Erica Armstrong Dunbar

Ona Judge, sometimes called Oney, grew up as a slave on George Washington's plantation, Mount Vernon. She was Martha Washington's personal handmaid, and traveled with the family to New York and Philadelphia. When she learned that she was to be given as a gift to Eliza Custis, Martha Washington's spoiled granddaughter, she took her freedom. One night, while the Washingtons were at dinner, she walked out of the house and boarded a ship that took her to New Hampshire, where she started a new life. Of course, the Washingtons were outraged, and determined to get Ona back, but despite several efforts, she remained free for the rest of her life.

This is the Young Readers' Edition of Dunbar's similarly-titled adult book. I think it would be very accessible for a middle-school reader with some knowledge of US history. The writing is straightforward, and includes definitions of terms (e.g. abolition, manumission) in the text when the authors deem necessary. The authors do make a choice to speculate on motives and emotions for the historical figures when such things cannot be known, but it's always clear that they are speculating and not stating facts ("Ona might have felt..."). All in all, a good historical book for young readers, though adults may find it over-simplified in spots.… (más)

What a spectacular story, what an amazing woman Ona Judge was. Born a dower slave to Martha and George Washington, Ona escaped from slavery at the age of 22 when she learned that she was to be given to the Washingtons' granddaughter and her new husband. Like the title says, despite all his attempts, Washington never caught Ona and she gave two interviews in her 70s to abolitionist newspapers at the end of her life, telling her story.

Erica Dunbar Armstrong is a strong storyteller. As a Canadian, I have only general knowledge of American history and Never Caught was extremely enlightening for me. I think she does a very good job of balancing the background of slavery in the United States with Ona's story, keeping an eye always that the reader understands the nuances of Black womanhood and how it would have affected Ona and other enslaved women. While the book is very clearly deeply researched (it's too easy to imagine the author poring over microfiche in darkened archives) Dunbar Armstrong does a really good job of keeping the formal and difficult academic language out of the text.… (más)