The Last Runaway (2013) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Characters/People edit see section history

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• Honor Bright: Young, unmarried, English Quaker woman who travels with her sister Grace to America. The main character in the book.
• Donovan: Slave hunter
• Belle Mills: A milliner shop owner who befriends Honor Bright after the death of her sister.We only truly understand Belles character towards the middle of the book, with letters between her and Honor, and Honors happiness upon seeing Belle when she visits her in her new home, at the Haymaker's home. She is Donovan's half-sister.
• Adam Cox: Adam's fiance was Grace, Honor's sister, but she died shortly after arriving in America. Adam assumed responsibility in providing shelter for Honor.
• Abigail: Abigail was married to Matthew, Adam's brother, but died from the same fever that killed Grace. Adam assumed responsibility for Abigail, who is jealous of Honor.
• Jack Haymaker: Adam Cox's neighbor who is courting Honor.
• Judith Haymaker: Jack's mother.
• Dorcas Haymaker: Jack's younger sister.
• Elsie Reed: A plain-spoken ex-slave living in Oberlin, Ohio who assists others on the Underground Railroad.
• Biddy: Honor's best friend from the Dorset, England who she frequently corresponds with regarding life in Ohio.
• Comfort Grace Haymaker: Honor's daughter.
• Virginie: A runaway slave that Honor encounters several times during the novel.

Quotes edit see section history

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• “She had began with a clear principle born of a lifetime of sitting in slient expectation; that all people are equals in Gods eyes, and so should not be enslaved to one another. Any system of slvery must be abolished. It had seemed simple in England; yet in Ohio that principle was chipped away at, by economic arguments by personal circumstances, by deep-seated prejudice that Honor sensed even in Quakers. It was easy for her to pictures the Negro Pew at the Philadelphia Meeting House and grow indignant; but would she herself feel completely comfortable sitting next to a black. person? She helped them, but she did not know them as people. On Mrs Reed, a little; the flowers she wore in her hat; the stew so full of onions and chilies; the improvised quilt she made. These daily details were the things that fleshed out a person. Page 227”

  Honor Haymaker

• “-this is safety. Nature ain't out to enslave me. Might kill me, with the cold or illness or bears, but that ain't likely. No. Its that' - she pointed toward the road - 'that's the danger. People's the danger." Pg 252”

  Virginie

• “Now that she knew Honor wouldn't give away her secrets, Belle became chatty, proud of the ruses she and Thomas and others working on the underground Railroad had developed to keep runaways hidden.”

  Narrator

• “Guess I got to help a runaway when I see one, whatever the color. It's my nature.”

  Elsie Reed

• “I love me some babies.”

  Elsie Reed

• “I think deep down, most southerners have always known slavery ain't right, but they built up layers of ideas to justify what they were doin'.Those layers just solidified over the years.”

  Belle

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Philadelphia: Where Honor and Grace entered America after their voyage from England.
• Faithwell, Ohio: Honor's residence in America.
• Wellington, Ohio: Site of Belle Mills's Millinery where Honor worked for a few days after her sister died.
• Oberlin: Location for Cox's Dry Goods owned and operated by Adam Cox.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Tracy Chevalier (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Excellent for YA readers who want to know more about 1850s Ohio, abolition, underground railway and Quakers.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Genre Fiction › Historical
• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › United States

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Author's Page