Readers don't have to have read Dear Levi (not reviewed) to enjoy this sequel, a gripping historical novel that covers two boys' journeys from innocence to manhood. In 1853, young Levi and his buddies, Possum and Jupiter, create a daredevil's club, through which they attempt to outrun bulls, jump off cliffs, and investigate strange occurrences in their small Pennsylvania town. The tone shifts from the humor of boyhood scrapes to tragedy when Jupiter's little sister, Darcy, is captured by slave traders. Jupiter and Levi head south to find her, a journey that is particularly eye-opening for naive Levi. The action unfolds through his letters to his brother Austin; these range from laugh-out-loud funny to poignant. Powerful emotions are subtly and expertly conveyed, from Levi's amusing embarrassment in dancing class, to his guilt for Darcy's kidnapping, to his horror at the slave auction. Woodruff combines swift pacing, historical detail (Harriet Tubman makes an appearance), humor, suffering, depth, and precise characterizations, for wholly satisfying page turner. (Fiction. 8-12)

The core of this story is a gripping adventure on the Underground Railroad, but, unfortunately, the narrative is nearly buried in contrivance, coincidence, and cute local color. When young Darcy is kidnapped by slave catchers in Pennsylvania in 1853, her brother, Jupiter, and his white friend, Levi, travel south to North Carolina to try to rescue her. They meet up with Harriet Tubman and witness the horror of a slave auction up close, and finally, Jupiter and his father escape to Canada. The whole story is told by Levi in letters to his older brother in Oregon (we are expected to believe that Levi even writes letters when he is hiding out on the rescue mission). More than the busy fiction, it is the history Levi writes about that will interest readers. (Reviewed November 15, 1998)

Gr 3-6-Set in 1853, this sequel to Dear Levi (Knopf, 1994) consists of letters written by 11-year-old Levi Ives to his older brother Austin. Remaining with his guardian, Miss Amelia, until he is able to join Austin on the family claim in Oregon, Levi describes his escapades in the Pennsylvania countryside with his friend, Jupiter, the son of a former slave. When Jupiter's sister is captured by slave traders, the two boys undertake a dangerous journey south to try and free her. While hiding in the woods, they meet Harriet Tubman, and Levi realizes that Miss Amelia and some of his neighbors are part of the Underground Railroad. Rich in adventure, mystery, and suspense, the succinctly written narrative depicts Levi's struggle to understand the prejudicial attitudes of others. The boy's life of freedom is beautifully juxtaposed against Jupiter's life and his constant fear of capture. The plot advances through Levi's letters, which also speak about his feelings for his guardian, his friends, and his brother. Each character is an individual whose actions are believable in the context of the story. This carefully researched and vividly imagined novel presents the emotional and gripping tale of one boy's confrontation with the issue of slavery and its significance in American history.-Janet Gillen, Great Neck Public Library, NY

This sequel to Dear Levi contains young Levi's letters to his older brother in Oregon. Levi can't join Austin on Pa's claim until his health improves, but he manages to find adventure enough in Pennsylvania--even attempting to rescue his black friend's sister from slave catchers. The plot strains credibility, but the smoothly written text is fast paced.