Elijah of Buxton

Elijah of Buxton

By Christopher Paul Curtis

10 ratings 13 reviews 20 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 10 - 9X5.477916
Newbery Medalist and CSK Award winner Christopher Paul Curtis's debut middle-grade/young-YA novel for Scholastic features his trademark humor, compelling storytelling, and unique narrative voice.

Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He's best known for having made a memorable impression on Frederick Douglass, but that changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the thief and discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled--a life from which he’ll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home.
Publisher: Scholastic US
Published on 4/1/2008
Binding: Hardcover

Book Reviews (16)

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"The Preacher throwed his knife into the ground where the tracks use to be and put his hand on the fancy holster and mystery pistol he always totes. "Boys," he whispered, "I need you to solemnly promise me something. I want you both to swear on your mothers' lives that if I'm ever bitten by one of these beasts, you'll take this pistol and put a bullet in my brain! I'd rather be shot dead than face such a horrible, prolonged death! Raise your hands, I need each of you to promise that you'll blow my head right off my shoulders!" I near jumped to the moon when a loud bang came from behind me! I looked back and Cooter'd already run into his house and slammed and locked the door. He waren't 'bout to promise nothing!" My teacher made me read Elijah for a project we had. I absolutely despised it. I get that it's from his point of view, but I wish he didn't talk laik dis. He was obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed. And, the real problem, the one advertised in the back of the book, doesn't being until the last 8 chapters. The first part of the book is Elijah's boring life. Once you get to the main problem, though, (which is in the end) the book does get a bit better. Still, I hated reading it and almost started dancing when I finished the book. I would give it a 1/5 but I decided to be a bit nicer, since some parts are good, and give it a 2/5.

I love this book because they give like really good detail of the fragile boy.

Shook5stars12 Shook5stars12

I stared to read the book because it looks like a mystery

I decide to read to this book because the cover inspired me to read it. Elijah of Buxton is an amazing book.

im still reading this book it is sooooo good this boy is really "fra-gile".......lol

i love this book! it is about an african boy who tells about his life in buxton. this is a very interesting book!