Steal Away HomeBy Lois Ruby

Major Characters• 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• Jeep • Ahn • Sally • Derek • Mike Gruber

• Jeremy Macon • Will Bowers • Dr. Baxie • Sherriff Samuel Jones • U.S. Deputy Marshall Fain •

Setting • Present Time: Dana’s house on Tennessee

St. in Lawrence, KS • Past Time: James’ house (same location)

Themes• 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

• 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”• (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.

• This caused border skirmishes which they called the Wakarusa War (named after the river that ran through Lawrence, KS)

Chapter 4: “Wakarusa War” Cont. • (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. • (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”• (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”• (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”• (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”• (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”• (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!” • (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”• (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

• 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”• (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”• (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 • The Weaver’s buried anything of personal value

in a box in the back yard

Chapter 10: “Thirty Cannonballs”• (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”• (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 • 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”• (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” • (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” • (Past) • James argues to Ma that Lizbet needs to leave

• Ma says she stays • Lizbet is a great storyteller!!

• A slave gets in a box and ships himself to Philadelphia – traveled 26 hours

• 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”• (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

• 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” • (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” • (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” • (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”• (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”• (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”

• (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”

• (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”

• (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.

• 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”• (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. • 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”• (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.