Seven Miles to Freedom

The Robert Smalls Story
By Janet Halfmann, Duane Smith
Paperback: $12.95

The true story of Robert Smalls, a slave steamboat wheelman who commandeered a Confederate ship during the Civil War and escaped with his family and crew to freedom.

Front cover for The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls by Janet Halfmann and Duane Smith
This book is also available in English
The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls
By Janet Halfmann, Duane Smith

Description

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.

About the Creators

Janet Halfmann

Janet Halfmann is the author of more than forty books for children, including Lee & Low's Midnight Teacher, which Kirkus called “An excellent homage to an African-American woman who taught ahead of her time” in a starred review. When she’s not writing, Halfmann enjoys working in the garden, exploring nature, visiting new places, especially wildlife areas and living-history museums, and watching movies. Halfmann lives with her husband in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Duane Smith

Duane Smith was an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer with a degree from Pratt Institute in New York City and a Master’s in Illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology. His wide-ranging works have been featured in periodicals, books, movie storyboards, and galleries. Smith also worked in graphic design and interactive media development, and split his time between homes in Brooklyn and Albany, New York. He died in 2020.

Awards

  • Best Children's Books of the Year

    Bank Street College of Education

  • Beehive Book Award Nominee

    The Children's Literature Association of Utah (CLAU)

  • Land of Enchantment Book Award Shortlist

    New Mexico Library Association

  • Reading Circle Recommended Reading List

    Missouri State Teachers Association

Reviews

  • "Page turns and textual pacing combine to relate the actual escape with pulse-pounding excitement; readers' relief at Smalls's success is almost physical. A triumph."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "This book is an excellent vehicle to bring [Smalls's] story to a wider audience. . . . The oil paintings employ thick, bold strokes and deep saturated colors to convey Smalls's strength and determination in successfully delivering his and his crew's family members to freedom."

    - School Library Journal

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781600609862
  • Publication Date May 01, 2008
  • Trim Size 10.75 × 9 in
  • Weight 0.4375 lbs
  • Page Count 40
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781600602320
  • Publication Date May 01, 2008
  • Trim Size N/A
  • Weight 1 lbs
  • Page Count 40
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Social Topics / Prejudice & Racism
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / History / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877)
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Historical
  • Themes African / African American / Black, Biography / Memoir, Heroism, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Occupations, Overcoming Obstacles, Poverty, Responsibility, Slavery, Social Justice & Activism, United States History, War
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 6 - 11
  • Grade Range Grades 1 - 6
  • Guided Reading T
  • ATOS Book Level 5.7
  • DRA 44
  • Interest Level Grades 1 - 6
  • Lexile Code AD
  • Lexile Level 870
  • SRC 5.6
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
  • This Book is Included in These Collections:

    • 28
      English Guided Reading Level T
      Collection of 28 books: $355.60

      Yasmin's Hammer

      A young Bangladeshi girl who helps support her family by working in a brickyard finds a way to make her dream of going to school and learning to read a reality.

      Crossing Bok Chitto

      In this American Indian Youth Literature Award-winning story of cross-cultural friendship, a family of enslaved people and a Choctaw tribe work together on a daring escape.

      The Bee Tree

      This beautifully illustrated STEM picture book is both a fascinating insight into honeybee behavior and a satisfying story of coming of age.

      Vanishing Cultures: Frozen Land

      In this series of seven books, photojournalist Jan Reynolds documents the distinctive cultures and climates of indigenous peoples.

      Capoeira

      A photo-essay about the history and practice of Capoeira, a centuries-old Brazilian martial art incorporating traditional movements and rhythmic music, that is popular today as an energetic game played throughout the United States and around the world.

      I See the Rhythm

      i see the rhythmis an inspiring celebration of African American music and the far-reaching impact it has had on the world.

      Honoring Our Ancestors

      Through stories, art, and photographs, Honoring Our Ancestors will inspire children and their families to gain strength from the past as they ask themselves, "Who do I honor?"

      Angkat

      Part of the Cinderella Around the World series, this picture book offers a Cambodian take on Cinderella.

      Abadeha

      A retelling of the Cinderella story, set in the Philippines. Part of the Cinderella Around the World series.

      Making Magic Windows

      Following the hands-on format of Carmen Lomas Garza's highly successful papel picado workshops, this book shows, step by step, how to create beautiful designs and banners by simply folding and cutting tissue paper.

      Etched in Clay

      The acclaimed biography-in-verse about the life and times of Dave, an enslaved potter who inscribed his works with short poems during the years leading up to the Civil War.

      Silent Star

      The biography of William Ellsworth Hoy, the first deaf player to have a successful career in professional and Major League baseball.

      Game, Set, Match Champion Arthur Ashe

      A picture book biography of tennis player Arthur Ashe, who began his career playing tennis as a child on the segregated courts as a child in Virginia and went on to become the top tennis player in the world.

      ¡Olé! Flamenco

      A photo-essay about flamenco, a centuries-old living art form, originating in southern Spain, that incorporates traditional dance, song, and music.

