Reviews with content warning for Slavery - Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts

Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall

61 reviews

balfies's review against another edition

challenging informative sad fast-paced

4.5

A graphic novel, memoir, history, and historiography of a historian's investigation into slave riots that were led by women.

The history itself is scarce, pieced together by scraps - but it suggests that slave riots occurred on 1 in 10 ships during the transatlantic slave trade, and the #1 thing that increased the likelihood of revolt was the presence of women on board. Hall pieces together and reconstructs a likely version of events for these women, giving them the agency and personhood denied them by history.

It is, at the same time, an account of Hall's own research, and the modern day racist walls that stood in her way - white supremacist bureaucracy, forbidden archives, police escorts through the stacks where these sources are buried.

Evocative illustrations by Hugo Martínez filled with resonant imagery and metaphor bring these dual stories to life. This was a quick but very compelling read.

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lowbrowhighart's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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franklola's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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robinks's review against another edition

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challenging dark hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

I didn’t like the illustrations, and the layout of some of the pages made the words difficult to follow. But overall, it was both heartbreaking and frustrating to read about lost history and how it repeats itself today in racist patriarchy.

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rachbake's review

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.75

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maraycher's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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josb's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Very powerful but also very heavy. This graphic novel chronicles Hall's research into finding women-led slave revolts throughout history. Readers are exposed to the physical and emotional barriers of finding this information as well as excerpts from historical documents where slaves are seen as property and nothing else. The story does not pull punches, it is a very hard read but I feel like I have gained more empathy and understanding as a result.

The art was accurate for the whole mood of the novel. There were some creative choices in paneling that just blew me away.

Not something I would recommend if you are looking for a positive mood boost. I can usually tear through the toughest graphic novels in a few hours but I had to put this down and walk away periodically. If you are looking for something to push yourself and make you feel uncomfortable this is a great option and is not so dry you lose interest partway through.

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