The seductive allure of freedom and its perils are described vividly in fifteen powerful free verse poems that mark various paths away from slavery through the Underground Railroad. Not only does the author describe the brutality of being whipped in "Never Again": "he got us hanging like hogs or fresh beef beating us" (unpaged), but she also points out the uncertainty about who to trust faced by those trying to find their way to freedom in "Look for the Broken Branch," and the mingled joy and relief upon reaching a safe place in "Welcome to Michigan." Painful though they are, these poems are meant to be read aloud and seem suitable for middle grades and high school. The illustrations are filled with emotion, sometimes pure terror, as in the case of the painting accompanying "The Hole," showing a man hiding beneath the floor boards while others dance right above him. I'm not sure about the reference to Sojourner Truth threatening to kill a reluctant passenger on the journey north; nor am I sure about the authenticity of the scene depicted in "Nearly There" as slave trackers fire at slaves aboard a wagon heading north. I'm certainly not denying the courage of those who managed to escape, but the scene seems overdramatic and makes me wonder how often that sort of thing actually happened.