Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
This is an astonishing work of historical scholarship, historiography, and memoir. “The more women onboard a slave ship, the more likely a revolt.” Around that revelation, which actually comes late in the book, revolves the why of this inquiry into personal, ancestral, and historical lineages and legacies of slavery, resilience, and empowerment toward a more just future. The artwork is equally as notable as the text, with strong visual storytelling to unpack historical speculations and literally haunting images of the past surrounding the contemporary narrative in negative spaces and reflections.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Dr. Rebecca Hall wrote this comic along with illustrator Hugo Martinez as part memoir, part historical fiction. It is perfect for fans of fans of The Deep by Rivers Solomon, Parable of the Sower (the graphic novel edition), Maus by Art Spiegelman, or even Hot Comb by Ebony Flowers.
We follow Dr. Hall, a historian that is researching the often lost parts of the transatlantic slave trade: revolts. Her research takes her to different cities across the country and to Europe and as she follows threads across archived court documents and cases with details about women who lead revolts on slave ships. Most of them would be a footnote or referenced once then never again. Dr. Hall uses this research to create a story of two women who may have lead one of these revolts.
Since this was a Black historian's perspective, a lot of the comic would show just how painful it was to read some of the records. At a certain point, Dr. Hall's character in the story takes a break from reading about this dehumanizing system that persisted for so many years. It becomes clear that certain aspects of the history are not just erased, they're told in a way that intentionally hides information, especially on the topic of revolution.
This type of work is essential in a world that still has a prison industrial system and is constantly reshaping US history in early education every year. If we don't know the history of revolution during the transatlantic slave trade, many of which were started by women according to Dr. Hall's conclusions, then how can we fight against today's oppression fully? Lost histories don't contain all the answers, but they certainly show patterns.
The comic was packed with research, was very accessible, and was just compelling storytelling. I read it all in just one sitting. I need every single person with even a remote interest in US history to read this! Easily a 5 star read.
We follow Dr. Hall, a historian that is researching the often lost parts of the transatlantic slave trade: revolts. Her research takes her to different cities across the country and to Europe and as she follows threads across archived court documents and cases with details about women who lead revolts on slave ships. Most of them would be a footnote or referenced once then never again. Dr. Hall uses this research to create a story of two women who may have lead one of these revolts.
Since this was a Black historian's perspective, a lot of the comic would show just how painful it was to read some of the records. At a certain point, Dr. Hall's character in the story takes a break from reading about this dehumanizing system that persisted for so many years. It becomes clear that certain aspects of the history are not just erased, they're told in a way that intentionally hides information, especially on the topic of revolution.
This type of work is essential in a world that still has a prison industrial system and is constantly reshaping US history in early education every year. If we don't know the history of revolution during the transatlantic slave trade, many of which were started by women according to Dr. Hall's conclusions, then how can we fight against today's oppression fully? Lost histories don't contain all the answers, but they certainly show patterns.
The comic was packed with research, was very accessible, and was just compelling storytelling. I read it all in just one sitting. I need every single person with even a remote interest in US history to read this! Easily a 5 star read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation
Moderate: Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape
This book was an excellent Graphic novel . I enjoyed the art work and the story .
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
The team who put this novel together did such an amazing job of using art and words to fill in gaps, and honor a forgotten history. I highly recommend everybody reads this at least once in their lives.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Brilliant read. Wake would make an amazing educational resource for a variety of ages and is an accessible read for many reading levels/competencies for the parts of Black history that the enslavers/colonizers have tried to erase. On top of how the impact of the era of Slaves continues to impact the lives of Black people today. This book is packed to the brim with information (and references for futher reading) and brings to light that women were involved and lead to great revolts on slaving ships. This is one of those books that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
This was a really educational and eye opening book. We follow our author who is the main character as she researches woman as slaves and how they revolted and what impacts they made. It shows a present day author doing the actual research then shows that time periods and what happened. I really had no idea some of these things had happened. It was a very emotional read, I can’t believe humans were actually treated this poorly and just as property it breaks my heart. The artwork was not my typical style but it was still detailed and really got the point of the story across.
I would recommend that everyone picks up this graphic novel to read.
I would recommend that everyone picks up this graphic novel to read.
dark
informative
fast-paced