I like the idea of the book. The different stories depict a different idea of what America and what freedom means. Many of the stories are about overcoming persecution. I kept trying to make more of a connection between the stories. Some of the stories end with an idealistic view of America. I think students should realize the struggles people in other countries face, but I'm not sure they tie together well in this book. I could read a few of the stories (George Washington, Margru, Sampson) to my class, but would have a hard time working others into the classroom curriculum. The title of the book is misleading. ( )

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Another winning book in the A NEW LOOK AT AMERICA'S STORY series, JOURNEYS FOR FREEDOM takes you through twenty individual stories of Americans who have made a difference in providing us with the freedom we have today. Whether a Native American or a pioneer, an immigrant, a solider, or a refugee, Americans have worked through the ages to earn our independence. Spanning from 1631 to 1988, these glimpses into the lives of Americans throughout history are meant to be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age.

To Providence (1631)--Roger Williams, a Puritan minister who fled to New England from the English.
Le Grand Derangement (1755)--Elizabeth Brasseux, a Nova Scotian Catholic ordered to swear allegiance to England.
On the Forbidden Path (1760)--Teedyuscung, a Delaware Indian Chief known as a peacemaker.
Solider in Disguise (1782)--Robert Shurtliff, aka Deborah Sampson, a young woman who joined the Continental Army.
Called by the Voice of America (1789)--General George Washington, elected as the first U.S. President.
Buying Freedom (1795)--Frank McWhorter, a freed slave moving west.
"Give Us Free!" (1839)--Sengbe Pieh, an African slave put on trial in New Haven, set free and returned to Africa.
A Thousand Miles for Freedom (1848)--William and Ellen Craft, slaves in Georgia, make their daring escape.
Walking to Zion (1856)--Young Peter McBride travels with his Mormon family to Zion, or Salt Lake City, Utah.
"For Honor, Duty, and Liberty" (1863)--Henry Gooding, a black soldier finally allowed to fight in the Civil War.
Gold Mountain (1865)--Ah Goong, encouraged to leave his home in China to strike it rich in California.
Flight of the Nez Perce (1877)--Wetatonmi, a Nez Perce Indian, fights for freedom while escaping to Canada.
The Promised Land (1894)--The Antin family is reunited in America after leaving Russia three years apart.
Going North (1924)--Mildred Mack and her African American family leave the South for New Jersey.
The Road to California (1934)--The Haggard family leave behind their demolished farm in Oklahoma for California.
Saved... (1939)--Israel Veleris and his Jewish family flee Nazi-occupied Germany.
"Walk Together, Children" (1965)--A young girl joins Martin Luther King, Jr. and others in a peaceful march.
La Peregrinacion (1966)--Cesar Chavez, a Mexican American and leader of the National Farm Workers Association, leads laborers on a strike against the grape growers of Delano, California.
Losing China (1966)--Nien Cheng and his family watch the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution destroy their homeland.
"Welcome to America" (1988)--Young Peter Malual, a Sudanese African, flees to a United Nations refugee camp in Ethiopia, and is later brought to America.

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in history, or for those who want to learn exactly which paths our people have gone down to gain freedom and independence. ( )

This is an excellent book! Children will enjoy looking at the pictures of early settlements as well as read the stories written for each settlement piece of history. It is very informative about how different places were settled all of the US.

This book has a lot of illustrations. It has many facts. It also is arranged by year and events for easy access to information.