Customer Reviews (5)

A Daring Escape to Freedom!!!
Ellen and William Craft were a young (mid-20's) slave couple who made a daring escape to freedom.Light-skinned Ellen cut her hair short and dressed in the suit and tophat of a white planter.Since she was illiterate, her husband William made a sling for her arm, so she had an excuse not to sign hotel registers.And since she had a womanly voice, the couple devised a poultice tied around her jaw indicating she had a bad toothache and could not speak. William played the role of his white massa's slave.And the couple traveled by train, steamship, and wagon to their destination in the north.They soon became popular lecturers in the United States and Europe.This is a remarkable story of daring and bravery and should be read by everyone.Anyone who wants to introduce their children to good historical fiction should get them The Journal of Darien Duff, an Emancipated Slave, The Diary of a Slave Girl, Ruby Jo, and The Journal of Leroy Jones, a Fugitive Slave.

Engrossing
I read this for a college history survey course before it was mistakenly announced that the book was out of print.The book was dropped from the syllabus, but I am glad I read it anyway.

The first and shortest part of the book is William Craft's powerful account of how he and his wife Ellen executed a daring escape from servitude in Georgia.Their plan was remarkable in its ingenuity: The almost white Ellen, outfitted with a master's clothes and a poultice on her face to prevent incriminating speech with strangers, and her husband William, disguised as a servant, escaped to freedom in the north.Travelling by rail, the pair exultantly crossed over into Canada and from thence headed for England.

The second part of the book is a third person summary of the couple's travels after their ambitious escape.It follows them from Georgia through the slave and free states, in which they were well received and protected (especially in Boston), up to Halifax and across the water to England.I found the final two thirds of the book the most enjoyable, as it treated of foreign travel, in which I have a keen interest.Both portions of the book are beautifully written and often gripping.I hope a few of my classmates read this before that announcement.This book is both pleasurable to read and historically vital.

The Freedom you will get when you read this book.
This book is a captivating account of the injustices of slavery and a amazing story of two fugitives running for there freedom.This book is a great story that should be taught in schools and should not be ignored in American History classes.It opened my mind to the horrors slavery actually caused.It represents a part of our history that should never be repeated.5 plus stars.

Unique Plot and Style for a traditional topic
While taking an African American literature course in college I was introduced to this novella written by William Craft.It is a must-read for American and African American history classes.The novella is a quick andeasy read, with the capacity for great discussion and in-depth analysis. Humor, suspense, mystery and action is all provided in this wonderful taleof escape and hypocrisey.

A must read for American history students
Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom is a must read for all American history students and should be required reading at least at the high school level.This book gives the reader a first-person view of that"Peculiar Instition" known as slavery and to what lengths onewill go to achieve personal freedom. This book will change your view ofslavery forever. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is not intended as a full history of the life of my wife nor of myself; but merely as an account of our escape; together with other matter which I hope may be the means of creating in some minds a deeper abhorrence of the sinful and abominable practice of enslaving and brutifying our fellow-creatures.\' (Excerpt from original Introduction) ... Read more

Book Description
What would it take for slaves to escape from slavery in the Deep South, 1,000 miles from freedom and then on to England during the period of the Fugitive Slave Act? For most slaves the thought of escape was unimaginable. But fear did not stop Ellen and William Craft from chasing freedom.


An inspiring and riveting story of two amazing people stopping at nothing to fight for freedom and racial equality, this thrilling true tale chronicles Ellen and William Craft's lives from their flight from slavery in Georgia to their rise to world-wide fame as heroes of the Abolitionist movement.


Illustrated with period artwork, newspaper clippings, and archival photographs, 5,000 Miles to Freedom captures the unforgiving realities of slave life, the political hatred between North and South, and, above all, the extraordinary achievements of this remarkable couple. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This year's non-fiction winner
At what point did the National Geographic press for children just decide to whop the competition upside the head and produce book after book after book of fairly fabulous non-fiction like some kind o' history creatin' machine?I was willing to turn a blind eye the first two or three times this year they cranked out marvelous material, but after reading "5,000 Miles To Freedom", I can keep silent no longer.Written by the Fradins, Judith & Dennis respectively, the book is riveting.Mr. Fradin has, on his own, written "almost 150 books" of which I have read zippo.Zilch.Nuthin'.To what, then, do we owe this truly exciting tale of escape, villains, heroism, and more than a touch of cross-dressing?Truly the stars were in alignment when all parties involved decided to work upon this title.Relegated from my "I Don't Want To Read This Book Because I Suspect That It Is Good For Me" pile to my "I Love This Book and You Can Read It After You've Pried It From My Cold Dead Hands" pile, this is the story to hand to kids if you want to inform them about the Underground Railroad and slavery in a manner that is both factual and fascinating.A non-fiction must read, to say the least.

