Never Caught, the story of Ona Judge : George and Martha Washington's courageous slave who dared to run away

Summary: On Saturday, May 21, 1796, Ona Judge, a twenty-two-year-old slave of President George Washington and his wife, Martha, escaped the president's Philadelphia mansion and never looked back. Born into a life of slavery, Ona Judge grew up in the shadows, both at the Washingtons' residence and in the first few decades of our new country. But times were changing. Although George Washington held incredibly conflicted views on the institution of slavery, more and more citzens and political figures were becoming vocal opponents of slavery in the United States. After moving north with the Washingtons and interacting with Philadelphia's large free black community, Ona observed what freedom could be like. Martha Washington's decision to give Ona to her graddaughter as a wedding gift propelled Ona into action. She knew she had to leave, risking everything - including her life - if she wanted to live as a free person. In this Young Readers edition of the National book Award Finalist Never caught, authors Erica Armstrong Dunbar and Kathleen Van Cleve provide an intimate glimpse into the life of Ona Judge, from her childhood to her time with the Washingtons and living in the slave quarters to her ultimate escape to New Hampshire. Readers will learn more about this little-known but powerful figure in history and Ona's incredible journey to freedom. --