Underground

Underground

Underground

Written and Illustrated by: Shane W. Evans

Roaring Brook Press, 2011

29 pages

Multicultural

This book is about a family heading for freedom on the Underground Railroad. Evans uses just a few words on each page, but these well-chosen words help the reader understand the experiences these people went through.

The illustrations in this book look like they were done in pencil. The lines can be seen in the drawings and the text placement is informal. Evans uses dark colors throughout the book while they are traveling and then when they finally reach freedom the colors get brighter.

This book will be good to use with any elementary age student. The few words make it easier for younger students to read and understand, but older children will be able to understand the concept behind the few words. This is a good book to read while teaching about the Underground Railroad and slavery. Students can do an activity using the word freedom and tell what freedom means to them.

Underground has not won any awards, but Shane Evans illustrated the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, Shanna’s Ballerina Show.