“Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge” by Eric Armstrong Dunbar it's an extraordinary and captivating five-star nonfiction children's book that brings to life an incredible story of courage and resilience. Dunbar’s Writing effortlessly transports young readers to the era of slavery, vividly depicting the struggles and triumphs of Ona Judge, a courageous woman who escaped from George Washington's household. The book skillfully balances historical information with a compelling narrative, educating and inspiring young minds. Dunbar’s Meticulous research and attention to detail create a rich and immersive experience, shedding light on the often-overlooked stories of enslaved individuals. The illustrations beautifully, complement the text, bringing the historical figures and settings to life. “Never Caught” It's an essential read that encourages critical thinking, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the complexities of American history. It empowers young readers to question, learn, and stand up for justice, making it an exceptional addition to any child's library.

I am conflicted with this book. Yes, it is important to tell the history and stories of those who lived, and Ona's story is an interesting one, but aside from the interview published in the newspaper, what Ona thought, felt, or believed is the opinion of the author. This is not a negative aspect of the book, but it does call into question the inclusion of some passages that might make the book less suitable for younger children.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy.

**Received an eARC through NetGalley from Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing.**

It’s hard to write a complete and engaging story about a woman who did not leave a large paper trail. But Dunbar and Van Cleve do a respectable job at piecing together the available evidence and making it accessible to a younger audience.

A few points they hit especially well. They tackle the concept of “good slaveowners:” people who thought they were kind and benevolent (comparatively speaking), but who were not. Besides the Washingtons themselves, several other slaveholders or former slaveholders come into the narrative and illustrate either this confused benevolence or even the path by which they came to understand that slavery was wrong. The authors address this pretty clearly and elegantly.

Another high point for me is how they illustrate the choices available to a slave like Ona. Clearly she had to operate within limited options, each with its own risks, and all in the context of the white supremacy of her world. But she did have choices, and she made them. There is a lot of speculation in the story about how Ona might have felt about some of these choices, but usually it’s fairly clear what information comes from historical fact or reasonable guesswork, and what is just pure fancy. I especially appreciated that Ona’s interview was included and transcribed at the end.

A smoothly readable episode from United States history that should be more well-known. Ona Judge Staines is a phenomenal example of courage and grit.

#NetGalley

Ona Judge came to be George Washington’s slave through his wife Martha. Ona’s slave mother was Martha’s seamstress. Her father was a white indentured servant. Ona learned her mother’s skill and eventually replaced her as Martha’s personal slave. When George Washington became president, Ona traveled with them to Philadelphia and New York. During this time she observed free black people, and felt the anti-slavery sentiment, especially in Philadelphia which had a large Quaker population. When she learned that she would be returning to pro-slavery Virginia as a wedding gift to the Washington's bratty granddaughter, she knew she had one chance to escape. The Washingtons eventually learned that she was in New Hampshire, but never put a tremendous amount of effort into bringing her back.

This book has some appeal, but don’t expect the middle grade crowd to jump on board. The narrative style is somewhat engaging, but kids still prefer a historical novel based on fact. The author's constant need to identify known fact from speculation leads to some clunky writing. “Ona would have dressed her and fixed her hair—again—and made sure her shoes did not have any clumps of dirt on their heels and that her corset was suitably tight. She may have accompanied her owner to the dinner even though Ona (if not Martha) was probably exhausted.”

I enjoyed learning about the Washingtons, especially George's internal conflict over slavery. Without the Washingtons, there would be no story. On her own, there really isn't much interesting to tell about Ona's life.

While every school child knows about George Washington, how many are aware of Ona Judge? This book shares her story. Straightforward language makes it accessible for middle readers (instead of talking above them or down to them). The text is seasoned with quotes from primary sources and includes newspaper clips of Ona Judge's real life interview. An extensive bibliography concludes the book, giving readers who what to learn more a place to start their research. Great for fans of the Who Was series.

An important book to read, especially when studying the history of the United States of America during the 18th-early 19th centuries, or the founding fathers, or George and /or Martha Washington.