Araminta Tubman was born into slavery on Maryland's Eastern Shore in 1822. Nearly killed at the age of 13 by a blow to her head, "Minty" recovered and grew strong and determined to be free. Changing her name to Harriet upon her marriage to freeman John Tubman in 1844, she escaped five years later when her enslaver died and she was to be sold. One hundred dollars was offered for her capture. Vowing to return to bring her family and friends to freedom, she spent the next ten years making about 13 trips into Maryland to rescue them. She also gave instructions to about 70 more who found their way to freedom independently. During the Civil War, she served the United States Army as a spy, scout, nurse and cook. In early 1862, Tubman traveled to South Carolina to provide badly needed nursing care for African-American soldiers and civilians. Working with Major General David Hunter, Tubman also began spying and scouting behind Confederate lines. Tubman showed the same zeal and passion for the campaign to attain women's suffrage after the American Civil War as she had shown for the abolition of slavery. Harriet Tubman died in 1913 in Auburn, New York at the home she purchased from Secretary of State William Seward in 1859, where she established the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged. She was buried with military honors at Fort Hill Cemetery.

Books Read by Central High School Students:

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played the Piano for President Lincoln

Written by Margarita Engle & Rafael Lopez

Read by Christina Zelin

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Dare the Wind

Written by Tracey Fern

Ready by Amy Zhang, Lena Ondreyka, and Jess Natoli.

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The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

Written by Pat Zietlow Miller

Ready by Sierra Chow

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Maya Lin

Written by Jeanne Walker Harvey

Ready by Rahini Gubbala

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Counting on Katherine

Written by Helaine Becker

Ready by Pranjal Mhetre

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