gabriellemanno28's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
The only reason I read this was for school. The book jsut kept droning on and giving random details that did nothing to move the book forward. I don’t understand Alice, just a lot of the decisions she makes are stupid and immature. Fav characters is Nate he was the only good part of the book and to the girl who reminded my history teacher we had summer reading… have one eye open while you sleep
compass_rose's review against another edition
3.0
I'd have given 3.5 stars if possible. Not as endearing as the Widow's War, but a page-turning read with memorable characters and interesting backdrop of events in Colonial America.
missywinesalot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nae1226's review against another edition
4.0
Good read. Quick. Alice becomes an endentured slave at 7. At 15 her master changes and she chooses to run. The story unfolds as she finds a safe place to live and is placed on trial two times. We actually have more slaves in th world today than we did then.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Good historical fiction brings the era to life, illuminating things that we may not have known before. Bound highlights the life of an indentured servant in pre-Revolutionary Massachusetts, showing how casually children could be forced into that life (in this case, a father selling his daughter so as to pay for passage to the Colonies) and what that life could look like for the child, both good and bad. Where the book fails is the pregnancy plot, and the unnecessary addition of Sam Adams and the start of the revolution. The indenture issues alone would have been enough for this book stand on.
amylee218's review against another edition
5.0
This book pulled me in right away. I loved the fact that the author is taking on a subject that I haven't seen much of in historical fiction-- indentured servitude. I thought the historical facts were meshed seamlessly into the novel-- it covered pre revolutionary Massachusetts, indenture laws, and even women's rights (I for one did not know that a colonial Massachusetts woman could legally end a pregnancy before quickening or about 4 months and I have lived here all my life).
Alice was a compelling character. She didn't always make the best choices and did some things that many readers don't agree with, but I found that realistic. I think she acted very much like a traumatized girl from that time period. She lost her entire family at once and although her first master was kind, she grew up without being loved. She had no agency. Any ability to make choices or decisions had been taken away from her. Then she was pulled out of the only home she knew and was abused horribly. Given all that, I think her failure to talk to the widow, her inability to trust, her misreading of Mr. Freeman all made perfect sense. Despite all that she had been through, Alice, ultimately, is a survivor.
I do agree that I wish the book had ended differently, but I do appreciate that the ending we got was open enough that I can imagine Alice's life going in many different directions from there.
I loved the Widow Berry and will have to read [b:The Widow's War|327321|The Widow's War (Satucket, #1)|Sally Gunning|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1392580936l/327321._SY75_.jpg|317959].
Oh, and I really admire the amount of research that Sally Gunning does, and the excerpt at the end of the book showing actual primary documents from the case that inspired Sally's story.
Alice was a compelling character. She didn't always make the best choices and did some things that many readers don't agree with, but I found that realistic. I think she acted very much like a traumatized girl from that time period. She lost her entire family at once and although her first master was kind, she grew up without being loved. She had no agency. Any ability to make choices or decisions had been taken away from her. Then she was pulled out of the only home she knew and was abused horribly. Given all that, I think her failure to talk to the widow, her inability to trust, her misreading of Mr. Freeman all made perfect sense. Despite all that she had been through, Alice, ultimately, is a survivor.
I do agree that I wish the book had ended differently, but I do appreciate that the ending we got was open enough that I can imagine Alice's life going in many different directions from there.
I loved the Widow Berry and will have to read [b:The Widow's War|327321|The Widow's War (Satucket, #1)|Sally Gunning|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1392580936l/327321._SY75_.jpg|317959].
Oh, and I really admire the amount of research that Sally Gunning does, and the excerpt at the end of the book showing actual primary documents from the case that inspired Sally's story.
beckylej's review against another edition
4.0
Berry and Freeman from Widow's War play major roles here. Great historical tale. I will note that I didn't love Alice as much as I did Berry, though.
mslaura's review against another edition
4.0
Ratings (1 to 5)
Writing: 4
Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Emotional impact: 4
Overall rating: 4
Writing: 4
Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Emotional impact: 4
Overall rating: 4
mcurry1010's review against another edition
5.0
re-read the satucket trilogy recently and fell in love with it again. The images of the Cape sky and wind are so vivid. Alice's sense of safety and happiness in Widow Berry's home is touching.