Their story is incredible precisely because it is true.On the morning of December 21, 1848, Ellen and William Craft escaped as slaves from a plantation in Macon, Georgia.Their plan was an original one.Ellen, light-skinned, disguised herself as a young gentleman slave owner.William, darker, was her "slave".Together the two were going to go from Macon to the Altantic coast.From there they would travel, sometimes by boat and sometimes by train to the North.The book follows the two every step of the way, including many of the close calls the two had to suffer.Even when they planted their feet on the New England soil, however, their lives were not at peace.They were heroes for their actions amongst the abolitionists and famous for their cleverness.With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, however, there was always the danger of their being recaptured and forced to return.Only living in England, 5,000 miles from Macon, would allow the two to live in relative freedom on their own.This is the story of a couple who would stop at nothing to do what they wanted, whether or not it was what slaveholders or abolitionists had planned for them.It's a tale about an escape and return and all that those two things would come to entail.

What keeps this book pumping is just how exciting it all is!I never expected when I picked up, "5,000 Miles To Freedom" that what I had on my hands was a truly amazing thriller.Sure, the Crafts' initial escape is intense.But does it stop when they reach the North?Oh no, sir.They are tracked and hunted and must flee time and time again.It must have been truly awful for them but in terms of writing a book, it creates just the right amount of momentum.Though everything you may find here is based on fact, the excitement locked away in these 96 pages almost strains belief.A person begins to wonder why there hasn't been a biography of these intrepid couple since the 1971 Simon & Schuster title, "Two Tickets To Freedom".

So is it a children's book or a teen book?I guess I say children's, but with a couple reservations here and there.The Fradins work very hard at trying to let young readers understand just how horrific slavery could be, right from the start.I suppose they want to get it out of the way and establish their heroes and villains from the get go.To do so, however, they tend to describe an array of particularly nasty tortures, sometimes with accompanying illustrations.The rape of slaves is also freely discussed her, once in terms of Ellen's own mother (explaining successfully why Ellen was light-skinned).Basically, this book is best sold on a kid by kid basis.Some children will be ready for what it has to say.Others may not be.Eventually, however, every kid needs to at least be familiar with its content.It may not always be pleasant, but it certainly is real.

The book is also sophisticated in terms of linking the industrial changes of the time to the "success" of slavery.I have never read a children's non-fiction book on the subject that took the time this title did to explain that it was the rise of the railroad that made cotton transportation noteworthy and, more importantly, profitable.Plus the fact that "nearly all of the slaves who escaped to free soil came from states near the North such as Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky" was news to me.Later there is a mention that when the Crafts moved to England they found a new kind of prejudice."England was much less race conscious, but far more class conscious".Kudos to the Fradins for putting all this information together.

What the Fradins also do well here is to present the facts surrounding the Crafts' life in such a way that it isn't all black and white, good vs. bad.Yes, the slavers and slave catchers were perfect villains.More interesting, however, was that sometimes the abolitionists weren't perfect saints.At one point two Southerners come to Boston to recapture the Crafts.Their plan fails in part because the abolitionists do what they can to protect their friends.At one point, however, a crazed Bostonian pulls a gun and tries to shoot one of the slavers.Later on the Crafts meet with a great deal of resistance when they try to break away from the abolitionists' hold on them.The couple comes to feel that in many ways they are pets of the movement.Their desire to strike out (as they often did) and do something on their own again and again is almost as breathtaking as their original escape.

I appreciated that the authors took the time to interview and give much respect to the descendants of the Crafts.There's a lovely Afterword to "5,000 Miles To Freedom" that includes some of the interviewed descendants, as well as their photographs.It's good for kids today to know that though there isn't a single photo of the Crafts in this book, they were still real people.And nothing is more real than hearing about a person's kin living, breathing, and talking today.Plus the heroic duo is all the more interesting when you consider that their story had a happy ending.I don't know too many escaped slaves that could have said as much.

