Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge

This poem-based account tells of Ona Judge’s escape from enslavement in George Washington’s household, where she served Martha Washington. Addressing Ona directly, the narrator repeatedly asks why she ran while recounting her life in the Washington home. After her escape, the book answers through Ona’s hopes to read, write, choose where to go, and ensure that her children would not be enslaved. The narrative centers her determination to claim freedom for herself and her future family.