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About the Book
If students can imagine what it would have been like to be eleven years old, a slave, and alone without family members, they can understand what Ann Marie Weems faced in 1853 as an eleven-year-old slave in Maryland. This book shows Ann with her family before the Weems' are separated, alone as a slave to a brutal slave trader in Maryland, then in flight from the southern United States to Canada in order to obtain her freedom.
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Before You Read
Review with students that before the Civil War (1861–1865) slavery was legal in the South. Slaves had no rights — not even the right to their own children or spouses. Sometimes, African Americans could buy their freedom. More often, African Americans gained freedom only when they escaped — but escape was dangerous and difficult. The Underground Railroad was a group of black and white Americans who helped African Americans flee from slavery to the North and Canada.
Sarah's Monologue
Have students imagine that they are little Sarah, the niece of Mr. and Mrs. Price. How did she feel when she discovered that Ann Marie had fled to freedom in the North? Students can write what Sarah felt in a monologue. The monologue should:
- use the pronoun "I" to refer to the speaker of the monologue, who is Sarah.
- express Sarah's opinion of Ann Marie.
- include details from Stealing Freedom to support the opinion that Sarah expresses.
Minutes from the Underground Railroad
When groups or organizations meet, they usually have a secretary take notes, or minutes. Challenge students to imagine a meeting of the Underground Railroad that Jacob Bigelow attends while Ann is in his care. As secretary of this meeting, have them write the minutes. The minutes should include:
- a brief description of who was at the meeting as well as where and when it was held.
- an explanation of the meeting's purpose.
- a brief summary of what happened at the meeting.
- important comments or quotations by those who attended the meeting.
Letters to the Editor
Suggest that students write a letter to the editor of a newspaper from 1853 and express their views about slavery, the slave trade, escapes to freedom by slaves, or the work of the Underground Railroad. Their letters should:
- express an opinion clearly.
- include details, examples, and anecdotes to support their opinion. (These may come from the story of Ann Marie Weems in Stealing Freedom.)
- include language that helps persuade readers of their opinion.
Call for Volunteers Poster
Have students imagine that they are members or supporters of the Underground Railroad in a northern state of the United States in 1853. Have them create a poster that requests volunteers for the Underground Railroad. In the poster, they should:
- use eye-catching designs, phrases, or slogans that support their cause.
- provide a clear description of the Underground Railroad and its work.
- describe the job(s) or tasks asked of volunteers.
Another Story of Escape
Now that students have an idea of what it took for a slave to escape or for members of the Underground Railroad to help slaves escape, have them write a short story that tells of the escape of one of Ann Maria's brothers (Joseph or Addison) or her friend Alfred. The stories may be written with:
- the escaped slave or the Underground Railroad worker as the main character.
- settings similar to those used in Stealing Freedom, for historical accuracy.
- the main conflict related to the need for escape and the outcome related to how the attempt succeeds or fails.
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