Historical Fiction Annotation: The Underground Railroad

 

Author: Colson Whitehead
Title: The Underground Railroad
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Number of Pages: 306
Geographical Setting: Various southern US states
Time Period: 1800’s
Plot Summary: This story chronicles the journey of a young slave girl Cora, as she desperately chases freedom. She meets Caesar, a young man from Virginia, who informs her of The Underground Railroad, and they take a horrifying risk to try and escape. They get into some troubling situations as they make their way to freedom. 
Furthermore, in this novel The Underground Railroad, is not a metaphor, but an actual train and railway. They make there way through several states and even run into a terrible slave catcher, and a few other troubling people along the way, leaving you wondering the whole way if Cora ever makes it freedom. 
Subject Headings: African Americans, Slavery, Racism
Appeal:
Character: Large cast of characters including a strong black, female character 
Storyline: Unconventional; Own voices
Tone :  Dark, moving, and dramatic
Writing Style: stylistically complex,  compelling, and descriptive
Setting: These settings are based in richly detailed historical facts based on culture, geography, society, customs, etc. Wyatt & Saricks, 2019, p. 171)

3 terms that best describe this book: disturbing, thought provoking, empowering
3 Relevant Non-Fiction Works and Authors:
1. The Slave Ship: A Human History by Marcus Rediker
Relevant Topic: Slavery
2. American Slavery: 1619 to 1877 by Peter: Kolchin
Relevant topic: Slavery
3.. How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
3 Relevant Fiction Works and Authors
1. Home by Tony Morrison
Similarity: vividly depicts the effects of racism on African Americans
2. Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters
Similarities a  griping narrative about enslaved African Americans, has vividly described characters
3. Drinking Gourd by Barbara Hambly: shows affects of discrimination on African Americans, explores the life experiences of runaway slaves  

References:
Whitehead, Colson (2016). The underground railroad. Anchor. 
Wyatt, N. & Saricks, J. G. (2019). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd edition). ALA Editions.



Comments

  1. BeccaMarch 29, 2023 at 3:01 PM

    Hi Megan,
    I recently read a book that deal with escaping slavery. It is always important to know about this part of history and how it worked. I know of several books that were written by individuals who escaped slavery. My question is why is Cora's story so important to be the main focus? Is it so people can follow along with it? Did she play a role in it later after she left?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Erin CataldiMarch 30, 2023 at 8:19 AM

    Full points!

    ReplyDelete

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