Ona Judge outwits the Washingtons : an enslaved woman fights for freedom

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Title:

Ona Judge outwits the Washingtons : an enslaved woman fights for freedom

Author:

Hooks, Gwendolyn, author.

Agoussoye, Simone, illustrator.

Summary:

"Soon after American colonists had won independence from Great Britain, Ona Judge was fighting for her own freedom from one of America's most famous founding fathers, George Washington. George and Martha Washington valued Ona as one of their most skilled and trustworthy slaves, but she would risk everything to achieve complete freedom. Born into slavery at Mount Vernon, Ona seized the opportunity to escape when she was brought to live in the President's Mansion in Philadelphia. Ona fled to New Hampshire and started a new life. But the Washingtons wouldn't give up easily. After her escape, Ona became the focus of a years-long manhunt, led by America's first president. Gwendolyn Hooks' vivid and detailed prose captures the danger, uncertainty, and persistence Ona Judge experienced during and after her heroic escape."-- Provided by publisher.

Audience:

Ages 9-12.

Physical Description:

1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm.

Genre:

Biographies.

Personal Subject:

Judge, Oney-Juvenile literature.

Washington, George, 1732-1799-Relations with slaves-Juvenile literature.

Washington, Martha, 1731-1802-Relations with slaves-Juvenile literature.

Subject Term:

Slaves -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

African American women -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Fugitive slaves -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.

Slavery -- History -- 18th century -- Juvenile literature.

Geographic Term:

Philadelphia (Pa.) -- Juvenile literature.

Author(s):

Agoussoye, Simone,

Publisher:

Capstone Editions,

Publication Date:

2019

ISBN:

9781543512809

9781543512847

Publication Information:

North Mankato, Minnesota : Capstone Editions, [2019]

Call Number:

J 920 JUDGE

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Item Barcode	Collection	Call Number	Status	Item Holds
33607003444570	Juvenile Nonfiction	920 JUDGE	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Soon after American colonists had won independence from Great Britain, Ona Judge was fighting for her own freedom from one of America's most famous founding fathers, George Washington. George and Martha Washington valued Ona as one of their most skilled and trustworthy slaves, but she would risk everything to achieve complete freedom. Born into slavery at Mount Vernon, Ona seized the opportunity to escape when she was brought to live in the President's Mansion in Philadelphia. Ona fled to New Hampshire and started a new life. But the Washingtons wouldn't give up easily. After her escape, Ona became the focus of a years-long manhunt, led by America's first president. Gwendolyn Hooks' vivid and detailed prose captures the danger, uncertainty, and persistence Ona Judge experienced during and after her heroic escape.

Reviews (1)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4--6--Born to a white indentured servant father and an enslaved African woman, Ona Judge grew up on the Virginia plantation of George and Martha Washington. Judge learned to sew and worked with her mother inside the plantation home; she became a talented seamstress. When the Washingtons moved from Mount Vernon to the capital upon George's election as president, she traveled with the couple and was ordered to specifically attend to Martha. Living in large Northern cities, Judge learned about freedom; she began to plot her escape from slavery. In May 1796, Judge fled the president's home. Eventually she found safety in New Hampshire. She was able to maintain her freedom and avoid capture by agents from President Washington. She married a free black man named Jack Staines in 1797, and they raised a family. Despite several attempts to lure Judge back to Mount Vernon with the promise of her freedom, Washington was never able to persuade Judge to return: she remained free. The author includes a brief bibliography. Drawings are simple and one-dimensional. VERDICT The attention-grabbing text and unique illustrations will make this a welcome addition for all history collections.--Patricia Ann Owens, formerly at Illinois Eastern Community College, Mt. Carmel