Review of "Under The Quilt of Night," by Deborah Hopkinson and James Ransome

Review of

Under The Quilt of Night, by Deborah Hopkinson and James Ransome ISBN 0439750490

Five out of five stars

 This book is a personal account of a journey through the Underground Railroad, where people were so opposed to slavery that they took great risks helping runaways move through the northern states to Canada. The narrator is a runaway slave girl desperate for freedom. There are five in the group of runaways, three females and two males.

 At first, they are on their own, fleeing through the woods with master and hounds coming after them. They reach a house where a woman hangs a special quilt on the rail fence, which is the signal that it is a safe house. Filled with fear, the narrator approaches the house and finds a warm welcome. Given hot food and blankets, they sleep for some time, only to be awakened and warned that Master is nearby. Luck is with them and they complete their escape.

 There is a note at the end stating that some of what is in the book is folklore and it is a work of fiction. Yet, that itself is the fiction. While minor details might be different, this is the genuine story of a small band of runaway slaves and the dangers they faced in their quest for freedom.  It is a powerful story of a dark time in U. S. history and a hope for the future.