• Nonfiction. By Jacqueline L. Tobin with Hettie Jones. Doubleday, $24.95. Grade: B

Book in a nutshell: History hasn't dedicated much space to a U.S.-Canadian communities that sheltered runaway slaves, but Denver author Tobin, with Jones, has rectified that in From Midnight to Dawn, which showcases the brave people who helped launch new lives for those in need.

In the 19th century, Detroit came to be known as "Midnight," as renegade slaves secretly passed through the city on their way to Canada. The Underground Railroad was a corridor of hope for those fleeing for their lives, and many spent heart-stopping nights in the mountains and dangerous days in towns and villages. For those who made it to Midnight, the Detroit River became their Jordan; on the other side lay their "land of Canaan." Many black settlements formed in Canada, where fugitives came to live freely under the protection of British Law. One of the settlements was known as Dawn.

With the help of abolitionists and freedom fighters, thousands of blacks relocated to Canadian villages, where they lived among progressive thinkers, went to school, opened successful businesses and dedicated their lives to promoting universal rights and the emancipation of slaves.

Best tidbit: After unspeakable beatings and multiple escape attempts, a sort of justice was served on those who lived to literally tell the tales: Tobin notes that many were sent on lecture tours. "Good speakers and writers were considered major weapons in the abolitionist arsenal."

Pros: The book is full of facts, yet doesn't get bogged down in a textbook voice.

Cons: The beginning is a bit dense, even slow. Much space is given to the U.S. and Canadian political climates of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Final word: This title speaks to a part of the anti-slavery movement that most history books do not. It is thoroughly researched and very readable.