Elijah of Buxton

Elijah of Buxton was written by Christopher Paul Curtis. This was one of Curtis's many novels. Elijah of Buxton won multiple awards such as the 2008 Corretta Scott King award, the 2008 Newbery honor, and the 2008 Scott Odell award for historical fiction. Throughout the novel young Elijah goes through many things and he begins to learn that as people who have been through struggles are affected in many ways.

    

Elijah or 'Lijah as many people in the settlement of Buxton call him is an eleven year old colored boy. Buxton is a settlement in Canada for slaves who have escaped slavery through the underground railroad. Elijah was the first born free child in that settlement. Elijah wants to appear grown up to the adults so he lets a man who is supposed to be a revenge deacon take him to a traveling carnival. At this carnival the reverend makes Elijah show off his unique talent of throwing rocks with great accuracy and nearly sells Elijah to the carnival. Later Elijah's neighbor Mrs. Holton received word that her husband who is still in slavery was beaten to death. So she gives the money she had saved up to buy get husbands freedom to Mr.Leroy so he can free his family. Mr. Leroy gives the money to the reverend to take to someone who could give it to his family, but the "holy" reverend steals the money and sneaks to America. Elijah then sees how distraught Mr.Leroy was and sneaks off to America to Get the money back from the reverend. When he finds the reverend he is dead hanging in a barn killed by white slave traders. Elijah finds the money. He also finds a baby and takes it to the safety of Buxton.

    

I would recommend this book for a number of reasons. One reason is that the author uses pretty in depth detail. Another reason why this book is good is that it's pretty realistic. A lot of what happens in the novel could have happened back in the slavery times. This book is really good and you should read it.

Book Review by Joshua H.