Ann Maria was a child of slaves. The book traces Ann Maria s beginnings with her family in Unity, Md., to her lonely existence as a housemaid in Rockville. Eventually, disguised as a boy, she escapes to Canada on the Underground Railroad. While railroads were used, so were roads, rivers and safehouses. Ann Maria makes the decision to steal her freedom when her family is torn apart and abolitionists fail to buy her independence.
Readers learn quickly what it is like to be a child under slavery.
Through rich details and painstaking research, the author weaves a very believable picture. When the book came out last year, both Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly praised it for its thoroughness and accuracy. Carbone was introduced to the central character by Anthony Cohen s book The Underground Railroad in Montgomery County. In fact, Carbone told Cohen that she was a little uneasy writing about this topic since she is white. Cohen, who is black, told her to get over it.