The River Jordan: A True Story of the Underground Railroad

I thought this was a fascinating, even if fictionalized account, of a 50-year old mother's escape from slavery with her 7 children. The story and the characters pull you into their minds and experiences and make you read voraciously through the book. I found the later letters between the younger sons during the Civil War to be an excellent means for the family to reflect back on their experiences. The manner in which the children began to understand and appreciate their mother and her uncommon bravery through this experience was also a great part of the story. Great for high schoolers and adults of all ages.

Henry Burke & Dick Croy's historical novel, The River Jordan, is an important book. It's not the best written, it's not the best plotted, the dialect is distracting, and the dialogue somewhat predictable, but it doesn't matter. This is an important book because for the first time in a long time, in my recent memory anyway (and I'm no expert), readers have the opportunity to learn about some of the people who traveled and conducted the Underground Railroad.Mixing fact with fiction, Burke & Croy use the escape of a slave named Jane and her seven children in August 1843. The reproduction of an Ohio newspaper article about the escape and a copy of the reward poster give the story an authenticity that otherwise may be lacking.When Jane discovers that her two oldest sons, Alfred and Augustus, are about to be sold down the river, she takes action. She's already lost her husband to the slavers and is not about to let her sons leave her. With the help of the Underground Railroad, Jane and her family cross the Ohio River and head for Canada where they will be free, as long as they don't commit any crimes, however. An escape attempt by this many people at one time is not the usual escape. But Jane is determined, and she and her family set out on a dark, foggy night.What follows the family's escape route, how they avoided the posse led by their owner, Solomon Harness, a glimpse of those who conducted the line, and a topograhy of Ohio. As I mentioned earlier, the book isn't well written, too much is trying to be covered in too little space and the sentence fragments drove me nuts, letters from the Civil War between two of Jane's youngest sons are ill-placed and jarring. However, I enjoyed Jane's story and could feel the desperation she must have felt. I think that The River Jordan is a must for every public and school library across the country. By putting names and faces together with a story, children (and adults) learn more easily; The River Jordan gives reader pause to think about the people who put themselves in harm's way so they could be free or they could help some enjoy the freedoms they already knew.

Reading history made into fiction can be quite disappointing, especially when the authors aren't "established" (mainstream) fiction writers. We read this book to see if we wanted to stock it in our bookstore; we prepared for a long and difficult experience.Turns out the only difficulty was in having to put it down to tend to daily chores. The story of Jane and her 7 children, escaping from slavery when she finds out her two oldest sons are about to be sold, was fascinating. It is the story and details that will capture your interest, though the writing is fine. Told from multiple views -- most from Jane's thoughts and concerns, her oldest daughter's journal, one of her son's letters two decades later, the slavehunters actions and the beliefs of the abolitionists -- you will never be bored.In fact, there were times when we slowed our reading because we didn't want the story to end, but more often, there were times we just couldn't stop reading.More than just a runaway story, Jane's story is that of a middle aged woman, leaving the only life she's ever known. To attempt to escape means to be aware of the consequences if captured -- especially difficult when you are making the choice not just for yourself, but for your children.Jane's children -- ages 25 to 9 -- are brought into a new awareness of their mother's courage and that of her first husband, sold away from the family long ago. For those of us who don't know a lot about slavery, this book offers an educational experience that is only painful as we realize what slavery must have been like, and wonder what we would have done had we lived back then. There were slaves who risked their lives to rescue other slaves (without finding their own freedom); there were people who thought slavery was wrong, but did nothing to protest it since it was a way of life; there were folks who turned others in for money or just because they thought slavery was right; there were those who gave their lives because they knew slavery was wrong. Readers can't help but wonder - "how courageous would I have been?"This might be good reading for older children -- high school level -- but be aware there are some very graphic descriptions of slave treatment that will be disturbing to any reader.Also includes photocopies of the ads slavehunters placed with the bounty on Jane and her children, plus maps of the route they followed.Be sure to read Henry Burke's introduction, a too short tale of his childhood and life -- it is as fascinating as the fiction story.

There is a need for this story to be told. Slavery was an evil institution. And yet there were brave people who violated the Fugitive Slave Law in order to obey the dictates of conscience.Black and white Americans once worked together to help black men, women and children escape from slavery. Obviously the black people who helped escaping slaves risked their own lives in the process. So did some of the white people, particularly those who operated the Underground Railroad inside the borders of slave states.I have done some Underground Railroad research myself on the West Virginia side of the Ohio River, and I can say with some authority that the events in this story are true. Co-author Henry Burke is an African-American whose roots in Southeastern Ohio pre-date the Civil War. He has spent his life learning about the Underground Railroad as it operated in his part of the country.The River Jordan is a fictionalized account, in very readable form, of a true story. This book has a wonderful book review printed on the back cover.The Underground Railroad scholar who wrote the book review for The River Jordan is none other than Dr. Ancella Bickley, one of the most distinguished African-American women of West Virginia.Dr. Bickley was part of the U.S. government effort, through the National Park Service, to document the Underground Railroad. Obviously, her word on anything connected with the Underground Railroad carries great weight. Here's what Dr. Ancella Bickley wrote about The River Jordan:"The River Jordan is an important addition to the regional literature of slavery. Blending fiction and fact, it brings to the public a daring tale of an enslaved family's Underground Railroad-assisted escape from western Virginia, an area seldom considered in tales featuring "the peculiar institution." Enriched by memorable characters and incidents and masterfully rendered, the novel connects the authenticity of history with storytelling. Juxtaposing slavery against family love, which powers the compelling and dangerous quest for freedom, the story illustrates the motivating influence of a mother's concern. Combined with the bravery, artful maneuvering, and humanitarian commitment of Underground Railroad workers, this concern facilitates the family's audacious escape. The River Jordan is a must read for all those who are interested in a truthful and enlightened look at a dark period in our country's history."

The River Jordan: A True Story Of The Underground Railroad is the fictionalized account of a true story - the escape of the slave Jane and her seven children from a western Virginia tobacco plantation, on land once owned by George Washington. All major characters and events are not only real, but also closely researched from newspapers and documentation of the time. Careful attention to detail and powerful imagery bring this near impossible journey of hope and freedom to vivid life. Highly recommended.