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darthchrista's review against another edition
5.0
Pre-read for high school lit. This book is gorgeous. My student wants to be a writer. This is his first novel in verse. He is loving searching for descriptive language and is enjoying(?) the story. It’s hard and heartbreaking but very important.
lrcartee's review against another edition
3.0
Grace was 9 years old when she was called to work in the big house. Despite warnings of keeping her head down, mouth shut and thoughts to herself, one day Grace could no longer keep her mouth shut to the Mistress. The result was a threat to sell her mama and brothers on the auction block. Grace knew she and her family had no choice but to run.
This novel in verse tells of a little known alternate to the except north to freedom. It was to delve deep into the Great Dismal Swamp to seek safety and shelter. It is a harrowing reminder of the plight of the slaves and what freedom means when you don’t have it.
This novel in verse tells of a little known alternate to the except north to freedom. It was to delve deep into the Great Dismal Swamp to seek safety and shelter. It is a harrowing reminder of the plight of the slaves and what freedom means when you don’t have it.
flybyreader's review against another edition
3.0
“I wonder how it feels like
to be a tiny fish
what flitters n darts
so free.
I wonder how it feels
to be the cool, clear water
what runs
without bein chased.”.
Unbound is a pre-civil war story with fictional characters based on true life stories of enslaved people, who found a way to escape the hellish life under white authority. Well it is a story in verse, the whole book is like a poetry book which took me a while to get used to. I could not get into the story at first, I am not really accustomed to this style or enjoy poetry without rhymes. I really liked the story but felt like it could have been much better in a novel. Not exactly my cup of tea however recommend it to those who enjoy the genre, definitely worth a try.
to be a tiny fish
what flitters n darts
so free.
I wonder how it feels
to be the cool, clear water
what runs
without bein chased.”.
Unbound is a pre-civil war story with fictional characters based on true life stories of enslaved people, who found a way to escape the hellish life under white authority. Well it is a story in verse, the whole book is like a poetry book which took me a while to get used to. I could not get into the story at first, I am not really accustomed to this style or enjoy poetry without rhymes. I really liked the story but felt like it could have been much better in a novel. Not exactly my cup of tea however recommend it to those who enjoy the genre, definitely worth a try.
flamingfern's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
blobmustardsprinkles's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nancy13reader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this one. Normally dialects, or improperly written English, drives me nuts, but Berg does it in a way that doesn't bother me. I should have known this, because I love Berg's other books.
Grace is being sent to the Big House to work. She's told to leave her questions about rightiness in her mind: why do some people get to eat more but work less? why do some people own others? what's happening in the smokehouse? When she accidentally says one thing too far, she and her family go on the run.
I had no idea that there were communities of ex-slaves living in the swamps in western Virginia. I assumed they all went north. Berg has written a beautiful story that will teach children about that. She also shows the way slavery dehumanizes people, but never in a way that's too graphic for her middle grade audience.
Grace is being sent to the Big House to work. She's told to leave her questions about rightiness in her mind: why do some people get to eat more but work less? why do some people own others? what's happening in the smokehouse? When she accidentally says one thing too far, she and her family go on the run.
I had no idea that there were communities of ex-slaves living in the swamps in western Virginia. I assumed they all went north. Berg has written a beautiful story that will teach children about that. She also shows the way slavery dehumanizes people, but never in a way that's too graphic for her middle grade audience.
arp363's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
4.0
turtle_duck's review against another edition
5.0
This was an awesome book! I loved it! All the characters were so cool and the journey Grave took was very cool. Her journey had some very good parts to it and some hard ones, but in the end she made it and was free.
ashlykimchi's review against another edition
5.0
I would highly recommend the audio version of this--it's read by [a:Bahni Turpin|2177387|Bahni Turpin|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1327006614p2/2177387.jpg] and is phenomenal.