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bookofcinz's review
3.0
The story of Cane Warriors is based upon true events that happened in Jamaica during the Slavery Rebellion. Tacky who was one of the masterminds behind the uprising that started on Easter Monday April 7th 1760. Tacky and his followers started the revolt that saw numerous plantations being overthrown and burnt to the ground with enslaved persons being set free.
In Alex Wheatle’s young adult book Cane Warriors we meet fourteen year old Moa who is enslaved on the Frontier sugar cane plantation. He is in the middle of harvest season, he hasn’t seen his mother in over two months because she is serving in the Enslaver’s house and his father also is kept working for long and exhausting hours. With the recent death of a plantation beloved woman Moa starts considering what freedom would feel like.
One night Moa is approached by an older man who wants help in leading an uprising. Moa is ready but he is not sure he has what it takes to kill for freedom. With his friend Keverton, lead by Tacky they all set out to take their lives back and gain freedom…. But what is the cost?
Set in 1760 on a Jamaican Plantation, Wheatle does a great job of showing what life was like for a 14 year old boy. I loved that he took a very know part of Jamaica’s history- that of the Tacky’s War and wrote it from another perspective. There are some great story telling element on the writer’s part. I was a bit confused about the language but I got use to it.
Truly a great read for young readers!
In Alex Wheatle’s young adult book Cane Warriors we meet fourteen year old Moa who is enslaved on the Frontier sugar cane plantation. He is in the middle of harvest season, he hasn’t seen his mother in over two months because she is serving in the Enslaver’s house and his father also is kept working for long and exhausting hours. With the recent death of a plantation beloved woman Moa starts considering what freedom would feel like.
One night Moa is approached by an older man who wants help in leading an uprising. Moa is ready but he is not sure he has what it takes to kill for freedom. With his friend Keverton, lead by Tacky they all set out to take their lives back and gain freedom…. But what is the cost?
Set in 1760 on a Jamaican Plantation, Wheatle does a great job of showing what life was like for a 14 year old boy. I loved that he took a very know part of Jamaica’s history- that of the Tacky’s War and wrote it from another perspective. There are some great story telling element on the writer’s part. I was a bit confused about the language but I got use to it.
Truly a great read for young readers!
sarah06r's review
4.0
While the storyline was amazing and the characters were interesting, the book was hard to read at pints due to the sudden change in dialects. Regardless the book was still good and by the end you felt the same sadness as Moa at what had happened.
masterfozual's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
johanna_b's review
4.0
This book was brutal but I loved how you could feel the author's passion radiating off of every page. The writing style was hard to get into at first but once I found a rhythm I really enjoyed it. I had never heard of the historical figures mentioned in this book so it was really good to hear of so many different names and events. There were so many great things to pick out from this book but my favorite was probably Moa's fascination with discovering how we all bleed the same. Just that moment of awakening was so powerful and I loved how the author explored it.
This was a short book but to me it didn't feel like it. So much was packed in but it didn't affect the pacing which was really well thought out. As I said above, you couldn't miss the author's pride in his ancestors and I think that's what made it such a great story because it was one that meant so much to the one writing it. Overall, this is a book that anyone can benefit from reading! I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author in the future. Happy Reading :)
This was a short book but to me it didn't feel like it. So much was packed in but it didn't affect the pacing which was really well thought out. As I said above, you couldn't miss the author's pride in his ancestors and I think that's what made it such a great story because it was one that meant so much to the one writing it. Overall, this is a book that anyone can benefit from reading! I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author in the future. Happy Reading :)
c_wong's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kgent's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
girlreading's review
4.0
powerful, tragic, brilliantly written and clearly researched in great depth, i can’t help but feel that this book should be read by all and be a school library staple.
johnrodri_13's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0