• Age: 10 to 12
• Grade: 5 to 7

In this classic novel, Josh, a teenage logger on the Ohio River, discovers his life's true mission as an abolitionist after his first encounter with a runaway slave.

Josh first attempts to spread the abolitionist message by lecturing in remote towns about the evils of slavery--but his views often ignite strong disapproval. Frustrated, he makes a more daring choice and becomes an agent of the Underground Railroad. After dozens of successful rescues, Josh is captured by Kentucky slave owners and convicted of "enticing slaves to leave their owners."

Locked away, he struggles to hold on to his ideals and sense of self. But when freedom comes sooner than he expected, Josh must decide if he will again take the kind of risks that landed him in prison.

Milton Meltzer's profile page

Milton Meltzer has written 110 books, five of which were nominated for the National Book Award. With Langston Hughes, he coauthored A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, now in its sixth edition. He received the 2001 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his contribution to children's literature, the 1986 Jane Addams Peace Association Children's Book Award, and the 2000 Regina Medal. He lives in New York City.

"A fine novel."--The New York Times Book Review

"Meltzer draws from court records, reminiscences of fugitve slaves and abolitionists, and other documents of the pre-Civil War period to create a narrative that is consistently suspenseful as well as historically accurate."--Kirkus Reviews