SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

July 21, 2015 by Esther Keller

Review: ‘Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor’

July 21, 2015 by Esther Keller   1 comments

When I was in fourth grade (and again in 5th grade), we had to read a biography and then dress up as the person we read about it to present it to the class. I remember this project well, because I dressed up as Eleanor Roosevelt for two years straight. (I also did my science fair experiment on the brain two years straight. I was the master of repurposing my work for many teachers throughout my school career.) But I also remember one of my classmates dressing up as Harriet Tubman and presenting her story. It stood out in my mind. I’m pretty sure it was one of the first times I ever heard of Harriet Tubman.

Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales: The Underground Abductor
By Nathan Hale
Amulet Books, $12.95
Grades 4 and up

9781419715365_s3In the latest installment of the Hazardous Tales series, Hale introduces an icon of American history: Harriet Tubman, who was born a slave named Araminta. Tired of the harsh treatment and the constant threat of being sold, she escapes from slavery. Once she escapes, she changes her name to Harriet Tubman and returns to take many others to freedom. The road back was fraught with danger, and Harriet risked being forced back into slavery or worse, but despite this she makes the trip many times.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

This is probably one of my favorite Hazardous Tales. Nathan Hale (the author/artist not the character) captures the bravery of Tubman and the horrors of slavery. He also includes details I’d never learned before, like how Tubman actually fought in the Civil War. Hale builds the story at a steady pace, keeping the momentum going until its happy conclusion. (Tubman actually lives to see the slaves freed, and though we all know it wasn’t entirely happy, I imagine that time was filled with much hope.)

Hale tells his story through hues of purple, grey, and white. The choice of purple allows for an ominous tone as danger builds and softer tones as the family shares a few happy moments. While Hale doesn’t get entirely gruesome, he doesn’t spare the horrors of slavery and the horrible treatment of the slaves at the hands of cruel white masters.

Whether the reader just likes a good nonfiction tale or a teacher wants to introduce her students to an icon of American history, this is an excellent read. Don’t wait until the school year to pick this one up though. And I can’t wait to see what’s up next in the Hazardous Tale series.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
abramsAmerican HistoryNathan Hale's Hazardous Talesnonfictionreview

About Esther Keller

Esther Keller is the librarian at JHS 278, Marine Park in Brooklyn, NY. There she started the library's first graphic novel collection and strongly advocated for using comics in the classroom. She also curates the Graphic Novel collection for the NYC DOE Citywide Digital Library. She started her career at the Brooklyn Public Library and later jumped ship to the school system so she could have summer vacation and a job that would align with a growing family's schedule. On the side, she is a mother of 4 and regularly reviews for SLJ and School Library Connection (formerly LMC). In her past life, she served on the Great Graphic Novels for Teens Committee where she solidified her love and dedication to comics.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2023

Young Agatha Christie | Review

by Esther Keller

January 2023

Andy Warner's Oddball Histories: Pests and Pets | Review

by Esther Keller

January 2023

My Sister, the Cat, vol. 1 | Review

by Esther Keller

January 2023

History Comics: Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin | Review

by Esther Keller

December 2022

Heartstopper Volumes 1 and 2 | Review

by Esther Keller

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Surprise! Announcing CABOOSE

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Jump Into this Guest Post by Shadra Strickland About Her Latest Book: Jump In!

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

The Archie Encyclopedia | Review

by J. Caleb Mozzocco

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

TLT Post: WRITING FOR YOURSELF FIRST, a guest post by author M. K. Lobb

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Be Afraid (but not too afraid) | The Year in SLJ Covers

The Comics of COVID | Stellar Panels

Author Jim Murphy Has Died; Kaepernick, Scholastic Publishing Graphic Memoir; and More | News Bites

'Salt Magic,' 'The Legend of Auntie Po,' and 'Run: Book One' Among 2022 Eisner Award Winners

10 Shonen Manga Must-Reads | Mondo Manga

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Exploring Girl Power in Multicultural Graphic Novels | Children's Literature at UMN says:
    September 20, 2016 at 9:14 pm

    […] Hale’s The Underground Abductor (from School Library […]

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023