Going Underground

Gr 4–8—This series focuses on the people who actively worked to undermine and abolish the institution of American slavery. Each title begins with a true, gripping narrative concerning a pivotal event in a slave or abolitionist's life and goes on to describe various aspects of slavery: how it started in America, why it proliferated in the South more than in the North, what daily life was like for slaves, and the role of abolitionists. The highlight of this series is the use of citations throughout each volume. It is essential for young readers to become familiar with proper research methods. Because the authors provide citations and sources, readers can follow in their footsteps—a great opportunity for further learning. However, there are occasional missteps in word choice; references to "kind" masters throughout the text are unnecessary.