Book Review: Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge

Author: Ray Anthony Shepard Illustrator: Keith Mallett Farrar, Straus and Giroux January 2021

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Synopsis (From Publisher):

Ona Judge was enslaved by the Washingtons, and served the President’s wife, Martha. Ona was widely known for her excellent skills as a seamstress, and was raised alongside Washington’s grandchildren. Indeed, she was frequently mistaken for his granddaughter. This poetic biography follows her childhood and adolescence until she decides to run away.

CWR Review:

This is the story of Ona Judge who was one of the many slaves of President George Washington and the First Lady. In rhetorical-question-style, Shepard poetically gives us glimpses into her life during the years preceding up to her daring escape. Surely a woman who wore fine dresses, ate rich food, sewed elegant gowns and brushed the hair of the president’s wife, who had her own heated  room, was spared field work, got to hear stories from the bible, surely a woman of color in the eighteenth century with all of these opportunities and comforts should have been content to stay with the wealthy, well-respected, first family, right?

Ray Shepard eloquently poses these pithy questions throughout this poem-turned story. The vocabulary is readable for very young ages, but the topic and the questions will engage older readers and force them to ask themselves: “What would I have done if I was Ona Judge?.” This is a dose of realism, an honest look at our nation’s past, and forces the reader to think critically about the founding of our nation. What did “liberty and justice and all” actually mean when it was written? We also have to acknowledge that t’is true: the best men are men at best, even if they were the first President of such a great and prosperous nation.

Illustrations- This is my first time seeing work by Keith Mallett and I am besotted. These are the words I would use to describe Mr. Mallett’s breathtaking illustrations: vivid, remarkable, real, detailed, exemplary. Bold meets bright throughout the pages, light colors bounce off the dark beautifully, not a shadow is missing, Ona and Eliza’s beauty bounce of the pages, you’ll stare at their faces and you’ll turn the pages slowly.

You will not be disappointed, this one of worthy of your shelf space.

Well-told, excellent writing, Ona will make you feel brave get yours here or here.

Themes- African American history, American History, American Presidency and ideals, slavery, bravery, desperation