She Came to Slay

October 1, 2019
A concise primer for adults who know the name Harriet Tubman (c. 1822-1913) but want to know more. Dunbar (History/Rutgers Univ.)--whose second book, Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge (2017), was a co-winner of the 2018 Frederick Douglass Book Award--is more concerned with letting history come alive than burying it beneath the trappings of academic scholarship--though the notes and bibliography show that she has done her homework. "Here then, presented in a way that I hope is accessible, informative, contemporary, and full of black girl magic, is the multidimensional story of Harriet Tubman Davis, a true boss lady, a superhero, and a warrior," writes Dunbar in the opening author's note. From a girlhood bout of epilepsy and a head injury that gave her seizures to her strong religious convictions, Tubman felt that she was guided by "visions and images that predicted the future," dreams that would alert her to danger and guide her actions "literally for the rest of her life." Dunbar thus makes the same leap of faith that Tubman did (and encourages readers to do so, as well): to give her mission a sense of divine guidance and purpose. During her life, her God worked in mysterious ways, responding to her prayers to end the life of the 47-year-old slave owner who was planning to put her and some of her brothers on the auction block. She prayed for his death, her prayers were answered, and "Harriet's immediate reaction to the news was pure joy." Her single-minded conviction and fortitude not only served her well as a runaway slave who helped so many others escape; they guided her through a life of service, tending to the medical care of Civil War soldiers, fighting for suffrage, and working to establish a home for the aged and indigent. With illustrations and catchy asides enhancing the conversational style, this smoothly readable narrative tells a story kept alive through oral tradition for decades. Perfect for Tubman novices but also enjoyable historical reading for those who already know most of the stories.

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November 1, 2019

Dunbar's (history, Rutgers; Never Caught) concise biography of abolitionist icon Harriet Tubman (c. 1822-1913) begins with an anecdote illustrating the steely nerves and resolution that enabled the woman known as Moses to become a successful conductor on the Underground Railroad in the years leading up to the Civil War. Tracing the significant events of Tubman's life from her birth into slavery in Maryland and her eventual escape, to her work for civil rights and women's suffrage, Dunbar focuses on how each milestone inspired Tubman to tackle injustice by direct action and personal sacrifice. As a touring speaker on abolitionism, a spy for the Union Army, and a nurse to black soldiers, Tubman faced physical violence, low pay, and discrimination. In showing how Tubman persevered despite these hardships, Dunbar offers readers an inspiring story of unyielding fortitude. VERDICT While Dunbar's short, readable biography will appeal to many, it's also true that events in Tubman's life are not given the detail they deserve. As an introduction to the life of this American hero, it succeeds with style.--Sara Shreve, Newton, KS

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 15, 2019
Dunbar's (Never Caught, 2017) treatment of Harriet Tubman's life conveys the tremendous power of Tubman's accomplishments with illuminating details about how she evaded slave catchers and masterminded a surprise attack on a Confederate camp during the Civil War. Tubman escaped from a Maryland plantation in 1849, but went back for her niece once she heard she was about to be sold. With a poorly healed broken skull that caused "sleeping spells" and a body made strong by labor, she rescued her parents and 60 to 70 more. Despite her great achievements, Tubman faced unnecessary obstacles: she was never paid for her services as a spy in the Civil War, and, though Tubman was involved early on in women's suffrage, Dunbar is frank about the back seat Tubman and other Black women were asked to take in the movement. Dunbar employs an uplifting, accessible, thoroughly modern tone throughout, with sections like "She Ain't Sorry" and "Bawss Lady," and graphic text sections about friends ("Harriet's Homies") and quotes ("Let me rap to you real quick"), resulting in an engaging biography that will leave even the least historically inclined readers in awe.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)