A Good Night for Freedom by Barbara Olenyik Morrow

Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins. 32 p., Holiday, 2004. Sometimes, standing up for what's right means disobeying your parents and the law. In this story, Hallie, who is European American, meets two African American slave girls her own age, Susan and Margaret, who are seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad. They are trying to escape to earn enough money to buy their mother, whom their master had sold. When Hallie asks her Pa whether, hypothetically, he would help runaway slaves, he says that he doesn't like slavery, but he respects the law, and ultimately, his conclusion is to avoid meddling. But Hallie can't help wanting to understand more. She talks to Levi Coffin, whose family is hiding the girls. He is deeply respectful, and also encourages Hallie to think for herself. When slave catchers threaten her a second time as they throw rocks through the Coffin family's window, she lies to them to protect Susan and Margaret. Mr. Coffin thanks her, and her father, rather than criticizing her, acknowledges how strong-minded she is. Deeply impressed by Susan's and Margaret's courage, she takes them as role models, and feels satisfaction in having helped them. With beautiful collage-style illustrations, this story shows children that with courage, they can fight prejudice. Ages 6-9