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beklovesbooks's review against another edition
4.75
Excellent book from the perspective of 3 boys growing up at Monticello. Historically fairly accurate. Compelling. Deals with reality of slavery, race, and difficulty for those in the 1800s of mixed racial descent. Taught me a lot about Jefferson.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Physical abuse and Slavery
Minor: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
atamano's review
emotional
informative
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
sarahasyouwish's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book presents a more accurate historical picture of Thomas Jefferson in regards to his actual position on slavery than anything I learned while in school. We follow the perspective of several of the sons he had with Sally Hemings who was Jefferson’s slave and the mother to many of his children. Brown paints a realistic picture of what it might have been like to live the unsettling balance of living on the grounds of a man who was both your father and slave master. She doesn’t portray Jefferson as a hero or villain but does show his hypocrisy and faults though he isn’t the focus of the story. I thought this was well done and an informative and interesting book that handles a heartbreaking subject very well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Miscarriage