Never Caught, The Story of Ona Judge – Young Readers Edition

By Erica Armstrong Dunbar & Kathleen Van Cleve. George and Martha Washington’s Courageous Slave Who Dared to Run Away. ISBN 978-1-5344-1617-8. Hardcover 272 pages. Copyright 2019.

A National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction, Never Caught is the eye-opening narrative of Ona Judge, George and Martha Washington’s runaway slave, who risked everything for a better life—now available as a young reader’s edition!

In this incredible narrative, Erica Armstrong Dunbar reveals a fascinating and heartbreaking behind-the-scenes look at the Washingtons when they were the First Family—and an in-depth look at their slave, Ona Judge, who dared to escape from one of the nation’s Founding Fathers.

Born into a life of slavery, Ona Judge eventually grew up to be Martha Washington’s “favored” dower slave. When Ona was told that she was going to be given as a wedding gift to Martha Washington’s granddaughter, she made the bold and brave decision to flee to the north, where she would be a fugitive.

From her childhood, to her time with the Washington’s and living in the slave quarters, to her escape to New Hampshire, Erica Armstrong Dunbar (along with Kathleen Van Cleve), shares an intimate glimpse into the life of a little-known but powerful figure in history, and her brave journey.