Dear Austin: Letters from the Underground Railroad

"Set in 1853, this sequel to Dear Levi consists of letters written by 11-year-old Levi Ives to his older brother Austin. . . . [He] describes his escapades in the Pennsylvania countryside with his friend, Jupiter, the son of a former slave. When Jupiter’s sister is captured by slave traders, the two boys undertake a dangerous journey south to try and free her. While hiding in the woods, they meet Harriet Tubman, and Levi realizes that some of his neighbors are part of the Underground Railroad. Rich in adventure, mystery, and suspense, the succinctly written narrative depicts Levi’s struggle to understand the prejudicial attitudes of others. This carefully researched and vividly imagined novel presents the emotional and gripping tale of one boy’s confrontation with the issue of slavery and its significance in American history."        —School Library Journal

"Woodruff combines swift pacing, historical detail, humor, suffering, depth, and precise characterizations, for a wholly satisfying page turner."—Kirkus Reviews