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moriahleigh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
brewdy_reader's review against another edition
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
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ππΆπ£ππͺπ΄π©π¦π₯ 31 ππ’π―πΆπ’π³πΊ 2023β£
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.
Itβs 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 βfreeβ, 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.
ππΆπ£ππͺπ΄π©π¦π₯ 31 ππ’π―πΆπ’π³πΊ 2023β£
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.
Itβs 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 βfreeβ, 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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy
bringmybooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was an astoundingly beautiful debut novel and I can't recommend it highly enough.
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While not shying away from any of the realities of the history (with the content warnings to match - it's beautiful, but hard to read at times), this novel still manages to uplift your soul with the way it allows you to be a part of Rachel's journey. I'm not a mother myself, but I commend Eleanor Shearer on her ability to make you feel so connected to things that you have never had to experience. Rachel's love for her children, the way she remembers them, the way she yearns for them, the way she feels guilt and love and frustration and joy and deepest heartache; you are intimately involved in these feelings with her and it made the book very strong.
The history of slavery (&especially the Emancipation Act of 1834 and how that affected those enslaved in the Caribbean) was completely unknown to me, and I thought Shearer did a really good job adding a lot of factual information in a way that felt woven throughout the story as opposed to info-dumping it.
I was especially moved with the way water and the rivers played an integral role in the story, and the complicated nature of how Rachel and those around her felt about them.
This was an emotionally resounding novel that will definitely be one I find myself recommending.
β¨ ππ₯ππ‘π β¨ BΜ·OΜ·RΜ·RΜ·OΜ·WΜ· BΜ·YΜ·PΜ·AΜ·SΜ·SΜ·
While not shying away from any of the realities of the history (with the content warnings to match - it's beautiful, but hard to read at times), this novel still manages to uplift your soul with the way it allows you to be a part of Rachel's journey. I'm not a mother myself, but I commend Eleanor Shearer on her ability to make you feel so connected to things that you have never had to experience. Rachel's love for her children, the way she remembers them, the way she yearns for them, the way she feels guilt and love and frustration and joy and deepest heartache; you are intimately involved in these feelings with her and it made the book very strong.
The history of slavery (&especially the Emancipation Act of 1834 and how that affected those enslaved in the Caribbean) was completely unknown to me, and I thought Shearer did a really good job adding a lot of factual information in a way that felt woven throughout the story as opposed to info-dumping it.
I was especially moved with the way water and the rivers played an integral role in the story, and the complicated nature of how Rachel and those around her felt about them.
This was an emotionally resounding novel that will definitely be one I find myself recommending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Murder, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Genocide, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail