Stealing Freedom

by Elisa Carbone

Book Overview

Inspired by a true story, the riveting novel of a young slave girl's harrowing escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. The moment Ann Maria Weems was born, her freedom was stolen from her. Like her family and the other slaves on the farm, Ann works from sunup to sundown and obeys the orders of her master. Then one day, Ann's family -- the only joy she knows -- is gone. Just 12 years old, Ann is overcome by grief, struggling to get through each day. And her only hope of stealing back her freedom and finding her family lies in a perilous journey: the Underground Railroad. Ann Maria Weems was an actual slave who lived in the mid-1800s near the author's home in Maryland.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440417074
• ISBN13: 9780440417071
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Yearling Books
• Length: 258 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Excellent Insight into How Slaves Lived

Ann Maria Weems is a slave in America. Her family is bought and freed, but her master refuses to free Ann. So Ann conceives of a daring plan - she will steal her freedom from her master and escape on the underground railroad. I loved this book because of the excitement of the escape, constantly changing disguises as she travels north by carraige and by train. The book has a happy but exciting ending. It's perfect for a 10 year old avid reader-like me!

Great book...

I picked up this book in the library when I couldn't find much else I wanted to read and I didn't think that it would be that great....I was wrong! This book kept my interest and I could hardly put it down. There were times when tears when in my eyes..other times I wanted to laugh. It is a very touching book and one you won't forget soon.

Stealing My Heart

I highly recomend this book. When Ann finally said goodbye to her family I could not stop crying. It is a wonderfully written book, it makes you feel as if you are there. I do wish she had expanded on the ending though. It was one of the best books I have ever read and I hope it is the same for you too.

Stealing Freedom

This book is wonderful! It is about a girl named Ann Maria Weems who lives as a slave during the Civil War. One day, the unthinkable happens. An abolitionist come to free her family is unable to take her. Will she ever see her family again? Be free? Reccomended to anyone who wants to learn about the Civil War, slavery, or just wants a good read.P.S.- It's also a Mark Twain Award Nominee

A phenomenal read

This book was a treasure. I can't recommend it highly enough. There were passages of this book that I read through tears, while others were read with my heart pounding. The character of Ann Maria is such a courageous, likeable person, I found myself wanting to know more. I was genuinely disappointed when I stopped reading, and can only hope that Prof. Carbone is able to find more information so that she can update us on Ann Maria's life in freedom. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves good fiction, is interested in the human face of slavery, and for any history-buff.