The Northbound Train - by Leslie Johnson Piotrowski (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A unique perspective on the Great Migration, when more than six million Black American families left the South to escape Jim Crow laws and racial violence

Clickety-clack! Don't look back!

Jane and her parents sit in the segregated train car, traveling from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, where her father has found a new job. At the start of the journey, they are forced to sit at the back while white passengers ride at the front.

But when the train crosses the Mason-Dixon line, the conductor announces that passengers may change seats--and for the first time, Jane sees Black and white families sitting side by side.

Based on the author's family history, The Northbound Train offers a powerful child's-eye view of the Great Migration and captures what it means to leave home behind in search of something better. Includes recommendations for additional reading and an author's note about this pivotal moment in American history.

Review Quotes

***STARRED REVIEW***

"Engel's textured and painterly illustrations capture the hopeful anticipation of the train riders with well-composed interior scenes filled with thoughtful historic detail...This -child's-eye-view of this important transition in United States history is a heartwarming, beautifully written, and multidimensional story ripe for discussion. Highly recommended."

"Piotrowski captures the vastness of the Great Migration within this deceptively modest moment...Engel's warm, expressive paintings deepen this sense of transition; seats, windows, and aisles first enforce separation, then subtly reconfigure...Tender and honest."

"Simple yet significant, this moving account presents an emotionally powerful lens on a pivotal experience."

About the Author

Leslie Johnson Piotrowski is a biracial author with a passion for representation and sharing her own heritage through literature. The Northbound Train is based partially on her grandfather's journey as part of the Great Migration. Piotrowski has served in the Peace Corps and traveled to over 25 countries. She lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago with her husband. This is her debut picture book. Tonya Engel is a self-taught artist, influenced by folk artists of the Deep South as well as fine artists such as Marc Chagall, Frida Kahlo, and Romare Bearden. Her bold style is figurative, textured, colorful, and ripe with symbolism. Engel also illustrated Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History by Schele Williams, which received four starred reviews, including from the School Library Journal: "Each page spread is a piece of artwork worthy of a museum." Engel lives in Austin, Texas.