Freedom Crossing takes place in the years leading up to the American Civil War, during the abolitionist movement. The book is set in Lewiston, New York. The Niagara River borders Lewiston on the west; across the river is Canada. Historically, it was an important stop on the Underground Railroad for enslaved people escaping to freedom. The abolitionist characters in Freedom Crossing represent a real group of people (Black and white) in the Northeast who dedicated their lives to opposing the horrors of slavery.

There are several historical figures referenced in the book who had major roles in the abolitionist movement. Harriet Tubman, often referred to as Moses (an allusion to the biblical Moses, who led the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the edge of the promised land [Exod 14]), was born into slavery in Maryland in 1822. In 1849, Harriet escaped from slavery to Pennsylvania, only to return later and rescue her family. In a time where slavery threatened to tear families apart, Harriet Tubman worked to keep families of enslaved people together. In Freedom Crossing, Martin’s family has been separated, and the aim of the rescue mission is to reunite

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