Elijah of Buxton

Newbery Medalist and CSK Award winner Christopher Paul Curtis's debut middle-grade/young-YA novel for Scholastic features his trademark humor, compelling storytelling, and unique narrative voice.

Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He's best known in his hometown as the boy who made a memorable impression on Frederick Douglass. But things change when a former slave steals money from Elijah's friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the thief, and he discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled -- a life from which he'll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home.

Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Published: 09/01/2007
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 8.44h x 6.08w x 1.17d
ISBN: 9780439023443
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.4
Point Value: 12
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 117751 / Elijah of Buxton


Award: Governor General's Literary Awards - Finalist
Award: Newbery Medal - Honor Book
Award: Scott O Dell Award for Historical Fiction - Winner
Award: Jane Addams Children's Book Award - Honor Book
Award: Delaware Diamonds Award - Nominee
Award: Great Lakes Book Awards - Winner
Award: Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award - Nominee
Award: Parents Choice Award (Fall) (1998-2007) - Winner
Award: Coretta Scott King Award - Winner
Award: Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens - Recommended
Award: Michigan Notable Books - Winner
Award: Nene Award - Recommended
Award: Young Reader's Choice Award - Nominee
Award: William Allen White Childens Book Award - Nominee
Award: Georgia Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Massachusetts Children's Book Award - Nominee
Award: Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award - Nominee
Award: California Young Reader Medal - Nominee


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 08/15/2007 pg. 854
Booklist 09/01/2007 pg. 115
Publishers Weekly 09/10/2007 pg. 61
Quill & Quire 10/01/2007 pg. 56
School Library Journal 10/01/2007 pg. 146
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 10/01/2007 pg. 79 - Recommended
New York Times Book Review 11/11/2007 pg. 42
Publishers Weekly Best Books 11/05/2007 pg. 36
Kirkus Best Children's Books 11/15/2007 pg. 1
Quill & Quire Books of the Yr 12/01/2007 pg. 12 - Top 15 Book Of The Year
Voice of Youth Advocates 12/01/2007 pg. 424 - Recommended - Hard To Beat
SLJ's Best Books 12/01/2007 pg. 34
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2007 pg. 677

About the Author
Christopher Paul Curtis was awarded both a Newbery Honor and a Coretta Scott King Honor for his debut book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963, and won the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award for his second book, Bud, Not Buddy. Mr. Curtis is also the author of the Golden Kite Award-winning Bucking the Sarge, as well as Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission, and the Newbery Honor book Elijah of Buxton.