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In this fast-paced book, readers follow Horace and Fredericka, two former slaves who embark on a new life together in America’s ever-changing social landscape. Set during a time when some states offered freedom and other states offered a return to enslavement, this book transports readers into one of the most volatile periods in American history. As readers navigate social transformations with Horace and Fredericka, they also navigate a society where the definition of “freedom” constantly shifts. Horace and Fredericka endure manhunts where rogues hunt runaway slaves, and danger awaits them around each and every corner. Finally, and reluctantly, they accept an offer from Johnathan, Horace’s master’s son, to head west and begin life anew. However, the West and the journey there also hold obstacles, challenges, and levels of grief of their own.
In many ways, this book captures America’s unquenchable, centuries-long pursuit of freedom. It also addresses how that freedom has been, and remains, inaccessible for minorities and marginalized communities. The book openly addresses oppressive legislation such as The Fugitive Slave Act, which gave enslavers the right to seize their slaves who had escaped to free states. Contemporary readers may draw correlations between the novel’s portrayal of this act and modern legislation which threatens immigrants trying to establish a new life in the United States.
For readers familiar with America’s slave history and the stories of brave slaves who dared to risk everything to find freedom, Horace and Fredericka’s story will sound familiar. In fact, their story parallels that of William and Ellen Craft. William and Ellen Craft were held in slavery by different slave owners, and Ellen’s light complexion worked in the couple’s favor. The couple disguised themselves as an injured white man accompanied by a black servant. The couple spent days traveling North to freedom. In the novel, Horace and Fredericka utilize Fredericka’s light complexion and similar costumes to make their escape to freedom. Thus, historical fiction readers will appreciate the book’s well-researched background and its realistic foundations.
This book draws attention to areas of American history and personal experience many are currently trying to deny or erase. The novel’s portrayal of Fredericka and Horace’s experiences will inspire readers to research the history and narratives behind the novel’s events. Also, Fredericka’s character is a true heroine, filled with grit and determination to survive. Thus, the book is unique because of its focus on the female slave experience. It highlights the brutal sexual, emotional, and physical abuse with which female slaves lived. The novel also focuses on the forced familial separation to which slaveholders subjected their slaves. Therefore, it closely examines how individuals like Horace and Fredericka often redefined the meaning of “family.” Horace, too, is a memorable character who exemplifies the spirit of social reformers like Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington. For readers new to the historical fiction genre, this book is an accessible read. For established readers in the genre who have a special interest in this particular time period in American history, this book is a must.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review