• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

See below for English description.

Salomon a seulement 11 ans lorsqu'il fuit la plantation où il vit en Georgie. Après un long périple, son grand-père Jacob et lui réussissent à atteindre la frontière canadienne en évitant de se faire reprendre par les chasseurs d'esclaves. Il ne leur reste qu'à traverser la rivière pour être vraiment libres, mais un accident survient... Jacob se blesse gravement et ne peut pas continuer la traversée. C'est avec des sentiments confus que Salomon entreprend l'ultime traversée, qui le mènera au Canada et à la liberté. Mais sans son grand-père Jacob, il peut difficilement envisager sa nouvelle vie. Combien de temps faudra-t-il à ce dernier pour se remettre de ses blessures et le rejoindre? Comment feront-ils pour se retrouver? Et si les chasseurs d'esclaves les poursuivaient au Canada?

Eleven-year-old Solomon is a fugitive slave on a dangerous journey north to Canada, and to freedom. His young life has seen many losses: his mother was sold in a slave auction when he was a baby; his father escaped from the plantation and hasn't been seen in five years; and now his grandfather, who has been injured during the last leg of their journey to freedom, and is forced to stay behind.Solomon continues with their group leader, but his feelings of loss and isolation haunt him, as he attempts to forge a new home in Canada. It soon becomes apparent that racial prejudices know no borders, and while Solomon works hard and begins to experience some newfound freedoms, he faces discrimination and segregation and lives with the ongoing fear of being caught by slavecatchers and dragged back to the South. With all of these barriers facing him, Solomon must find the strength — the same strength that brought him north, the same strength that gives him hope of finding his father — to persevere and understand the true meaning of freedom.

Original title: Crossing to Freedom

Virginia Frances Schwartz is the author of three historical novels, including Messenger and Send One Angel Down, an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and winner of a Parent's Choice Gold Award Born in Ontario, Canada, Virginia now lives in New York City, where she teaches writing to elementary school children

Paul Morin, an accomplished painter, sculptor and musician is also the illustrator of a number of children's books He has also received 25 international awards for his book illustrations In addition, Paul has won many accolades for his work, including ten awards from the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators, and a nomination for the Kate Greenaway Medal Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Mr Morin now lives near Rockwood, Ontario

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