The Drinking Gourd by F. N. Monjo
"The Drinking Gourd" by F. N. Monjo is a children's historical fiction book that tells the story of a young boy named Tommy Fuller and his encounter with a family of fugitive slaves. Set against the backdrop of the Underground Railroad, the narrative unfolds in six short chapters, focusing on Tommy's discovery of Jeff, Vinnie, and their children, who are escaping to freedom in Canada, guided by the stars known as the "drinking gourd." The story illustrates Tommy's journey from youthful mischief to a deeper understanding of the significance of freedom and the moral complexities surrounding slavery.
As Tommy learns about his father's role as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, he grapples with the ethics of aiding those fleeing oppression while navigating the tension of following versus breaking the law. The book highlights themes of courage, compassion, and moral growth, encouraging readers to reflect on the societal issues of justice and equality. Published in 1970 during a pivotal time in the civil rights movement, "The Drinking Gourd" was praised for its sensitivity and historical insight, marking it as an important contribution to children's literature that addresses America’s diverse heritage and challenges of the past.
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Subject Terms
The Drinking Gourd by F. N. Monjo
First published: 1970; illustrated
Type of work: Historical fiction
Themes: Politics and law, race and ethnicity, and social issues
Time of work: Autumn, 1851
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: The United States, in one of the free states north of Maryland and the Ohio River
Principal Characters:
Tommy Fuller , a mischievous but good-hearted young boyDeacon Fuller , his father, a pillar of the community and a conductor on the Underground RailroadJeff , a man born into slavery but determined to seek freedom for himself and his familyVinnie , his equally courageous wifeLittle Jeff , Jeff and Vinnie’s spirited sonU.S. Marshall , a man who represents and attempts to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law
The Story
The Drinking Gourd was written specifically for a young audience as one in a series of controlled-format, easy-reading history books. Six short chapters detail young Tommy Fuller’s discovery of a family of fugitive slaves and the part he plays in their journey to freedom. The book’s focus on Tommy is established at the outset, but once the family is introduced, F. N. Monjo interweaves the story of their travel on the Underground Railroad with Tommy’s growing awareness of the significance of that journey.
The book opens with a restless Tommy squirming in the children’s gallery at church. After eating an apple, he fastens the core to a piece of string and lowers the bait out the window to a flock of geese below. The ensuing commotion results in Tommy’s being sent home alone by his angry father, Deacon Fuller. Ever mischievous, Tommy heads to the barn instead of going to his room as his father had directed. Hearing a noise like a baby’s cry, Tommy investigates and finds Jeff, his wife Vinnie, and their children, Little Jeff and Baby Pearl. Jeff explains that they are runaways who are following the “drinking gourd.”
Little Jeff, a boy Tommy’s age, picks up the thread of his father’s explanation. He directs Tommy’s attention to the night sky and shows him the drinking gourd, stars Tommy knows as the Big Dipper. Little Jeff says that it will show his family the way to freedom in Canada. Deacon Fuller’s arrival halts further conversation, but rather than send his wayward son to his room, Fuller instructs him to help hitch up the horses.
Tommy learns more once the wagon is under way. His father tells him that the Underground Railroad is “a secret group of people who believe slavery is wicked.” Deacon Fuller’s barn is a station on the railroad, and he is one of its conductors. Jeff expresses his determination to elude capture, and Tommy promises his father to keep the night’s events a secret.
That promise and Tommy’s ingenuity are put to the test when Deacon Fuller leaves the wagon to find a boat hidden nearby. A search party arrives, but Tommy poses as a runaway who fears being punished for his earlier pranks in church. Amused, the U.S. Marshall and his men turn back, laughing, while Jeff and his family lie hidden in the wagon’s hay. A frightened Tommy whispers good-bye as his father and Jeff’s family row off to the next station.
Back home, Tommy lies awake until his father’s return. They discuss respect for the law and why they broke a law to help Jeff and Vinnie escape. Deacon Fuller says that the law will be changed someday, but until then, he will not obey a law that allows Jeff and Vinnie to be considered property. Tommy agrees that the law is wrong, and the book ends as he expresses his hope that Little Jeff and his family will reach Canada and freedom.
Context
The Drinking Gourd is the second of Monjo’s more than twenty books for young readers. Published in 1970, The Drinking Gourd appeared at a time of heightened national awareness of African Americans’ ongoing struggle for equality in American society. Few books for children reflected America’s diverse racial and ethnic heritage, and even fewer raised questions about civil rights. Although Monjo’s Indian Summer (1968) was criticized for presenting stereotypical images of Native Americans, The Drinking Gourd was well received by critics and children alike and helped establish Monjo as an author who could make the past come alive. An editor of children’s books with a lifelong love of history, he was fully prepared for such a task and went on to win the National Book Award for Poor Richard in France (1973). This irreverent but affectionate portrait of Benjamin Franklin presents the great man through the eyes of his seven-year-old grandson, a boy whose high spirits link him to The Drinking Gourd’s Tommy Fuller.