Steal Away Home
By Lois Ruby
Major Characters
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Dana Shannon (main character, present)
Mrs. Shannon (Mom) Dr. Shannon (Dad) James Weaver (main character, past)
Millicent Weaver (Ma)
Caleb Weaver (Pa) Rebecca Weaver (Sister)
Minor Characters
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Jeep Ahn Sally Derek Mike Gruber
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Jeremy Macon Will Bowers Dr. Baxie Sherriff Samuel Jones U.S. Deputy Marshall Fain
Setting
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Present Time: Dana’s house on Tennessee
St. in Lawrence, KS Past Time: James’ house (same location)
Themes
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Nonviolence (Jeremy Macon/Beecher’s
Bibles vs. James Weaver/Quaker Beliefs)
Chapter 1: “Tear Down the Wall”
(Present Time) • Dana & Mom are tearing down ugly rooster
wallpaper • As they tear down the paper, they find a
secret room • In the secret room, there is a SKELETON!
Chapter 2: “No Names”
(Past Time) • The Weavers are introduced– They are Quakers
• Millicent Weaver is helping slaves get to freedom
up north/Canada
• Her flag is up – this lets slaves know this is a safe
house ; Dad is not home • A wagon appears with slaves hidden underneath a
blanket. She feeds them and allows them to stay. • She tells them not to tell her their names
• “If I don’t know thy names, why, I can’t say for sure thee’d
been here, anyone come asking”
Chapter 3: “Identity: Unknown”
(Present Time) • Dana calls 911 about the skeleton – police
arrive quickly (Officer Burney and Office
Wyles) to take pictures and collect
evidence
• County Coroner (Dr. Baxi) shows up to
examine the skeleton. • Dr. Baxi invites her to the coroner’s office
for the autopsy. (not actually viewing it but
standing outside the office)
Chapter 3: “Identity: Unknown” Cont.
(Present Time) • As the officers are working, Dana sees
something drop down to the floor – a small
black book • She decides to keep it •
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Dana hints that she has found something but
does not tell her parents (p. 18).
Dr. Baxi believes the skeleton was a fugitive
slave who died 130-140 years ago
• Identity and death are UNKNOWN
Chapter 4: “Wakarusa War”
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(Past Time) The Weaver’s sit and eat breakfast with the
slaves They discuss how Border Ruffians from
Missouri (slave state) opposed of the Kansas
Territory becoming a free-soil state. • Kansas Territory wanted to be Free-Soilers, but the
Border Ruffians “stuffed the ballot boxes”, making it
look like more Kansans were proslavery.
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This caused border skirmishes which they
called the Wakarusa War (named after the river
that ran through Lawrence, KS)
Chapter 4: “Wakarusa War” Cont.
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(Past Time) Jeremy Macon tells James about the Sharp’s
Rifles, also known as “Beecher’s Bibles” • Rifles were shipped in book boxes on barges up the
Kansas River • Henry Ward Beecher said “a rifle’s a higher moral
power so far as these proslavers are concerned.” •
James’ Conflict: the Weavers are Quakers and
do not believe in the use of violence
Chapter 4: “Wakarusa War” Cont.
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(Past Time) James’ Ma put James, Rebecca, and the
slave family to work
His Ma tells Rebecca and James to keep
the slaves a secret – don’t tell ANYONE
including PA! She makes them place their hands on the
bible and swear.
Chapter 5: “Night of the Living Bones”
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(Present Time) Dana and her friends sit around the cafeteria table
talking about the skeleton Dana and Ahn name the skeleton Elvira Lincoln Jeep is upset because the way they are talking
about the skeleton (who was a slave) Later at home, Dana opens the black book and
reads the first entry. • The book belongs to Millicent Weaver •
Dana decides to tell her parents she has found the
black book and promises to give it back by July 1
Chapter 6: “The Free-State Hotel”
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(Past Time) James’ Pa (Caleb Weaver) returns home Rebecca almost slips up about their guests
(slaves) Mrs. Weaver lies and says the neighbors came
over with bread n’ butter pickles Pa doesn’t believe this, so he takes James
outside and asks what really happened • James’ lies and says he’s been “working on his
studies” at Jeremey’s house; therefore, he doesn’t
really know
Chapter 6: “The Free-State Hotel”
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(Past Time) Ma and Pa get into a heated discussion
about slavery • Although they both do not agree with slavery: Pa
believe in following the law while Ma believes in
doing the right thing, regardless of the law. •
James’ Internal Conflict: What is the right
thing to do? Get involved (Beecher’s
Bibles) or to stay to true to his Quaker
beliefs.