      Crazy Horse's Vision

      The true story of the great Sioux warrior who, as a young boy, defies tradition and seeks a vision on his own in hopes of saving his people.

      Tofu Quilt

      A collection of poems telling the story of Yeung Ying, a young girl in Hong Kong in the 1960s who, against the conventions of society and family members, aspires to become a writer

      The East-West House

      A biography of biracial sculptor/designer/landscape architect Isamu Noguchi, focusing on his childhood in Japan and the building of an "east-west" house that gave shape to his lifelong creative approach.

      Seven Miles to Freedom

      The true story of Robert Smalls, a slave steamboat wheelman who commandeered a Confederate ship during the Civil War and escaped with his family and crew to freedom.

      Horse Song

      Ted and Betsy Lewin's illustrated travelogue story of their trip to Mongolia to watch young boy and girl jockeys race horses in the traditional Naadam summer festival.

      Vanishing Cultures: Mongolia

      This photo essay explores the life of Dawa and Olana, two young cousins who come from a family of nomads on the grassy plains of Mongolia.

      Vanishing Cultures: Himalaya

      In this series of seven books, photojournalist Jan Reynolds documents the distinctive cultures and climates of indigenous peoples.

      Vanishing Cultures: Far North

      In this series of seven books, photojournalist Jan Reynolds documents the distinctive cultures and climates of indigenous peoples.

      Surfer of the Century

      The true story of Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku, six-time Olympic swimming champion and legendary surfer who popularized surfing around the world.

      Life of a Genius

      A tribute to the spirited life of one of China's greatest literary and historical heroes--poet, scholar, and statesman Su Dongpo.

      Mama's Window

      After his mother dies, "Sugar" Martin is sent to live with his gruff uncle Free, a loner who makes his living fishing in a swamp in the Mississippi Delta in the early 1900s.

      The Legend of Freedom Hill

      A fictional story set during the California Gold Rush, in which a girl teams up with her best friend in search of gold to buy her mother's freedom from a slave catcher.

      Jim Thorpe's Bright Path

      A biography of the legendary Native American Jim Thorpe (1888--1953), voted the Greatest Football Player and Greatest Athlete of the Half-Century by two AP polls, focusing on his early childhood and how school and sports shaped his future.

      How We Are Smart

      Musician Tito Puente. Ballerina Maria Tallchief. Explorer Matthew Henson. Congresswoman Patsy Mink. These are some of the people profiled in this book. They are well known for different reasons, but they also have something in common. They were all smart!

      1360 in stock

    • 15
      Teaching about Slavery Collection
      Collection of 15 books: $218.25

      Frederick Douglass

      The story of the African American abolitionist who, in one dramatic incident, discovered the meaning of freedom.

      Hammering for Freedom

      The inspirational story of William "Bill" Lewis, a hardworking blacksmith who slowly saved his money and bought the freedom of each and every member of his enslaved family.

      Midnight Teacher

      This historical fiction picture book reveals the unknown story of Lilly Ann Granderson, an African-American teacher who risked her life to teach others during slavery.

      Going Back Home

      More than half a century after her family moved North to find a better life, artist Michele Wood returned to the South to see and experience the land where her ancestors lived, struggled, and thrived.

      Etched in Clay

      The acclaimed biography-in-verse about the life and times of Dave, an enslaved potter who inscribed his works with short poems during the years leading up to the Civil War.

      I See the Rhythm

      i see the rhythmis an inspiring celebration of African American music and the far-reaching impact it has had on the world.

      In the Time of the Drums

      Mentu, an enslaved child, learns about the culture of his people from his grandmother, Twi in this Gullah folk tale of an insurrection at Teakettle Creek.

      Love Twelve Miles Long

      A moving story about young Frederick Douglass and his mother, who walks twelve miles at night from a nearby plantation to visit him.

      Juneteenth Jamboree

      A young girl, who has just moved to her parents' hometown, realizes that she has come home after the African American emancipation celebration of Juneteenth.

      Seven Miles to Freedom

      The true story of Robert Smalls, a slave steamboat wheelman who commandeered a Confederate ship during the Civil War and escaped with his family and crew to freedom.

      The Legend of Freedom Hill

      A fictional story set during the California Gold Rush, in which a girl teams up with her best friend in search of gold to buy her mother's freedom from a slave catcher.

      It Jes' Happened

      The inspiring biography of self-taught (outsider) artist Bill Traylor, a former slave who at the age of eighty-five began to draw pictures based on his memories and observations of rural and urban life in Alabama.

      Ira's Shakespeare Dream

      The inspiring biography of Ira Aldridge, a Black actor who overcame racism to become one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the nineteenth century.

      Step Right Up

      A biography of William "Doc" Key, a formerly enslaved man and self-trained veterinarian who taught his horse, Jim, to read, write, and do math, and who together with Jim became a famous traveling performance act and proponent for the humane treatment of animals around the turn of the twentieth century.

      Stone River Crossing

      From the award-winning author of How I Became a Ghost, a tale of unlikely friendship and miracles. When Martha Tom helps Lil Mo and his family escape from the plantation across the river, it's just the beginning of a Choctaw adventure of a lifetime.

