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ajsterkel 's review for:
Amos Fortune, Free Man
by Elizabeth Yates
Okay, Amos Fortune. This book is based on the true story of a fifteen-year-old boy who was captured by slave traders in Africa and brought to New England in the early 1700s. Not much is known about the real Amos Fortune, so this book is not a biography. The author made most of it up. We do know that when Amos was in his 60s, he bought his freedom, started a tanning business, and made enough money to buy land for his family and freedom for other slaves. He eventually grew influential enough to become a well-respected leader in his town.
This book was written for children, but it’s different from most children’s books because Amos is an adult for most of the story. I like that. Since Amos is a slave for a lot of his existence, he doesn’t really get to live until he’s in his 60s. He has to wait that long to buy a house and start a business. His story shows you’re never too old to completely change your life.
I was impressed with Amos’s kindness. Even as a slave with limited resources, he always tries to do what’s right. As a young man, he goes to the docks to search slave auctions for his sister. When he gets older and starts making money, he saves for years to buy freedom for his friends. He’s always thinking of ways to do the most good with what he has.
This novel is extremely heavy handed with the Christianity. I suspect it’s the author’s own beliefs coming through, but it didn’t bother me very much because the real Amos Fortune was a Christian who left a lot of his fortune to a church after he died. I like that the book reflects the religious part of his life. Still, I know many readers get irritated when they want a story and get a sermon instead. The book gets very preachy at times.
What did bother me is Amos’s naivety. He’s able to learn English and a bunch of different household and job tasks, but he doesn’t understand that his sister won’t stay 12 years old forever? That doesn’t seem realistic.
Sometimes when I read Newbery winners, I wonder what the award committee was thinking. Some of the winners are bland. Unfortunately, that was the case with this one. The events of Amos’s life feel shallow and watered-down. I think that’s because the book covers 91 years in 192 pages. There isn’t room for depth. Everything is glossed over. Amos falls in love three times, but the reader learns nothing about the women or why he loves them. The important women in Amos’s life just appear and then disappear a few pages later.
You can tell that this book was written for white readers in the 1950s. The black characters (except Amos) are underdeveloped, and the white characters are savior-types who do everything for Amos except give him his freedom. Amos’s thoughts and emotions about being a slave are mostly ignored. I found that disappointing.
So, I didn't love this one. I like my books to have more depth.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense?
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This book was written for children, but it’s different from most children’s books because Amos is an adult for most of the story. I like that. Since Amos is a slave for a lot of his existence, he doesn’t really get to live until he’s in his 60s. He has to wait that long to buy a house and start a business. His story shows you’re never too old to completely change your life.
I was impressed with Amos’s kindness. Even as a slave with limited resources, he always tries to do what’s right. As a young man, he goes to the docks to search slave auctions for his sister. When he gets older and starts making money, he saves for years to buy freedom for his friends. He’s always thinking of ways to do the most good with what he has.
“He said little about his dream but he nourished it in his heart as the best place for a dream to grow.”
This novel is extremely heavy handed with the Christianity. I suspect it’s the author’s own beliefs coming through, but it didn’t bother me very much because the real Amos Fortune was a Christian who left a lot of his fortune to a church after he died. I like that the book reflects the religious part of his life. Still, I know many readers get irritated when they want a story and get a sermon instead. The book gets very preachy at times.
What did bother me is Amos’s naivety. He’s able to learn English and a bunch of different household and job tasks, but he doesn’t understand that his sister won’t stay 12 years old forever? That doesn’t seem realistic.
Sometimes when I read Newbery winners, I wonder what the award committee was thinking. Some of the winners are bland. Unfortunately, that was the case with this one. The events of Amos’s life feel shallow and watered-down. I think that’s because the book covers 91 years in 192 pages. There isn’t room for depth. Everything is glossed over. Amos falls in love three times, but the reader learns nothing about the women or why he loves them. The important women in Amos’s life just appear and then disappear a few pages later.
You can tell that this book was written for white readers in the 1950s. The black characters (except Amos) are underdeveloped, and the white characters are savior-types who do everything for Amos except give him his freedom. Amos’s thoughts and emotions about being a slave are mostly ignored. I found that disappointing.
So, I didn't love this one. I like my books to have more depth.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense?
I have a blog for that.