Christopher Paul Curtis has written an amazing book about an eleven year old boy named Elijah who was the first freeborn child in Buxton. His parents were former slaves in America along wih almost every other resident in Buxton. Elijah finds himself getting into situations that he shouldn't be in with his friend Cooter or with the Preacher. Elijah learns a great deal of knowledge through his adventure in this book relating to slavery and life lessons themselves. Elijah doesn't know how slavery can impact someone's life tremendously except for the little he hears through the community. Elijah has great talent for chunking stones and finds that he can be fra-gile much of the time, but when times call him to be strong he pulls through.

This book is an enjoyable adventure for parents and their children to read together so that they can learn life lessons together. This book can be a little frustrating because of the dialect used but once the reader gets a hang of it, the book is a quick read. Children can relate to Elijah through many of the obstacles that he face, such as tall tales told to scare and whether to believe them or not. Children will also relate times that they misused or spoke a word that was not to be spoken and getting yelled at for it. Everyone who has ever been oppressed can also relate to the book and how important it is to gain the freedom that you once longed for. This story is humorous, but enduring as well. A great deal of knowledge can be learned by following Elijah on his journey from being a boy to becoming the adult he must be.