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Summary: Barefoot, an escaping slave, must rely on the elements to help him find his way out of harm. He is on his way north to be free. In this stunning illustrated book, Barefoot goes through the adventure to become a free man.
APA: Edwards, P. D. (1998). Barefoot: escape on the Underground Railroad. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books.
Review: "The story of one slave's escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad, as seen from the perspective of the watchful creatures of the night who speed him on his way. The ``Barefoot'' refers to the slave who has taken flight through dark woods, ``fearful of what lay before him [and] terrified of what lay behind.'' Heron, squirrel, mouse, deer, and frog see and hear the slave, and close behind, the Heavy Boots who pursue him. The creaking frog leads the Barefoot to fresh water, a hungry field mouse shows him which berries to eat. Finally he comes to a ``stop'' on the Underground Railroad--a cabin he recognizes by the quilt that is hanging out front. Readers will need some suspension of disbelief to determine whether the night creatures are ``helping'': Mosquitoes bite only the Heavy Boots, the deer leads the pursuers far away, lightning bugs show the Barefoot the quilt when the moon goes under a cloud. Nevertheless, Edwards and Cole (Some Smug Slug, p. 528, etc.) create a moving story that conveys the terror that drove slaves to flee plantations, risking their lives for freedom."
Citation: N.A. "Barefoot." Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pamela-duncan-edwards/barefoot/.
Library Use: The book would be a great addition to a library, especially during February's Black History Month. It is a strong showcase of the danger that slaves went through to find safety.
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