A review by brewdy_reader
River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

𝘏π˜ͺ𝘴𝘡𝘰𝘳π˜ͺ𝘀𝘒𝘭 𝘍π˜ͺ𝘀𝘡π˜ͺ𝘰𝘯 β€’ π˜“π˜ͺ𝘡𝘍π˜ͺ𝘀 β€’ π˜™π˜’π˜€π˜¦ ⁣
π˜—π˜Άπ˜£π˜­π˜ͺ𝘴𝘩𝘦π˜₯ 31 π˜‘π˜’π˜―π˜Άπ˜’π˜³π˜Ί 2023⁣

There is no force on Earth more powerful than a mother's love. It is as big as the sky and as deep as the ocean.

It’s unimaginable to put myself into the shoes of a woman whose 5 babies were stolen & resold into slavery as children. My mama bear heart couldn't survive it. 

Emancipation β€” or the "what came after" slavery is the subject of this book. After being declared β€œfree”, Mama Rachel goes on the run in order to discover the fates of her 5 adult children, to reunite her family.

Although a bit far-fetched at times, because this is fiction it worked. I appreciated the unique arcs of each of her children. I teared up several times and I wanted them to all have a happy homecoming, even though I knew that was unlikely/unrealistic. This book was both heartbreaking and also full of love, hope, courage, and determination.

It highlights the injustices of slavery, but also how post-emancipation life was not all that different than indentured servitude. How many black people were still killed by whites without repercussions. 

I would highly recommend the audio format in order to get the best reading of the accents and speech used throughout the book.

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