Elijah of Buxton

Elijah of Buxton

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade historical
• Originally Published: 2007
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 980L; grades 5-8
• Structure/Length: 24 chapters; approximately 341 pages; approximately 8 hours, 58 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: In this middle grade historical novel, the central conflict revolves around Elijah Freeman, a young boy born into freedom in the town of Buxton, Canada, which was settled by escaped enslaved people from America. The story reveals Elijah’s upbringing in a community of free Black families and neighbors; Elijah also ventures to America, where he encounters the harsh realities of slavery. The novel explores freedom, identity, and the power of hope and resilience.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Slavery; historical injustice; racially-motivated violence; racism and discrimination; death; allusion to suicide

Christopher Paul Curtis, Author

• Bio: Born 1953; American author known for his contributions to children's literature and his focus on African American history and culture
• Other Works: Bud, Not Buddy (1999); The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 (1995); Bucking the Sarge (2004); The Mighty Miss Malone (2012); The Madman of Piney Woods (2014)
• Awards: Newbery Honor (2008), Coretta Scott King Award (2008), Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction (2008), Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award (2008)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Connections Between Opportunity, Equality, and Freedom
• Gullibility and Fear Versus Maturity and Fortitude
• The Strength of Community and Family

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the history and impact of enslavement and freedom in Canada (particularly Ontario) during the early to mid-19th century.
• Read and discuss paired texts and other brief resources to understand the novel’s major plot points as well as the themes Connections Between Opportunity, Equality, and Freedom; Gullibility and Fear Versus Maturity and Fortitude; and The Strength of Community and Family.
• Research maroon (free Black communities) around the world to develop a presentation that demonstrates the challenges and risks many faced on the journey to self-emancipation.
• Create a map of the novel’s setting to engage with often-overlooked parts of the fiction writing process: describing space and conducting research.