This is a true life account.
This book is heartbreaking, eye opening and such an important read. It is beautifully written.

The name Olaudah Equiano may not be familiar to you, it certainly wasn’t to me. But it is now a name that I will never forget. His life is one that everyone should know about and whilst adults can learn about Ola in his bestselling autobiography that is widely read today - over two-hundred years after its initial publication - children can now become familiar with an adventurer, activist and author thanks to Catherine Johnson’s remarkable historical non-fiction narrative.

Born in 1745 in Essaka (a town in modern Nigeria), Africa, Olaudah Equiano was a happy child; playing with his siblings, enjoying family meals and listening to the elders. Life changed dramatically the day the men with the guns turned up. Kidnapped and then sold like a bag of flour, Ola would spend many years working as a slave at the hand of brutal masters. A dream of freedom never diminished though and a deal offered the opportunity for a different life. The value placed on a life in exchange for freedom…forty pounds. But could a slave really buy their way to freedom and truly live as a free man…

Meticulously researched, Catherine Johnson brings the horrors of the slave trade to life in an interesting and eye-opening account of the life of Olaudah Equiano. Covering a ten year period, we follow the trials and tribulations of a young boy who was kidnapped at the tender age of eleven, was put to work under the hands of different masters, would eventually buy back his freedom and go on to write one of the most important books in history.

Told with uncompromising honesty, it is at times brutal and Johnson does an exceptional job in ensuring the content is age-appropriate but in no means making light of the situation. Readers are left in little doubt about the horrors of the slave trade and how a person’s life, freedom, rights and choices were determined simply by the colour of their skin.

In a story that could be easily be full of doom and gloom there are many beacons of light amongst the darkness. An individual, who despite years of mistreatment, hard labour and where merely trying to survive was enough of a challenge, never gave up his dream of freedom, showed entrepreneurial spirit, and his resilience and determination are testament to the strength of the human spirit. There was great suffering but so much was overcome and much would be achieved long after Ola’s death thanks to the activist who campaigned for the abolition of slavery.

Whilst this is a challenging and confronting read, perhaps the biggest challenge readers face is left right until the end as we learn more about Ola in a detailed author’s note. In a story full of controversies, Ola’s actions after managing to free himself are arguably the most controversial of all. Why would a man who had experienced such brutality and unkindness manage slaves on a sugarcane plantain in South America? Was it to ensure that they were treated respectfully and with some degree of compassion? Readers are certainly left with much to ponder and discuss and many will be inclined to go and research more about one of the most important black figures in British history. The author’s note provides a great starting point for further enquiry and whilst Johnson acknowledges that some creative liberties have been taken in her retelling, it is for the most part as accurate as can be. An essential book for all key stage two classrooms and libraries.

As with all Barrington Stoke titles the book is published using dyslexic friendly font and colours so everyone can access this read. With huge thanks to the publisher for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 8+.

A great story again with such depth of background which gives you an aspect and a person from history who you might not otherwise know. Love that Barrington Stoke make it so accessible aa a read without compromsing on any quality. I learned so much from reading this.

This is such an interesting story about someone everyone should know about! Olaudah Equiano and his sister are enjoying having fun playing together outside when they suddenly hear sounds of something coming. The two fear what they hear and try to run away into the corn, but soon Olaudah and his sister are caught, tied up and made to walk for days until they reach the coast of Africa. There Olaudah finds himself separated from his sister and on a boat where he will begin his life as a slave to white people.

This is such a fascinating tale. Once Olaudah is purchased by someone he ends up a slave in America in the 1700s. While there he has his first encounters with Western things like paintings and clocks and I love how such things we take for granted are seen as absolutely terrifying to the young African boy. After some time Olaudah finds himself purchased again and bound for life as a slave to a man on a ship where he begins life as part of a ship’s crew. I love how Olaudah, by now renamed Gustavus, or Gus for short, ends up making friends with some of the children he meets. He ends up moving from one ship to another following his master but ends up being treated quite well by some of the crew.

As he gets older Gus eventually gets the chance to learn some skills and how to read and I love how despite the dark beginning he has, he ends up passionate about learning and also ends up loving England when he finally visits it and spends some time ashore there. This story covers the ten years of Equiano’s life, from being eleven and taken to be a slave all the way to when he is finally twenty one and I love how he grows during this time and becomes more and more determined to become free. Some wonderful things happen to him and at the same time there are moments where we see the true realities of what life was like as a slave and this book is such an amazing insight into what Equiano went though and told in such a fun and fictional way even though the story of this man is very real.

