Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter by Nadia L. Hohn, Gustavo Mazali
Series: I Can Read
Published by HarperCollins on December 31st 2018
ISBN: 0062432850
Pages: 32
Goodreads

This “I Can Read!” (Level 2) biography of Harriet Tubman is concise and includes two sections. The first is a beautifully illustrated narrative of her brave and adventurous life. The second, significantly shorter section, includes a timeline and primary source material as well as more in-depth information about her life and experiences. The coverage of Tubman’s life in this book is realistic and acknowledges how badly enslaved people were treated, while remaining appropriate for the intended audience (kids ages 4-8). There are some claims that seem to come out of nowhere (“She also had a disability.”) and the title lacks a bibliography for a curious reader who would like to find out more. A younger student hoping to learn about significant events in and the basic biographical information of Harriet Tubman’s life would certainly find this book useful. It is an accessible and honest account of the amazing risks Tubman took in order to help improve the lives of many, many enslaved people. 

Reviewed by Savannah Sessions, SAD 17 Elementary Librarian, Oxford Hills.