I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Just Read. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Daisy's Search for Freedom by Bertha Schwartz Series: The Searchers #1
Published by Ambassador International on June 17th 2018
Genres: Family & Relationships, Historical, History, JUVENILE FICTION, Social Issues, Social Themes
Pages: 104
Source: Just Read
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It’s the 1850s and Daisy, a slave girl from Alabama, is thrilled when her Mama is brought to her plantation to be the new cook. Six Oaks Plantation has been Daisy’s home for years, and the future looks bright now that she and her Mama have been reunited. The happiness doesn’t last, though, when a dangerous encounter with a notorious slave hunter endangers Daisy’s life. She has no choice but to run. Leaving behind everything she has ever known, Daisy strikes out alone on the Underground Railroad.
Daisy’s search for freedom leads her deep into the woods. Along the way she is joined by Simon, a four-year-old boy and his pet kitten. Pursued by dogs, uncertainty, and a slave tracker determined to capture them by any means necessary, Daisy starts to wonder if she will ever be safe again. Does Jesus care about runaway slaves lost in the woods?
Daisy's Search for Freedom contains thought-provoking discussion questions for young readers.
I had to sit back and remind myself that this was a middle grade book. I didn’t keep that in mind before I jumped in reading and I found myself getting frustrated that it was all too easy. But in reality it wasn’t. Yes, Daisy and David caught some lucky breaks but that’s not always the reality of these situations. I don’t think that those other situations would find an appropriate audience in the middle grade reader. Set during my favorite period of history, the Civil War, Daisy found a perfect audience in my library. It provided a different view of this time and I think is a perfect addition to the reading material of any reader, reading level aside.
Daisy was separated from her family fives years before, until her Mom shows up as the new Cook at Six Oaks Plantation where Daisy lives as a personal slave of a young lady near her age. An entitled and spoiled young lady. A young lady who’s choices and behaviors lead Daisy on her search for freedom. Along her path through the Underground Railroad young Daisy was paired up with another younger boy who was also escaping. I was a little frustrated at the lack of detail on their journey. I feel like even a young reader would get more caught up in the story with more meat to go on. It felt very basic with minimal depth to their actual journey and to their actual emotions on that journey. Each person they met lacked depth as well. They were painted as very good or very bad, for the most part. Even the gray characters left me longing for more about them.
Not to give away a lot of spoilers or take away from future readers but I do love a happy ending. During this time period the ratio of happy endings were low. Not all who fled made it out safely. Not all who journeyed arrived. Most didn’t. Not only did Daisy make it out, with a few bumps along the trail, she made it back to what she was looking for all along. I think this is a great book to incorporate into the library of a young reader as an introduction, or even companion, when learning about this historical time period. I am a firm believer that without education and a remembrance of where we have been we are more likely to repeat that history. This is a history that should never be repeated. While this book doesn’t stand alone as an educational piece is does help to broader understanding, child to child. Gravy, even child to adult. Sometimes we need those little reminders that not all who wander are found but with Jesus anything is possible.
[…] is my second dip into the Searchers series. I reviewed ‘Daisy’s Search for Freedom‘ back in December. I appreciate this series written for middle grade readers that takes on […]