"If your head is in the lion's mouth, it's best to pat him a little. Your head's in his mouth, Minty, but you sure ain't doin' any pattin'. You're just fixin' to get your head bit off."

Old Rit whispered these words to her eight-year-old daughter, but they would do little good. For young Harriet Tubman, whose childhood name was Minty; was stubborn and headstrong—considered a "problem" slave by her master. Her dream of freedom was the only thing that made life bearable on the Brodas plantation in the 1820's.

In this touching, heartfelt portrayal of Tubman's childhood, an award-winning author and a renowned illustrator offer an unusual look at the little girl who would become one of America's greatest heroes. Many readers know of Harriet Tubman's tireless work on the Underground Railroad, and her efforts in helping hundreds of slaves escape to freedom. But now they will meet the child who recited Bible stories to her torn rag doll...who was sometimes too bold for her own good and later suffered for it...and who learned from her father how to follow the North Star, how to skin a squirrel, and how to read a tree—things that would one day help her to escape.

Unique and inspiring, Minty is sure to be treasured by all who hold a special dream tucked inside their hearts.

From the dust jacket