Chapter 7: “No Nancy Drews”
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(Present) Ahn stays the night at Dana They go to the secret chamber to look for clues They hear footsteps and hide • It is Dana’s Parents
• Dana’s Parents hint that IF the children are in the room, they
should get out because it is ILLEGAL to be in the room. •
They stay in the room until it’s safe. • Dana’s Parents are hiding on the floor. • Dana and Ahn end up stepping on them and getting caught
(they did not get into trouble)
Chapter 7: “No Nancy Drews”
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(Present) Dana shows Ahn the black book • She reads an entry about an old man/slave
showing up at the Weaver’s door. • This upsets Ahn who didn’t know that such things
took place in the US
Chapter 8: “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet!”
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(Past Time) James, Jeremy Macon, & Will Bowers are
in town and see men on Mount Oread
(which looked over the city) U.S. Marshall William Fain comes down
and warns the boys that the men are
looking for “Slave Stealers”
Chapter 9: “Edmund Wolcott’s Castle”
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(Present Time) The Shannon’s find out from the library that Caleb
Weaver, a lawyer, built their house in 1856 • No information on Mrs. Weaver was in record
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Dr. Shannon guesses the family were Quakers
They pass Edmund Wolcott’s limestone castle, built
in the 1870’s
• Edmund Wolcott was a cattle baron •
The castle is going to be torn down due to its poor
condition (broken windows, missing chunks of
limestone)
Chapter 9: “Edmund Wolcott’s Castle”
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(Present Time) Dana reads an entry from the black book:
• Mr. Weaver will be representing Barnaby Watts,
charged with helping slaves escape
• Mr. Weaver is torn: he is against slavery but believe in
upholding the law
• This upsets Mrs. Weaver – she believes slavery is
wrong, regardless of the law •
Dana reads the next entry which appears to be
written several weeks later:
• May 21, a fire swept through the house…
Chapter 10: “Thirty Cannonballs”
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(Past Time)
The Border Ruffians from MO on Mount Oread
come down the mountain
• They have a canon “Old Sacramento” aimed at the
Free-State Hotel • 30 cannonballs later, the Free-State Hotel still stands
• Eventually, it is taken down with 2 barrels of gunpowder
placed in the basement
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The Weaver’s buried anything of personal value
in a box in the back yard
Chapter 10: “Thirty Cannonballs”
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(Past Time) The me of Lawrence prepare to battle the
Border Ruffians Sheriff Samuel Jones, a resident of MO but
the sheriff of Douglass County, decides to
fight with the Border Ruffians
Chapter 11: “The Sack of Lawrence”
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(Present Time) Sally, Derek, Ahn, Mike Gruber, and Dana are
watching Freddy (Horror movie)
• Ahn is not scared – states the bones in Dana’s house
were scarier
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They discuss how Dana’s house was burned
down in “The Sack of Lawrence” -- most of the
town was burned down in 1856 Dana states her house was also burnt down
again 7 years later during the Civil War by the
Confederates
Chapter 11: “The Sack of Lawrence”
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(Present Time) Later, Dana stays at Ahn’s house
• They read several entries in the black book • Congress refused to accept Caleb’s Constitution
• Rebuilding the house • Ma asks Mr. Madison to build a “good-sized closet” in the
north bedroom where James can play his violin • Ma and Pa are getting along better now that they’ve put their
business aside (writing constitution; helping slaves)
• EVERYTHING CHANGES! A young lady shows up at the
door while Caleb is away – even though no flag is hanging.
She says she will never make it to Canada, but she’s meant
to help others on their journey. Elvira is here!
Chapter 12: “Follow the Drinking Gourd”
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(Past) Elvira’s name is really Miss Lizbet Charles Miss Lizbet is not like most slaves James has
seen – she is well-spoken • She is helping around the house •
Ma has agreed to teach Lizbet to read & write
• Her presence makes James uncomfortable/upset –
things were just starting to get better at the house
Chapter 12: “Follow the Drinking Gourd”
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(Past) James argues to Ma that Lizbet needs to leave
• Ma says she stays
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Lizbet is a great storyteller!!
• A slave gets in a box and ships himself to Philadelphia
– traveled 26 hours
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Lizbet states, “Black folks find all different ways
of following the drinking gourd” • The Big Dipper (NORTH STAR at handle) • Slaves follow the north star to know they’re heading north for
freedom.
