Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge
Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge
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Perma-Bound from Publisher's Hardcover ©2021--
Publisher's Hardcover ©2021--
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Farrar, Straus, Giroux
Annotation: A powerful, lyrical OwnVoices picture book about the enslavement of Ona Judge and her self-emancipation from George Washington's household.
Genre: [Biographies]
 
Reviews: 5
Catalog Number: #221527
Format: Perma-Bound from Publisher's Hardcover
Copyright Date: 2021
Edition Date: 2021 Release Date: 01/05/21
Illustrator: Mallett, Keith,
Pages: 1 volume (unpaged)
ISBN: Publisher: 0-374-30704-0 Perma-Bound: 0-7804-8545-9
ISBN 13: Publisher: 978-0-374-30704-2 Perma-Bound: 978-0-7804-8545-7
Dewey: 921
LCCN: 2020018822
Dimensions: 28 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

The true story of a young enslaved woman who escapes the family of George Washington."Ona Judge, Ona Judge / Why you run away / Ona Judge?" So begins this inquiry into her quest for freedom; the question is repeated throughout the narrative. "You had fine dresses [and] soft shoes" and other material benefits most enslaved people lacked. Ona is passed around the Washington family, first a playmate for the children, then a personal servant and seamstress for Martha Washington, never working in the fields. But when an aging Martha gives Ona to her granddaughter Eliza, "now a mean and sassy woman," Ona walks out into the Philadelphia night. Here, the tenor of the text changes-"Didn't you know you broke the law?"-and the illustrations become dark as she makes her way around corners and hides in a basement. A framed picture-a departure from the full-bleed pages and spreads that depicts the current action-gives a glimpse of her future family life: "You dreamed a dream / You would make true." As she reaches a boat, and freedom, day breaks and readers see the first hint of Ona's smile. "Then run, Ona Judge, run." With a distinctive, haunting voice, powerful images, and thought-provoking story structure, this unique look at a remarkable young woman's life choices and decisions offers an utterly necessary but seldom highlighted perspective on the contradictions within our society's foundations. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.1% of actual size.)A powerful antidote to whitewashed cultural mythology. (author's note, timeline, bibliography, places to visit) (Informational picture book. 4-9)

ALA Booklist (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

Safety and freedom are the considerations Ona Judge must weigh in this historical picture book based on the life of a woman enslaved by Martha Washington. In the scenes of Judge's early life, she is always shown marginalized, frowning off to the side of her illustrious owners. "Why you run, Ona Judge?" is the narrator's refrain, which initially is supported by the idea that the young, Black woman's life was relatively privileged: she didn't work in the fields, was well fed and clothed, and saw history being made in the president's house. But Shepard quickly exposes the lie of that argument, showing that Judge had no choice in whether she stayed with her mother or even was given to someone else, and the reasons to run away, further emphasized by Mallet's finely detailed illustrations, will be self-evident to young readers. An author's note, time line, bibliography, and list of places to visit add important ways to help children gain a more nuanced view of American history. A fine addition to all collections.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

The true story of a young enslaved woman who escapes the family of George Washington."Ona Judge, Ona Judge / Why you run away / Ona Judge?" So begins this inquiry into her quest for freedom; the question is repeated throughout the narrative. "You had fine dresses [and] soft shoes" and other material benefits most enslaved people lacked. Ona is passed around the Washington family, first a playmate for the children, then a personal servant and seamstress for Martha Washington, never working in the fields. But when an aging Martha gives Ona to her granddaughter Eliza, "now a mean and sassy woman," Ona walks out into the Philadelphia night. Here, the tenor of the text changes-"Didn't you know you broke the law?"-and the illustrations become dark as she makes her way around corners and hides in a basement. A framed picture-a departure from the full-bleed pages and spreads that depicts the current action-gives a glimpse of her future family life: "You dreamed a dream / You would make true." As she reaches a boat, and freedom, day breaks and readers see the first hint of Ona's smile. "Then run, Ona Judge, run." With a distinctive, haunting voice, powerful images, and thought-provoking story structure, this unique look at a remarkable young woman's life choices and decisions offers an utterly necessary but seldom highlighted perspective on the contradictions within our society's foundations. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 42.1% of actual size.)A powerful antidote to whitewashed cultural mythology. (author's note, timeline, bibliography, places to visit) (Informational picture book. 4-9)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In a stunning picture book debut, historian Shepard pens a free verse poem addressing Ona Judge, a young Black woman who emancipated herself from George and Martha Washing-ton-s ownership. Born to an enslaved Black seamstress and a white indentured servant, Ona grew up conscripted as a playmate for the Washingtons- grandchildren until she was taken from her mother at age 16 and made a personal servant to Martha Washington. Employing the refrain -Why you run Ona Judge?- Shepard crafts impactful metaphors (-You were his money walking out the door-) and incisive questions, exposing the fallacy of Ona-s -good- treatment by conveying the inherent dehumanization that she and other enslaved people experienced. Tonal paintings by Mallett incorporate fabric collage, lending a sense of both immediacy and historicity. An evocative portrait that keenly interrogates the structures upon which America is built. Back matter includes an author-s note, timeline, bibliography, acknowledgments, and list of places to visit. Ages 3-6. (Jan.)

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)
School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)
ALA Booklist (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)
Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)
Bibliography Index/Note: Includes bibliographical references.
Word Count: 572
Reading Level: 4.0
Interest Level: P-2
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.0 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 514465 / grade: Lower Grades
Guided Reading Level: K

A powerful poem about Ona Judge's life and her self-emancipation from George Washington's household. Ona Judge was enslaved by the Washingtons, and served the President's wife, Martha. Ona was widely known for her excellent skills as a seamstress, and was raised alongside Washington's grandchildren. Indeed, she was frequently mistaken for his granddaughter. This poetic biography follows her childhood and adolescence until she decides to run away. Author Ray Anthony Shepard welcomes meaningful and necessary conversation among young readers about the horrors of slavery and the experience of house servants through call-and-response style lines. Illustrator Keith Mallett's rich paintings include fabric collage and add further feeling and majesty to Ona's daring escape. With extensive backmatter, this poem may serve as a new introduction to American slavery and Ona Judge's legacy.


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