"This is a beautiful, powerful story.  The author does a fine job of documenting the reality of a slave in the 1840's.  It's moving and heartwarming - I cheered for Thaddeus along his journey."

Judge
Writer's Digest 13th Annual International Self-Published
Book Awards

"I could never begin to understand the depth of what it was like to have been a slave in the 1840's, but Joyce Elaine Jones' book, For Such a Journey , gives a glimpse into one such boy's journey.   Thaddeus was a young African American boy who was born into slavery.   He is the voice of slavery and freedom in this book.

This book has been written for a young audience of 10-12 year olds.   It would fit into a Social Studies curriculum that is about slavery, the Civil War and the Underground Railroad.   It helps the reader get a sense of the cruelty and hatred poured out on African Americans, without being too graphic for the intended age of the audience.   It also provides a glimpse into what it might have been to have lived in a time when the Underground Railroad was a necessity.

The target audience would be able to understand the topic of the book, slavery and freedom, as it is written on the appropriate level.   Fourth and fifth grade students study the Civil War, slavery and the Underground Railroad.   This is a fictional book that could be added as supplemental reading for that unit of study.   It would give the readers an easy to read story line following a young boy about their age."

Thelma Mumford-Glover, Ed.D.
Special Assistant to the Superintendent Atlanta Public Schools

Comments from Fourth and Fifth Graders

"I loved that book so much.   You made me feel like I was in that book."

Karlyn

"The book was awesome"

DJ

"Your book was the best I ever had read."

Austin

"I would like to say you are one cool author.   I wish the book had two sequels to it."

DeAndre

"I liked this story because it was one of the few that touched my heart, and I appreciate that."

Joseph

"I think that you made a good visualization with your writing.   It made people feel like they were actually in the story."

Andrew