. Despite the tragedies Henry faces, he gains his freedom as a stowaway packed in a wooden box which is mailed from Virginia to Philadelphia. With the help of the Underground Railroad, Henry finally gains his freedom.

*Critical Analysis

Ellen Levine uses a simple, but effective style to tell this fictionalized account of Henry Brown’s real journey to freedom. The plot moves quickly with only a few uses of dialogue, so the character of Henry is revealed mostly through narration. The author makes great use of foreshadowing, as students will see the pattern in the prophetic words of both Henry’s mother and his wife regarding separation from family. Despite the obvious sadness and tragedy of the story, Levine shows both joy and sorrow in an understated way that allows readers to understand Henry’s world with limited explanation.

Working well with the interesting plot are Kadir Nelson’s beautiful illustrations. From the first page, the combination of text and paintings draws readers to Henry. “Henry Brown wasn’t sure how old he was. Henry was a slave,” the text reads. “And slaves weren’t allowed to know their birthdays.” These simple statements along with the haunting illustration in which Henry seems to be looking directly at the reader are attention-getting. Nelson’s representational paintings help us quickly feel close to the characters and add to the plot by creating tension and mood. Also adding to the mood are the colors Nelson uses to convey sunlight, shadows, and darkness. The mood enhances the drama and contributes to the enjoyment of the story.

Another interesting aspect of the illustrations is the depiction of Henry as he’s being transported in the box. Instead of always drawing the box completely closed, Nelson allows readers to “peek” inside by leaving one side open. To see Henry upside down and curled into a ball, adds tension, drama, and a sense of immediacy to the story. Finally, perspective is well-used in the illustrations as the wooden box, with its address to Philadelphia, sits in the foreground while Henry’s friends try to convince clerks to handle the package carefully in the background. Another picture portrays a close view of Henry’s pain as he adjusts to his confining surroundings and travels on his side. Nelson’s paintings make the story of Henry Brown seem even more remarkable.

*Personal Response

As soon as I saw the first page and read the first paragraph, I was hooked. The illustrations in this book are spectacular. Considering the primary function of illustrations in a picture book is to complement the text, Nelson is on target. I enjoyed the story itself, but the paintings are what made it seem real to me, particularly the ones showing Henry inside the box. Personally, I wanted to know more about Henry’s family members and whether he ever saw any of them again. Perhaps this would be a good jumping off point for research with children. I look forward to sharing this book in the library.

*Review excerpts

“Inspired by an actual 1830s lithograph, this beautifully crafted picture book briefly relates the story of Henry ‘Box’ Brown’s daring escape from slavery.”
School Library Journal

“Thanks to Nelson’s penetrating portraits, readers will feel as if they can experience Henry’s thoughts and feelings as he matures through unthinkable adversity.”
Publishers Weekly

*Connections

-Research the Underground Railroad and find other unusual or interesting stories of survival.
-Discuss and write about the theme of perseverance which is present in the book. Make personal connections or text to text connections around this theme.
-Research and write a short biography of the real Henry Brown. (Are all the facts presented in the book accurately? In what way has the story been fictionalized?)
-Discuss the losses Henry suffered in his family. This may be an opportunity to discuss grief and ways to deal with it.