The final one ("Carrying the Running-Aways: And Other Slave Tales of Freedom") is by far the most effective for the contemporary reader the best of these stories convey great heroism, beauty and nobility. The book is organized into four sections: animal tales, fantasy, supernatural and tales of freedom. From reading Hamilton, one would not get the idea that Harris took enormous pains to reproduce the tales as he heard them, even when elements of the stories were incomprehensible to him. And her forerunner, the complex figure of Joel Chandler Harris, is unfairly assessed. A surprisingly facile introduction sets a restrained tone. Though there is much to enjoy, and many parts are quite stirring (such as the title story), Hamilton has prepared a sampling of carefully and respectfully retold tales, not a living work of art. With all this in mind, we expect to find here nothing less than fire from the mountain. It is especially noteworthy that they've combined their talents to present a collection of Black American tales-a folklore awesome in its richness, power and complexity. The combination of Newbery winner Hamilton and the Dillons, two-time Caldecott Medalists, raises high expectations.
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