The plot of this historical fiction takes a while to get going but, once it does, it becomes one of the most emotional, well-written, and thought-provoking children's books I have ever read.

This is an excellent book for elementary and middle school students. It is well-written, captivating, esp. with the author's depiction of life in Buxton in southern Ontario. I had no idea such a place (a 3-mile by 6-mile plot of land for freed and escaped slaves) existed in 1849! Why didn't I learn this information when I was in school? All students should read this book to learn more about the times of slavery in North America, mainly in U.S.A., and what life was like for these people who have escaped slavery. They were required to purchase at least 50 acres of land (later cleared and drained) and to build homes w/a min. of 4 rooms, 33 feet from the road. They were given the opportunity to live with dignity and free. The novel is about Elijah who lives in Buxton; we follow him through his day-to-day life, laugh with him and are amazed alongside him at the wonders he sees and experiences. A charming book about a charming boy.

I didn’t really like this book until the last few chapters, before that it was really boring because in every chapter there was a new topic and what happened in the last chapter wouldn’t continue. But if I were to rate the last part of the book it would have been a six but because nothing happened before that I would give he whole book a 2.5

I don't really like this book. It was just one little story in each chapter. Pretty boring. If the author could've kept the hoop snakes in the book that were in the first chapter, then it might've been more interesting. The real story didn't start until the last few chapters.

Naming a chapter "The Death of Mr. Leroy" is kind of a spoiler. Also, the whole slave-saving thing only happens at the very end. Also, he could have made it longer and not so big of a cliff hanger.

1853 slavery

Though more uneven in tone then some of Curtis' earlier work, Elijah of Buxton will still knock you over with its incredible beauty, terror, injustice, humour and courage.

i THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD BOOK.

I agree with the others, slightly BORING in the first few chapters-betters a little in the last few. Not the best book I've read...not the worst. Pretty AVERAGE.

The plot starts off slow, and the use of old-fashioned slang made it hard to get into at first. I didn't see the point of all these random little stories he kept telling. Then, when the money is stolen and Elijah goes to find the thief and get it back, the suspense cranks up a notch. By the end, when he meets the slaves, I was crying my eyes out.

It's a great story because it doesn't have one of those predictable happy ever after endings.