This important novel [Jump Ship to Freedom] touches on an issue all-too-rarely treated in historical fiction for young people; namely the fiercely debated question of how the new Constitution would deal with the issue of black slavery….

Another noteworthy aspect of this exciting novel is the dramatic change we see in Daniel's self-esteem. At the outset, we see a boy who has internalized the myths about black inferiority used to justify their enslavement. His adventures and contacts with more enlightened attitudes lead to a growing understanding that he too is a person of dignity and worth.

Joel Taxel, in a review of "Jump Ship to Freedom," in The ALAN Review, Vol. 9, No. 3, Spring, 1982, p. 25.