Underground to Canada

Barbara Smucker's 'Underground to Canada' is a powerful historical novel for young readers, set in the pre-Civil War United States. It tells the harrowing story of Julilly, a young slave girl forcibly separated from her mother and sold to a Mississippi plantation. There, she befriends Liza, and together they seize an opportunity to escape to Canada on the Underground Railroad. The book vividly portrays the brutal realities of slavery, the constant peril of their journey, and the kindness of the abolitionists who help them. While the novel has faced some controversy for its portrayal of slavery and use of racial slurs, it is widely studied in Canadian schools for its accessible, yet impactful, depiction of a dark chapter in history, emphasizing themes of bravery, resilience, and the fight for freedom. It culminates in a hopeful reunion and the beginning of a new life.

Two slave girls escape from a plantation near Vicksburg, Mississippi, and steal toward Canada on the Underground Railroad.