Curling Up With A Good Book: Random House Children's Banned Books Blog Tour & Review: Jump Ship To Freedom (James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier)

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Random House Children's Banned Books Blog Tour & Review: Jump Ship To Freedom (James Lincoln Collier & Christopher Collier)

Today the fundamental freedom to read is facing more challenges than ever. Children’s books, in particular, are constant targets of book-banning efforts in school systems and public libraries.

The year 2015 marks the thirty-fourth year of celebrating Banned Books Week, and Random House Children’s Books is committed to those who stand against censorship. Fifteen of our books have appeared on the American Library Association’s list of the one hundred most frequently challenged books since the Office for Intellectual Freedom began surveying in 1990. Despite these instances of censorship, we continue to publish books that celebrate the freedom of expression. We are proud to support our authors’ right to write and our readers’ right to read.

For more information on Banned Books Week, visithttp://www.bannedbooksweek.org/.

“[I]t’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.”—Judy Blume

“Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us.”—Supreme Court Justice

William O. Douglas

I am beyond honored to be a part of Random House Children's Banned Books Blog Tour in order to help bring attention to some amazing books that have been listed as "banned." The idea of these books being banned is utterly ridiculous to me because so many of these books are phenomenal, touching, and truly could make a difference in a young person's life after reading them. Please join me in spreading awareness for these and other amazing "banned" books.

Paperback, 208 pages
Published February 1st 1987 by Yearling

Young Daniel Arabus and his mother are slaves in the house of Captain Ivers of Stratford, Connecticut. By law they should be free, since Daniel's father fought in the Revolutionary army and earned enough in soldiers' notes to buy his family's freedom.
But now Daniel's father is dead, and Mrs. Ivers has taken the notes from his mother. When Daniel bravely steals the notes back, a furious Captain Ivers forces him aboard a ship bound for the West Indies--and certain slavery. Even if Daniel can manage to jump ship in New York, will he be able to travel the long and dangerous road to freedom?

Jump Ship To Freedom is the story of young Daniel Arabus and his journey to earn his and his mother's freedom. Daniel's father earned his freedom with his service during the American Revolution but he passed away shortly after. Daniel and his mother should have been granted their freedom as well but his "owners" secretly sold him to slavery and placed him on a ship to the West Indies. Daniel escapes from the ship and the story revolves around his fight against slavery and to earn his freedom in a new nation.

Jump Ship To Freedom is a true representation of historical events that occurred in America's past and would greatly benefit history teachers and students alike. It reflects how the real issues of slavery affected all social classes and truly shaped America's future.