When you begin this book you notice the following Author's Note just before the Contents: "Old documents, letters, diaries, newspapers, speeches, and personal narratives provided most of the information for this book.Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom, by William and Ellen Craft, is the source for nearly all the dialogue".I'm glad the authors happened to mention this.I, personally, always get a teensy bit out of sorts when I run across a supposedly "non-fiction" book sporting dialogue.Authors of every stripe tend to have a hard time displaying their real life characters in a sympathetic fashion without relying on "hearing" their voices.The irresponsible people will preface a long string of speech with something like, "Mr. X might have said something very much like this when this situation occurred".Far cleverer to take the words directly from your subject's own autobiography.Especially if that book gives you the dialogue you need word for word.

When I read the remarkable, "Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl" by Tonya Bolden I recall the author saying something about the illustrations and pictures she included in the book.Ms. Bolden had some difficulty finding depictions of African Americans, "given the scarcity of nonderogatory images of blacks in pre-Civil War America".The Fradins must certainly have had similar problems.Yet for all that, their book is brimming with remarkable images that aren't in the least bit stereotypical (with the possible exception of freedmen's school).From the breathtaking "first aerial photograph ever taken in the United States" from a balloon over 1860 Boston to the fabulous illustration of Ellen modeling her male garb in the 1851 Illustrated London News, no expense has been spared.The design of this book is very pleasing to the eye.Photographs and reproductions of original receipts abound.It breaks up the text very nicely indeed.

In the back of the book you will find a Time Line, list of Sources, a Bibliography, and an Index.I did notice that the Fradins have offered a very old-fashioned form ofBibliography here.Yes, they cite book, newspaper, video, and personal interview sources.These days, however, it's always a good idea to include some reliable websites on the matter.Even if Dennis and Judith never spent so much as a minute online, the single best way to keep kids informed on a given subject is to direct them to something other than Google.Children will certainly pick up one of the cited books if they're interested enough, but for those kids who idly want to know more, you may as well hand them a section entitled For More On the Craft Escape, Try These Websites, or something along those lines.

In the end, though, what the Fradins have done here is capture the paranoia, horror, and bravery of this most remarkable period of American history.They have done what every good biography strives for.The tale of the Crafts isn't just about two little people.It's about how they played a part in a massive struggle for basic human decency and freedom.The authors have gone beyond just placing facts on a page and have created a form and a structure that is not only informative and well-cited but also a gripping read.No biographer could hope to do more than what the Fradins have accomplished here.Consider, "5,000 Miles To Freedom" a necessary purchase for every library in America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

This Book is Wonderful!
These On My Own books are great!This book is another fantastic installment.I've read other accounts of this story but this one is the most accessible and interesting.Try it! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Escape, Graphically
I think this series is a very good one.I use them with my ESOL students as they learn English and American History.The story itself is a good one and told very well.Recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

money for a hobby
I truly liked this book!I do floral crafts as a hobby, but always have a hard time tring to market them.This book gives clear ideas and tips that really were helpful. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants tomarket their talent> ... Read more

Book Description
The ability to create art from paper gives students an inexpensive, yet challenging way to create works of art. Paper Crafts helps even reluctant artists create works they will be proud to share.

All 31 projects included here are made primarily from paper. Each provides: a materials list, step-by-step, illustrated directions, and reproducible patterns where needed.

Projects are marked to indicate level of difficulty. Types of projects include: decorations, hats, masks, torn paper, origami, and 3-D designs. A unique feature of Paper Crafts is a six-page section that presents the various cutting and folding techniques used in the projects. Each lesson in the book lists which of these techniques are used in the project.

Many projects offer variations that can be pursued independently after completing the main project. Twice in the book there are project challenges that require students to combine learned techniques with their imaginations to create works of art. There are teacher suggestions for conducting successful lessons and ideas for setting up a paper craft center in your classroom. Includes reproducible patterns and illustrations throughout. All 80 pages perforated for easy removal. ... Read more

Book Description
Ellen Anne Eddy is an internationally known fiber artist whose wall art goes beyond the traditional concept of quilting. Fish, bugs, birds, and frogs are found throughout her art, blending her dreams and vision with the natural world. She uses hand-dyed fabrics, lames, machine embroidery, cut-away applique, and layered sheers to create the illusion of flames, water, and mist in her work.

