Seven Miles to Freedom 
By Janet Halfmann
Illustrated by Duane Smith
9781600602320
Growing up a slave in South Carolina, Robert Smalls always dreamed of the moment freedom would be within his grasp. Now that moment was here.
Robert stood proudly at the Planter’s wheel. Only seven miles of water lay between the ship and the chance of freedom in Union territory. With precision and amazing courage, he navigated past the Confederate forts in the harbor and steered the ship toward the safety of the Union fleet. Just one miscalculation would be deadly, but for Robert, his family, and his crewmates, the risk was worth taking.
Seven Miles to Freedom is the compelling account of the daring escape of Robert Smalls, a slave steamboat wheelman who became one of the Civil War’s greatest heroes. His steadfast courage in the face of adversity is an inspiring model for all who attempt to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.
- Awards
-
"Starred Review"
Kirkus Reviews
- Interest Level
- Grades 1 - 6
- Reading Level
- Grades 4 and up
- Themes
- Biography, African/African American Interest, Heroism, Occupations, Overcoming Obstacles, Responsibility, Slavery, United States History
Janet Halfmann is the author of more than thirty books for children, including several nonfiction and natural science titles. After researching African American achievements during the Civil War, she was inspired to write about Robert Smalls, “a person who used his talents to help others and make the world a better place.” Halfmann has four grown children and lives with her husband in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Duane Smith is an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer with a degree from Pratt Institute in New York City. His wide-ranging works have been featured in periodicals, books, movie storyboards, and galleries. An art instructor for several after-school programs, Smith inspires children to think conceptually and independently. He splits his time between homes in Brooklyn and Albany, New York. This is his first picture book.
