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carlyxdeexx's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book was solid—written well and in a way that is compelling for younger readers. The strong voice and use of verse reminds me of LOVE THAT DOG, though obviously the subject matter here is drastically different. It’s important to provide young readers with many perspectives on what enslavement in the US was like and an opportunity to practice sympathy and empathy with these people from our history who were so crucial and suffered so much while living lives as rich and complex as anyone’s today. I think this book serves its purpose, though I didn’t find there was anything particularly special about it that would make it a favorite of mine (this likely has more to do with my not being part of the book’s intended audience than anything else). My favorite part of the book was it’s brief afterword on the research done for it and the documented existence of indigenous people and formerly enslaved people living deep within swamps for protection and essentially running their own small societies separately from the greater and more unjust one they were once subject to. I’d be interested in reading some more nonfiction on the subject!
reader4evr's review against another edition
3.0
This was just okay. I ended up listening to it on audio and I liked the narrator. I thought the story was a tad confusing at time but I think students will like it because of the format. Grace's voice is definitely very true to nature but hard to understand sometimes.
Would pair well with Day of tears.
Would pair well with Day of tears.
lonelyasfranz's review against another edition
4.0
This book was very intriguing and poetic. I only wish that we could have seen more about what happened at the plantation after Grace and her family escaped. I doubt it will happen, but I would love to read a book from Aunt Tempie's point of view that tells about the aftermath and gives us more information about her backstory, including how she became involved in helping OleGeorgeCooper help runaway slaves. Overall, I would rate this book a 4.5/5.
rjdenney's review against another edition
5.0
5 STARS!!!
This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking read. Grace is such a strong and heroic character and I loved reading from her POV in verse. I'm not sure what year this takes place in but know it's about slavery and in some parts of the country it's been abolished but in Virginia, where this story takes place it hasn't been taken care of yet, which is the reason Grace and her family are considered runaway slaves and are trying to get to freedom, wherever that may be. In short, if you're looking for something that will tug at your heartstrings, bring tears to your eyes, and showcase a part of history people like to pretend never happened, then pick this up ASAP. I can't wait to get a copy for my shelf.
- Richard
This was such a beautiful and heartbreaking read. Grace is such a strong and heroic character and I loved reading from her POV in verse. I'm not sure what year this takes place in but know it's about slavery and in some parts of the country it's been abolished but in Virginia, where this story takes place it hasn't been taken care of yet, which is the reason Grace and her family are considered runaway slaves and are trying to get to freedom, wherever that may be. In short, if you're looking for something that will tug at your heartstrings, bring tears to your eyes, and showcase a part of history people like to pretend never happened, then pick this up ASAP. I can't wait to get a copy for my shelf.
- Richard
kiralorina's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.5
jwinchell's review against another edition
4.0
A story told in verse of living in and the escaping slavery. Grace and her family make their way to the Great Dismal Swamp to love as hinterland maroons. Captivating and well told. Grace has a fire in her that young readers will identify with.
amelia_herring's review against another edition
4.0
Well-written, compelling story of a young girl working on a plantation.