Josiah Henson was born a slave in Maryland in 1789. He watched his father get whipped, was sold three times, and was himself beaten for wanting to learn to read when he was nine. And yet he remained a loyal servant. But when his master cheated him out of several hundred dollars in 1829, Josiah’s outlook changed, and he became determined to free his family from bondage, as well as end the practice that enslaved so many.

Josiah’s journey from submissive slave to conductor on the Underground Railroad and tireless advocate for the education of former slaves in Dresden, Ontario, is both heartbreaking and inspiring. And Rona Arato does not mince words when describing acts of cruelty or courage.

The book includes songs, photos, and illustrations, all of which serve to provide breaks from difficult material, while adding to a young reader’s understanding of this dark period in history. The discussion of how Henson was likely the inspiration for the main character in Uncle Tom’s Cabin is also very interesting – Arato explains the pros and cons of being thus identified.

Some words or concepts may be difficult for younger or less experienced readers, but a list of resources at the end of the book will hopefully encourage curious readers to seek out more information (although I would quibble about the inclusion in this list of a Wikipedia article).

Working for Freedom is part of the Stories of Canada series, the aim of which is to “expose young readers to the important figures and events of Canadian history.” Despite the fact that much of Josiah’s life was dedicated to social improvement in the U.S., what he was able to accomplish in his adopted Canadian home certainly merits his story’s inclusion in this group.