This book is about a young slave who flees his master and battles for his freedom. Obi is a young man working on a tabacco farm with Easter and Jason who are like his siblings. As the Civil War starts, Obi's master sends him and Easter to work on another farm, leaving young Jason alone. They are sent away on the night an old slave Buka is to help them run away. When they reach the new plantation, Obi finds another way to escape and he and Easter hurry to find Buka. Easter pleads with Obi to go find Jason, but Obi is concerned with only his freedom. The trio travel for several days, but are captured by Rebel soldiers. Easter, pretending to be a boy, is sent to be a cook while Obi is sent to work in the field. Months pass and Obi decides he and a few other slaves will build a boat to cross the river where the Yankee soldiers are stationed. When the time comes to leave again, Easter refuses to leave and tells Obi she won't go without Jason. Obi and his friend Daniel cross the river, but nearly drown. Daniel joins the Yankee Army, but is soon killed by Rebel soldiers. Obi also joins the Army and his fort is attacked. His new friend Thomas is shot, but Obi saves him. They are taken by Yankee soldiers to a hospital for recovery. Thomas offers for Obi to come back North with him, but Obi refuses and says he must find Easter and Jason first.

I liked how the book wasn't written in proper grammar. It was written in words and terminology of a southern slave. This helped to develop the characters. I also liked that the book was written in a manner that helped the reader understand the feelings and anguish of slavery. It's a suitable book for elementary readers.

I would use this book at the beginning of a Civil War section as required reading. It could also be used on a reading list for Black History month or a section leading to the Underground Railroad.