At the end of the book are author’s notes which explain more about Equiano’s life and I was surprised how this book is based on a real person who wrote his own book about his own experiences in the late 1700s and yet I’d never heard of him. This book is so interesting with such a lovely ending and the author’s notes expand on what happened later in Equiano’s life which I found really interesting and made me want to read his book. ‘Journey Back to Freedom’ is dyslexia-friendly which means it’s printed on a thicker paper which is yellowish in colour with larger text and a and special font used which makes reading it easier. Paragraphs of text are separated too making it much easier to read for dyslexics and anyone with visual problems too. It’s also quite a short read at less than 110 making it a great read for those reluctant to pick up bigger books if they find them daunting.

Overall this is such a great book and introduces a character we should all have learned about in school. I can’t believe such an important black man in British history, who was also involved in trying to abolish slavery, has not been more heard about before. I’m ashamed of the education I got at school and this is one of those books that needs to be in school libraries as it introduces his story but in such an easy to enjoy and understand way. There is one use of the n word in the book but in context it makes sense it being there and it’s just such an interesting and brilliant way of learning about this important black figure in British history.

Several years ago, I read a book to my children about Olaudah Equiano. It was a fascinating story about a African man who was kidnapped, taken to the West Indies, and served as a slave there, then worked on ships and eventually earned money to pay his freedom. I found Journey Back to Freedom recently, and realised quickly that it was the same story but retold for younger children.
Olaudah was only about 11 when he was stolen from his native village and taken to the coast of Africa. There, he was put onto a ship and taken to the West Indies, where he was sold as a slave. He was sold from one owner to another, and spent several years in England. There, he learned to read and decided he wanted to become free. But, how could he accomplish that?
After a few years, Gustavus, as he was now called, went back to the West Indies with his new owner. There, he began to find ways to buy his freedom. Many adventures followed, and eventually he was able to return to his friends in England. One of them suggested he write the story of his life and all the unique experiences he had—which is the source of information for this book.
I thought Journey Back to Freedom was a very good retelling of the story of a brave man. It is told in first-person, just as it was written in the first place. It vividly portrays the horrors of the slave trade and what it is like to be a slave and belong to another person. At the same time, it is not too graphic for children.
I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

It is true that most of the best stories are based on fact. I explained this to the children before we started to read this gripping book. They were so shocked and annoyed by the treatment and attitudes in this book we had to stop for a while and kick a football about in the garden to burn off some energy ! It is a stunning book showing the best and the worst of the human spirit. The author should be very proud. This should be on every school bookshelf to promote discussion . We do enjoy these book by the publisher Barrington Stokes as they make powerful book accessible to the whole family regardless of age and reading ability.

I wanted to love this more but was left with mixed feelings.

It was no doubt an informative and illuminating read since I did not know who Olaudah Equiano was at first, so thank you for that. The book draws attention to an important part of history when Africans were kidnapped and enslaved as well as the cruelty they were forced to endure. It doesn't hold back in the unsavoury details but was not overly descriptive either, so I find the balance to be appropriate for the book's intended audience.

The story is told through Olaudah Equiano's perspective as imagined by the author, which is where things get tricky for me. Despite his circumstances, Equiano seems to view many things with awe and boylike wonder e.g. his eagerness for "battle". Perhaps it was to show the protagonist's child-like innocence or his little moments of reprieve, and while I'm glad this book isn't 'trauma porn', the overall vibe felt weird to me.

The fact that Equiano is a flawed and complicated character is further evident in how he apparently went on to manage/own slaves. The author's note states: "He was against slavery, but he enslaved and exploited other people to gain his freedom." I would have liked to see such complexities reflected in the story and Equiano as a character.

Overall, this is an interesting read that's suitable for younger/reluctant readers. Not only does the book shed light on an abhorrent time in history, it also made me want to learn more about Olaudah Equiano.

Catherine Johnson retells the true story of Olaudah Equiano, stolen into slavery as a child, who after years of struggle and adventure managed to buy his freedom and wrote his autobiography. Straightforwardly told in Barrington Stoke style, this is a story that touches fleetingly on the brutal horrors of the slave trade, focusing on our hero’s struggle towards freedom.

Journey Back to Freedom by Catherine Johnson is a historical fiction account of Olaudah Equiano, a Nigerian boy who is kidnapped and sold into slavery.
Geared towards young to middle grade readers Catherine Johnson does a good job telling the remarkable story Olaudah’s journey as a slave to being a free man . Throughly researched and fast paced this book is sure to keep the young reader engaged. and hopefully wanting to learn more about Olaudah’s life.

