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margaretpinard's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
This nonfiction narrative was told in a unique way, in that we hear the first half as a sort of escape/heist narrative, with a little context filled in. Then when the fugitives escape to Canada and the UK, it becomes more of a 'how did they continue the fight?" speculation based on not much detail about them, but a lot more detail about what others were doing. Interesting way to keep the tension, and the author's note shed light on the author's choices as well.
kaylaben's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The story of William and Ellen Craft is an important one that, at least in my experience, is not often told. Ilyon Woo did a wonderful job interweaving the historical context into the story of William and Ellen Craft's escape. In addition to this, Woo does not let the story end once William and Ellen reached the North - she tells their story in full, or as full as can be made from what sources exist, and in doing so, she highlights far more of life in this time than other history stories. Ilyon Woo does not shy away from the most brutal aspects, nor does she only focus on the terrible. She tells the story of the Crafts as truthfully and honestly as she can in a beautifully written narrative. (Cross-posted on goodreads)
ckgolbs's review
3.0
read it for lila’s book club! really important story and very engaging at times but overall i found it pretty slow and full of confusing details that didn’t seem to do anything for the story at hand :( but glad i read it!
samanne's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
A story of escape and survival that kept me on the edge of my seat. Will mention that the audio version is excellent. Ellen and William Craft escape their enslavers in the 1840s by disguising themselves and fleeing north by carriage and boat. Ellen posed as a white man (her father was her enslaver and she could pass) and William as her slave. They became public figures and advocates in the abolition movement both in the North and in Europe. The book does an excellent job of describing the historical backdrop, with politicians advocating keeping the Union together at any cost (continuing to allow slavery, even some who had endorsed abolition being willing to allow compromises with the South).