The chapters guide the reader step-by-step with everything from "Looking at Quilts" to "Rehabilitating Troubled Quilts."

The gallery of quilts features both full images and detail shots. The photographs are bright and colorful, the illustrations clear and helpful. Ellen's quilts are divided into several series and themes, with each section offering her inspiration for that theme. It is Ellen's hope that by sharing her journey as an artist she can inspire her readers in their artistic journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Thread Magic The Enchanted world of Ellen Anne Eddy
I love this book it is very informative and love her techniquesit is worth every penny

Great book
Ellen Anne's book is much like the class she teaches, this book reinforces the principles she uses in her daily work.If you want to thread paint like a pro, this is the book for you.

To be reissued
This book is in the process of being reissued by the publisher. Expected release is sometime in September.

STUNNING!
This book is absolutely stunning, and so inspirational. I know I'll never be able to make anything like it but still.....

Spectacular
This book is sumptuous.The artist's work is so spectacular that it is intimidating.However, she makes clear that she has had her share of false starts, which is comforting.I also appreciated her comments on her art, which turn out to be, in addition, comments on life.This is not a "how-to-do-reproduce-my-quilt" book, but there is a good deal of useful technical information.I have over 130 books on quilting and related topics and I think this is number one on my favorite parade. ... Read more

Product Description
"Slaves cannot breathe in England: if their lungs Receive our air- that moment they are free; They touch our country- and their shackles fall." COWPER ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Junior Scholastic, published by Scholastic, Inc. on December 12, 2005. The length of the article is 1497 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Miles to freedom: the dramatic escape of William and Ellen Craft.(American history)
Author: Elena Cabral
Publication: Junior Scholastic (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 12, 2005
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Volume: 108Issue: 9Page: 14(6)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from MELUS, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2006. The length of the article is 13026 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: "A complication of complaints": untangling disability, race, and gender in William and Ellen Craft's Running A Thousand Miles for Freedom.(Critical essay)
Author: Ellen Samuels
Publication: MELUS (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 31Issue: 3Page: 15(33)

Article Type: Critical essay

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom; or, the escape of William and Ellen Craft from slavery
overall in good shape- more importantly got here on time for my class! ... Read more

Product Description
This book is not intended as a full history of the life of my wife nor of myself; but merely as an account of our escape; together with other matter which I hope may be the means of creating in some minds a deeper abhorrence of the sinful and abominable practice of enslaving and brutifying our fellow-creatures.\' (Excerpt from original Introduction) ... Read more

Book Description
Next to handbags and shoes, there are probably no other more important fashion accessories than belts. In recent years, beautiful, stylish belts have become a staple of every woman’s wardrobe, whether it’s the studded belt you wear with your jeans, the ribbon belt you wear with your khakis, or the beaded belt that you wrap around your cardigan. Belts are everywhere, and surprisingly, you can make them as easily as you can make a handbag. FINALLY there is one fantastic book available to show you how! This one!

The belt projects range from quick and easy no- or low-sew to those that require simple sewing on a home machine. The book shows how to rivet and use various styles of buckles, from classic styles to D-rings to those that have clever ties and wraps.Making Stylish Belts features a range of colorful base materials and embellishments, from leather and vinyl to gorgeous fabrics, including ribbons, cords, and fibers, plus beads, sequins, and rhinestones. The materials are also easy to find. They are available at traditional fabric and craft stores, you can also purchase suitable materials for these projects at places like Wall-Mart, Target, Staples, and home box stores. An extensive resource listing is provided, as always. ... Read more

Product Description
This colorfully illustrated wall calendar shows 12 different crafts for everyday living. Building, calligraphy, car painting, cooking, gardening, jewelry making, pottery, sewing, weaving, woodworking, and more! Realistic drawings of the tools and materials used. Uncoated paper and a large grid for easy writing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Duplicate Books with Different Titles!
I ordered this book sight unseen, and was disappointed and surprised that it's the exact same book as "1 2 3 Embroidery: Easy Projects for Elegant Living" by Ellen Moore Johnson, only with a different title and cover photos and apparently a different publisher.Not what I expected.

Fabulous book!
All of the projects in this book are absolutely beautiful - no duds! There are templates included in the back, and there are complete directions for each project. Definitely worth the money! ... Read more