Night Running

It's 1838, and James has made a secret plan to escape Master Graham's farm, and slavery.
He looks down at Zeus, his skinny old hunting dog--always hungry, always barking. "I've got to leave you behind," James tells him. "I don't want you following me either."

Zeus knows better. When James needs a steady guard while he sleeps under leaves, Zeus is there. When slave-catcher dogs come rushing over the ridge, Zeus is there. When James faces capture, Zeus is there. But the wide Ohio River lies between them and freedom and the two may finally have to part, James free on one side and his dog on the other. Zeus knows better.

Based on a true story, Night Running pairs an acclaimed historical fiction writer with a Caldecott Honor artist in a gripping and luminously illustrated journey to freedom. 

Night Running images copyright © 2008 E.B. Lewis

Coming soon: Read an interview with Elisa Carbone and illustrator Earl B. Lewis on Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog:
http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/
http://cynleitichsmith.livejournal.com/

Author’s Note:
I discovered the true story of James Smith and his faithful hunting dog while I was researching my novel Stealing Freedom. James Smith was interviewed by Henry Bibb, and the story was first published in a newspaper, Voice of the Fugitive, as a five part series (Jan 15, Feb 26, March 11, April 22, June 3, 1852). The full text can be found in the book Slave Testimony: Two Centuries of Letters, Speeches, Interviews and Autobiographies, edited by John W. Blassingame. (Louisiana State University Press, 1977.)