Chapter 13: “The Conductor”
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(Present Time) The kids are returning from a dance – had a live
band Derick asks Mrs. Shannon, “How’s the dead
body?” • “Still dead,” she replies
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Dana shares that Elvira’s real name is Lizbet
Charles, and she was a conductor on the
Underground Railroad (making 8-10 trips) • Conductor lead slaves to the north
Chapter 14: “Three First Names”
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(Past)
Lizbet and Mrs. Weaver are arguing about
bringing “pilgrims” into Mrs. Weaver’s
home
• Mr. Weaver will be home soon, so Mrs. Weaver
needs Lizbet to leave
• They agree as long as Mr. Weaver is home, Lizbet
will stay in the small room upstairs (secret
chamber)
Chapter 14: “Three First Names”
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(Past)
Lizbet begins telling a story about Ms. Ellen
Craft, a slave who’s father was white • Ms. Craft disguised herself as a male plantation
owner, and her husband, Mr. Craft, as her
manservant • They escaped for freedom by traveling on the train
system
• 3 boats and 5 trains later, they reach Philadelphia
Chapter 14: “Three First Names”
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(Past)
President Millard Fillmore sent 600 troops
to capture Ellen and William Craft
They flee by boat to England James asks Lizbet if she had any children
• Lizbeth shares she was married once but lost her
husband before they could have any children
• She begins telling the Weavers about her husband,
Matthew Luke Charles (a man with 3 first names)
Chapter 15: “Uncle Mose”
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(Present) Dana, Jeep, and her friends are at the mall
Jeep is reading the black journal • Lizbet remains hidden while Mr. Weaver is home
• Lizbet tells stories: • Bog who fakes a seizure and is sent to jail but escapes for
Canada and is now living free
• Uncle Mose sells for a mere $200 but is rescued by 25 Free
Soilers on horse • Mrs. Weaver collects these stories to share with Caleb one
day in hopes he will understand her actions.
Chapter 15: “Uncle Mose”
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(Present) Jeep is upset about what he read
Dana asks Jeep what would he had done if
he was alive then? • Jeep states he wouldn’t have been a Martin Luther
King
Chapter 16: “They Never Looked Back”
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(Past) Mrs. Weaver fixes a picnic, and
suggest that the family go out for the
day, but the real reason is so Lizbet
can get out. The family goes to visit the Olneys,
friends from Boston who recently
moved to Kansas.
o Dr. Olney has a hired hand named Solomon
Jefferson who is a free black man, who cools
off Thunder.
Chapter 16: “They Never Looked Back”
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(Past) •
A slave hunter shows up and to take
Solomon back to Macon, GA.
o There is a confrontation and Solomon almost used
an ax on the Slave Hunter, but his Quaker
background stops him from doing it.
o Mr. Weaver tells Solomon, “I’ll do everything I can
to get thee out again.”
o Mr. Weaver gives Solomon Thunder so he doesn’t
have to walk.
Chapter 17: “The View from Lizbet’s Cot”
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(Present) Dana, Ahn and Jeep go into the tiny
room were Lizbet’s bones were found.
• Jeep wants to go into the closet that was
Lizbet’s room to “feel it pumping”, like the
Heart at the Museum of Science & Industry
in Chicago.
• He investigates every inch of the small
room, and lies on the cot as well as under it.
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Jeep declares, “She died in this room.”
Chapter 17: “The View from Lizbet’s Cot”
• (Present) • Dana tells them that the diary ends with
Mrs. Weaver going back to Boston
because her father is dying, and that is
where the writing in the diary stops.
• Jeep says, “I know what happened to Ms.
Lizbet Charles…
• He has to go home and baby sit, but says, “I have
to work it around a little more and spend some
time at the library.”
Chapter 18: “Like a Real Son”
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(Past) Mr. Weaver is gone to Missouri to try and get
Solomon back
• Rebecca is done with the fever
• James spots a prairie wolf with a dead rabbits carcass in
it’s mouth.
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Mrs. Weaver has James, from Lizbet’s instructions,
go out and pick indigo plants to use as a medicine
for Rebecca
o Lizbet sees James looking in the mirror at his freckles,
and tells him he could get rid of them by smearing manure
on his face, James cried “Oh,” and ran out of the house.
o James has to drink the indigo tea before Rebecca will.
Chapter 18: “Like a Real Son”
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(Past) •
James gets Lizbet to tell him more about
Matthew Luke Charles, she tells him:
o Mr. Charles Senior was a plantation owner who
treated Matthew Luke Charles like a son o Matthew Luke took good care of him until he died,
he was murdered.
o Mr. Charles wife hated Mathew Luke, and set him
up for the murder. Matthew Luke was killed by a
firing squad made up of three slaves.
o That day Lizbet ran a way and made a vow to
herself to help free every slave she could.