(Review given in exchange for netgalley e-arc)

This book was heartbreaking, honest, eye opening and such an important book for young readers. This tells the story of a young Nigerian boy and his journey being bought and sold, as a slave, being set to work on ships. It’s a book that is so accessible to teach this vital part of history to young readers; it broke my heart even at my age so think this would be a hugely important and impactful read for younger audiences. It’s a quick and easy read - it only took me an hour to read the whole thing - but think it’s very respectfully been put together and is a fantastic read.

A true-life account of a Nigerian boy who was kidnapped, enslaved, and later bought back his own freedom in the 18th century.

Olaudah Equiano was born in 1745 in Essaka, in what is today a part of Nigeria. When he was eleven, he, along with his sister, was kidnapped by slave traders and taken to the Caribbean. He was sold multiple times as a slave, once to a British Royal Navy officer. This experience impact his life the most. Equiano turned out to be very enterprising, and with his small savings and gains from local trade, he purchased his freedom and settled in London. He later became part of the Sons of Africa, an abolitionist group composed of Africans living in Britain. The story is written in the first person perspective of Equiano, and bases many facts on the information in his memoir.

The story begins with a very brief look into Equiano’s early years and covers his journey through the Caribbean and England. There is an afterword that speaks in detail of the man and his time in England after earning his freedom. This section proved more insightful than the main story.
I love historical fiction as well as true life narratives. I also love children’s fiction. So when these two come together in one package, I am usually very impressed. This time though, I find myself disappointed. The story just didn’t touch me the way I expected it to.

Equiano’s life is no doubt inspiring. He doesn’t lose his presence of mind even under the most disturbing circumstances. He is a quick learner, and enterprising too. His despondency comes through as clearly as his optimistic faith in a better future. The book thus offers an interesting character study.

Equiano’s narrative ought to have rendered the reader emotional at least to some extent. However, the writing style makes the story very bland. Despite the first person narrative, we never feel connected to the lead character. Sometimes, it feels like we are just reading facts as he moves from one place to another, whether as a slave or as a free man. There is no character detailing. For instance, how does he understand every English speaker around him when he was a newly-minted slave? Why does he talk so much of his white owners/wellwishers but hardly anything of his family? What did he feel when the Brits taught him beliefs from Christianity? How did he accept such a different faith so easily? Why did he willingly get baptised? There are many such instances when the insight into the actions is almost non-existent, left at a surface-level mention.

Even more disheartening to me was the afterword that showed Equiano to be a tricky person. Though he himself was enslaved, he later doesn’t shy away from managing other slaves to ensure his own freedom and security. As I wasn’t aware of Olaudah Equiano, I expected his story to be similar to that of Solomon Northup in terms of intensity, though the circumstances of the two men and their slavery were vastly different. But when the “hero” proved to be a cocky opportunist, I lost any interest in seeking a happy ending for him.

All in all, it does seem like an important story from the darker days of history. I just wish it had made me feel a bit more empathetic towards Equiano, allowing a glimpse of the person behind the facts.

3 stars.

My thanks to Barrington Stoke and NetGalley for the DRC of “Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.


Content Warning: There are a few disturbing events in the content. There is mention of a female slave being muzzled; one person gets shot during a battle and the bullet goes right through his cheek; several references are made to slaves being tortured; and of course, we have Equiano’s forced kidnapping at a young age. The book is officially meant for ages 9+, but some of these facts might be too traumatising for sensitive young readers

Journey Back to Freedom is a semi-fictionalised account of the early life of slave turned abolitionist, Olaudah Equiano. Based predominantly on Equiano’s book, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano: or, Gustavus Vassa, the African, Catherine Johnson has made up the dialogue as well as taking scenes from his book and developing them. This makes it perfectly suited to a Year 5+ audience.

It’s a truly gripping tale, outlining the horrors and injustices faced by those caught up in the slave trade. As a Barrington Stoke text, it is very accessible to readers of all abilities. I think it would be powerful book to promote dialogue within the classroom. Johnson’s afterword outlines some facts about slavery as well as some issues with Equiano, which would be fantastic discussion points. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Catherine Johnson’s historical fiction is meticulously researched, richly imagined and beautifully written; her latest novel is inspired by the autobiography of Equiano, and focuses on the decade in which he was captured and enslaved, before managing to buy his freedom at the age of 21.

The story begins in Africa where Johnson flushes out the sparse details provided by Equiano, portraying the terror and pain of the capture, the march to the sea and the voyage over the ocean as an enslaved ‘living ghost’. She then imagines his reactions to being repeatedly bought and sold, and to racist people who attempted to diminish him. Along with Equiano’s frustrations and moments of despair, Johnson includes uplifting and even funny moments in his many journeys and his time living in Britain. Descriptions and dialogue are at times disturbing, but the matter-of-fact delivery in this Barrington Stoke novel means that it is suitable and accessible for Year 7+ students. It will work particularly well in conjunction with a History unit about enslaved peoples & resistance, so I plan to use this with my Year 8 History class.

