Journey to Galveston
When Mr. Barrington’s mysterious trunk suddenly appears in the midst of Nick, Jackie and Hannah, they are amazed to watch a family of slaves step out from it, followed quickly by a snarling dog and its slave catcher owner. The man snatches Jackie – mistaken for an escaped slave – from the house, and Nick and Hannah follow them back in time to Texas circa 1865. There, Nick, Hannah, and Jackie find themselves trying to escape from a ruthless slave master as they attempt to reunite two slave twins torn apart by prejudice and hatred. Their journey takes them to Galveston via a spooky witch in a dark swamp, a dangerous river ride, and a magnificent paddle wheeler. In Galveston, the trio learns that the Civil War has ended slavery and that Jackie and the twins are free.
I read this book to/with my nine-year-old son, and though there were a few vocabulary words that we had to work out – a teachable moment – we both enjoyed the story very much. The history is accurate and, despite the horrific nature of slavery, was told in a detail appropriate for young readers. More focused on Texas history – Juneteenth, slavery on Galveston – Journey to Galveston is a great book to introduce young readers to the issues surrounding slavery in America.
Bryan Dumas
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My favorite part was when they saw a ghost on the porch. It was my favorite part because it excited me on the adventure to Galveston and it was a big loop to the story. I learned that the Civil War stopped slavery and that a man named General Granger stopped slavery in Texas. The thing I didn’t like was when a croc ate a dog, and when Sam got whipped and salted. I would recommend this to ages 6-11, and I give this 4 stars. This book was great.
Ethan Dumas, Age 9
