Jump Ship to Freedom

Reach for this book when your child is beginning to question the complexities of history, justice, and what it means to truly own one's future. It is particularly resonant for children who are developing a strong moral compass and are curious about the lived experiences of individuals during the American Revolution. The story follows Daniel Arabus, a fourteen-year-old boy born into slavery who must navigate a treacherous landscape of broken promises and legal loopholes to secure freedom for himself and his mother. It deals with weightier themes of systemic betrayal and the courage required to stand up against powerful figures. While it contains the tension of an adventure, it serves as a grounded, realistic look at the 1780s that helps pre-teens bridge the gap between textbook facts and human emotion. Parents will appreciate how it fosters critical thinking about the foundations of American democracy and the inherent dignity of the individual.