Johnson includes a detailed afterward which provides more details on Equiano’s life including his work to get slavery outlawed. She recognises that he was a complex person who faced awful situations, and at times made morally ambiguous decisions. Her nuanced approach will lead to thought-provoking discussions, and her engaging style means the book will fly off the shelves.

Olaudah Equiano is not a well known names in this country and I came across him, when creating a book collection for a School Library Service. Catherine Johnson has written an accurate and very readable account of his life, which will be accessible to most children as it is published by the brilliant Barrington Stoke. Every primary school should have this as part of their black history collections and it will also work well in secondary schools.

An incredible read about someone I had never heard of before and it was a brutal but important story. I read it in one sitting.

Catherine Johnson is a great author of historical interest for children and adult alike. This book was great. I learned a lot and it really helped me to empathise with the whole situation. This books shows the terrors of enslavement, the people involved, the attitudes of the day and of individuals and the terrible plight of black slaves across the world. It was uncomfortable, as it should be, and uplifting as the courage and determination shown should be an inspiration for all. I will be recommending we use this book as part of our curriculum studies for KS2.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Barrington Stoke for the advanced copy to review.

I struggled to love this book as much as I truly wanted to- as a former history teacher, I loved the idea of a book about Olaudah Equiano especially since we know quite a bit about him from his own book. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a high-low book as I did grow frustrated at the relative superficiality of the content. It touched on so many topics but never delved very deeply in Olaudah’s struggle or the realities of history during this time. Yes, it’s absolutely a kids’ book about content that is difficult to grasp, and I think it’s appropriate for younger readers, but there were so many times where the content just seemed to fall a bit short or miss a significant broader point that could have been made with a couple of extra sentences. My hope is that this short book will plant a seed that will push children to dig into Equiano’s story more thoroughly. For a child who is interested in history, this book is a good start and tells the generally true story about a real man who suffered greatly but persevered to overcome so much. Overall, I think the book hits the mark of being short enough to hold the attention of a reluctant readers as well as presenting an interesting story in an easy to read format; I just wish that a little extra attention was paid to flesh out more of the content.

I came into teaching 12 years ago – undertaking the Graduate Training Programme, which enabled me to learn on the job, spending one day a week out of school training. With the course only lasting a year, there was – quite rightly – a huge focus on English and maths for most of the year with the other subjects being crammed in towards the end of the course. In the case of the humanities, a single day was devoted to history and geography and although I remember nothing about the geography training, the name of Olaudah Equiano has stayed with me from the half day’s teaching on delivering history.

I don’t think any of us had heard of this important individual before that training, but although the details of the lesson we shared are no longer as clear as they were all those years ago, I still remember being absolutely fascinated and deeply moved by the achievements of this one man and here, in this new fictionalised account of his life, young readers will also have the chance to learn about him and keep his memory alive.

Our story opens with Olaudah reflecting on being torn from his beloved family and his transformation from son and brother to a mere possession. Shipped to America and unable to speak the language of those around him, Olaudah quickly learns his place and before long finds himself sold on to another master – a British naval officer.

At first, Olaudah finds life on board strange and frightening but befriended by one of the boys also there, it is not long before he picks up the language spoken by those around him and makes himself indispensable to his master. Seeing education as his route to freedom and independence, he jumps at the chance to learn to read and write and starts to think more and more about the better life that he could have if he were a free man.

But before he can earn his freedom, he must serve other masters and bide his time while they control his life. Honest, conscientious and determined to prove his worth by adhering to the Christian values he has been taught by his so-called superiors, eventually his patience is rewarded and he is able to live out the rest of his life as a free man.

Following on from the narrative is an afterword which tells how Olaudah went on to record the story of his life and became one of the first Black African writers to publish a book but it balances this with a very modern view to show that, like any other human being, he was a flawed character, although – as ever – it is difficult to judge historical figures by modern standards.

Fabulously researched, and brilliantly written at an age-appropriate level, so that the slave trade is shown in all its horror, this is a must-have for every primary and secondary school library and could be used to complement so much work that is carried out in promoting tolerance and equality amongst our young people. I found it fascinating and although the virtual advance read I had was sadly missing Katie Hickey’s illustrations, I can only imagine that they will enhance the text enormously and bring the books’ pages to life for young readers.

Perfect for lower KS2 upwards, this is another winner from publisher Barrington Stoke, who do so much to bring accessible, high quality texts like this one to all, and I am greatly indebted to them and Net Galley for my early read. Journey Back to Freedom: The Olaudah Equiano Story publishes on September 1st and is most definitely one to pre-order.