Christmas John, a twelve year old, tells in his own words how Granny Judith persuaded him to row Molly, Cook's daughter, across the river to freedom one dark night. This is the first of many dangerous journeys, a story inspired by true-life narratives recorded in the 1930's of people who endured slavery. Large-scale watercolour paintings intensify the symbolism of colour, of light and darkness, echoing the drama and tension involved in the young boy's acts of bravery.