I Am Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is one of the most famous formerly enslaved people and abolitionists in American history, and her efforts to free enslaved people through the Underground Railroad are legendary. This biography describes her life before her work with the Underground Railroad and the various ways she helped others, including fighting for women’s rights, assisting with strategy and planning during the Civil War, and opening a home for the elderly. Throughout her life, Harriet Tubman made countless sacrifices to care for other people. 

Born into slavery, Tubman was forced to raise her younger brothers while her parents worked. Growing up, she endured violence from white enslavers and lived with the constant fear that her family could be torn apart at any moment. After failed escape attempts with her brothers, Harriet finally escaped on her own, using the network of homes and hiding places known as the Underground Railroad. She reached Pennsylvania and freedom, but her worry for her family drove her to return again and again to lead her family members and many other enslaved people to freedom. 

Tubman was a woman who wasn’t fearless but was willing to overcome her fear to do the right thing. While Harriet’s struggles are specific to her time period and to slavery, readers can learn from her compassion and desire to help others. Her loyalty to her family, to the people she met, and to the slaves she freed led to a remarkable life. This book and her story teach the lesson that leaders come from unlikely places.   

This biography is divided into five concise chapters, featuring black-and-white illustrations on nearly every page. Highlighted vocabulary words are defined in a glossary at the end. Additional features include twenty fun facts, a timeline, a map, and illustrations of the important people in Harriet’s life. Through clear writing, illustrations, and supplementary materials, young readers will gain a comprehensive understanding of Harriet Tubman, her struggles, and her triumphs. The book also includes a section on places to visit and references to how her work contributed to the progress we see today, ensuring readers understand that her legacy remains important.  

Despite being Black, a woman, and illiterate, Harriet Tubman overcame tremendous obstacles to help others. Her story is one of the most important in American history, and her resilience and determination to fight for others remain admirable qualities. Harriet’s life story highlights the importance of sacrifice, courage, and resilience, showing that one person can make an extraordinary difference. To learn even more about Harriet Tubman’s life, grab a copy of The Underground Abductor: An Abolitionist Tale by Nathan Hale.  

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• There are descriptions of the violence of slavery throughout the book. For example, “If a slave was caught learning how to read and write, he could have his fingers or toes cut off!” Slaves “were stolen from their homes and treated no better than animals.” 
• Harriet received multiple beatings. As a child, “Harriet was whipped five times before breakfast” for not being clean enough. Later, Harriet stole a lump of sugar, and the slave master “struck [Harriet] so hard he broke her ribs and gave her scars for life.” 
• A slaveowner struck Harriet in the head with a weight “The overseer grabbed a weight used for measuring and threw it toward the door. It hit Harriet in the head and knocked her to the ground. . . she went in and out of consciousness and came close to death. . . she was sent back out to the fields with ‘the blood and sweat rolling down [her] face till [she] couldn’t see.’” This injury caused headaches and narcolepsy for the rest of her life. 
• At other times, there are more vague mentions of beatings and punishments. For example, slaves “were often beaten if their masters decided they weren’t working hard enough.” 
• On a journey to free enslaved people, Harriet knocked out her infected tooth. “Getting help was simply too dangerous, so she knocked out her top row of teeth with the handle of the gun she always carried.” 
• Traveling north after serving in the Civil War, Harriet Tubman is manhandled by a racist train conductor and shoved into the baggage car. “Instead of thanks for her service, she got her arm in a sling.”  

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None

Language  

• None

Supernatural  

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None 

by Abigail Clark