      2149 in stock

    • 68
      African American English Collection Grades 3-6
      Collection of 68 books: $963.60

      DeShawn Days

      In this uplifting story told in verse, a young boy living in the inner city projects tells about his hopes, fears, and dreams.

      Take a Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!

      A biography of James Van Der Zee, innovative and celebrated African American photographer of the Harlem Renaissance.

      In the Time of the Drums

      Mentu, an enslaved child, learns about the culture of his people from his grandmother, Twi in this Gullah folk tale of an insurrection at Teakettle Creek.

      Bird

      In this gentle, award-winning picture book, an African American boy nicknamed Bird uses drawing as a creative outlet as he struggles to make sense of his grandfather's death and his brother's drug addiction.

      Tan to Tamarind

      A poetry collection that explores the spectrum of beautiful shades of brown.

      Game, Set, Match Champion Arthur Ashe

      A picture book biography of tennis player Arthur Ashe, who began his career playing tennis as a child on the segregated courts as a child in Virginia and went on to become the top tennis player in the world.

      Step Right Up

      A biography of William "Doc" Key, a formerly enslaved man and self-trained veterinarian who taught his horse, Jim, to read, write, and do math, and who together with Jim became a famous traveling performance act and proponent for the humane treatment of animals around the turn of the twentieth century.

      Poems in the Attic

      Award-winning poet Nikki Grimes presents a tender poetry collection where a young girl learns about her mother, the child of an Air Force serviceman.

      The Secret to Freedom

      In the days before the Civil War, a young enslaved girl and her older brother help slaves escape to freedom using the Underground Railroad quilt code.

      Midnight Teacher

      This historical fiction picture book reveals the unknown story of Lilly Ann Granderson, an African-American teacher who risked her life to teach others during slavery.

      Chess Rumble

      A story in free verse about a troubled boy who learns to use his mind instead of his fists through the guidance of an unconventional mentor and the game of chess.

      Rent Party Jazz

      An African American boy living in New Orleans in the 1930s raises money to pay the rent with the help of a popular jazz musician.

      Love Twelve Miles Long

      A moving story about young Frederick Douglass and his mother, who walks twelve miles at night from a nearby plantation to visit him.

      Sweet Potato Pie

      In this fictional story set in the South in the 1920s, an African American girl and her family sell Mama's sweet potato pies at the Harvest Celebration to raise money and save their farm.

      Night Golf

      Set in the South of the late 1950s, an African American boy who longs to play golf is banned from the game because of the color of his skin.

      Love to Langston

      This inspiring biography on Langston Hughes celebrates his life through poetry.

      I See the Rhythm

      i see the rhythmis an inspiring celebration of African American music and the far-reaching impact it has had on the world.

      Dream Builder

      You've seen the building. Now meet the man whose life went into it.

      Stacey Abrams

      How do we move our country forward? Stacey Abrams has an answer in this bright and stirring biography, perfect for discussions of voting rights and how people working together can make a difference.

      Calling the Water Drum

      A moving story about a family's attempt to flee Haiti in a boat, and a young boy who bravely learns to navigate a new world through playing his drum.

      She Was the First!

      A timely, inspiring picture book biography of the dynamic twentieth-century educator, activist, and politician Shirley Chisholm.

      I Remember

      An outstanding celebration of diversity and family: fourteen poets and sixteen illustrators of diverse backgrounds share memorable childhood experiences and reflect upon their different heritages, traditions, and beliefs.

      Bottle Tops

      The inspiring biography of Ghanaian artist El Anatsui whose handmade sculptures, created from discarded bottle tops, have received international acclaim and been showcased around the world.

      Catching the Moon

      The spirited story of Marcenia Lyle, the African American girl who grew up to become "Toni Stone," the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team.

      The Electric Slide and Kai

      Kai is the only member of his family who can't get the dance steps to the Electric Slide right. But Kai is determined to bust a move in this fun and sweet celebration of African American families.

      Baby Flo

      This spirited biography introduces young readers to the early life of Florence "Baby Flo" Mills, an internationally renowned entertainer of the Harlem Renaissance era who began her career as a child.

      Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree

      The true story of the famous writer, who as a young girl, learned about hope and strength from her mother.

      The Unstoppable Garrett Morgan

      Garrett Morgan, a prolific African American inventor and entrepreneur, must test his latest invention in a daring rescue after an explosion at the Cleveland Waterworks.

      Rise!

      In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, this beautiful biography of Maya Angelou describes how she rose above a childhood of trauma and emotional pain to become one of the most inspiring voices of our lifetime.

      It Jes' Happened

      The inspiring biography of self-taught (outsider) artist Bill Traylor, a former slave who at the age of eighty-five began to draw pictures based on his memories and observations of rural and urban life in Alabama.

      As Fast As Words Could Fly

      The story of Mason Steele, an African American boy in 1960s Greenville, North Carolina, who relies on his inner strength and his typing skills to break racial barriers after he begins attending a "whites-only" high school.

      Hammering for Freedom

      The inspirational story of William "Bill" Lewis, a hardworking blacksmith who slowly saved his money and bought the freedom of each and every member of his enslaved family.