llinthelibrary's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book. It was slow for me in a couple of spots but I think it'd be a great book to use to teach students about the Revolutionary War time period.
moss_1234's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
nicolenikonetz's review against another edition
2.0
A quick disclaimer: I read this with my 8th graders and was lowkey drowning in work at the time so I wasn't exactly in a space to enjoy it, plus I didn't make as many notes for myself as I normally do so I don't have as many points to reflect on.
Nevertheless, my overall impression was that the story was just plain old boring, and that it doesn't really do justice to the difficult situation Isabel found herself and her sister Ruth in. The story follows Isabel and Ruth as they are sold to abusive new owners after their previous nice owner died, despite the fact that their previous owner had arranged for their freedom before her death. Throughout the story, Isabel tries to run away and ultimately spies for the Patriots, hoping to win her freedom from this route.
Maybe it was how over-worked I was at the time, but I just found the whole thing to be a bore. Any good teaching moments came from extra activities I did that connected to the book, but I don't think the book itself was particularly eye-opening or thought-provoking. Plus, I think that the fact that slavery was unspeakably horrifying and terrible in every sense is already a very well-established thing. I'd have personally preferred to teach something related to ways racism still exists today, or something with a person of colour as a main character without them being a slave, as I feel that these are narratives we see over and over, and it's important to have kids see people of colour as well-developed main characters outside of these narratives.
Plus, the writing drove me absolutely crazy. I know that the misspellings and misnomers were meant to demonstrate that Isabel, as a slave, had limited access to education (despite her previous mistress being remarkably progressive for that age and teaching her to read), but the constant referrals to her mind as her "brainpan", "scientifical" for scientific, "et" for eaten, and "killt" for killed, annoyed the ever-loving heck out of me. I can't even express the depth of my annoyance at these tendencies!
In the end I always try and remember that as an adult I'm definitely more critical about books than my 8th graders are. For the most part, they seemed to enjoy it well enough and that's good at least.
Nevertheless, my overall impression was that the story was just plain old boring, and that it doesn't really do justice to the difficult situation Isabel found herself and her sister Ruth in. The story follows Isabel and Ruth as they are sold to abusive new owners after their previous nice owner died, despite the fact that their previous owner had arranged for their freedom before her death. Throughout the story, Isabel tries to run away and ultimately spies for the Patriots, hoping to win her freedom from this route.
Maybe it was how over-worked I was at the time, but I just found the whole thing to be a bore. Any good teaching moments came from extra activities I did that connected to the book, but I don't think the book itself was particularly eye-opening or thought-provoking. Plus, I think that the fact that slavery was unspeakably horrifying and terrible in every sense is already a very well-established thing. I'd have personally preferred to teach something related to ways racism still exists today, or something with a person of colour as a main character without them being a slave, as I feel that these are narratives we see over and over, and it's important to have kids see people of colour as well-developed main characters outside of these narratives.
Plus, the writing drove me absolutely crazy. I know that the misspellings and misnomers were meant to demonstrate that Isabel, as a slave, had limited access to education (despite her previous mistress being remarkably progressive for that age and teaching her to read), but the constant referrals to her mind as her "brainpan", "scientifical" for scientific, "et" for eaten, and "killt" for killed, annoyed the ever-loving heck out of me. I can't even express the depth of my annoyance at these tendencies!
In the end I always try and remember that as an adult I'm definitely more critical about books than my 8th graders are. For the most part, they seemed to enjoy it well enough and that's good at least.
zoepagereader's review against another edition
4.0
This was much better than the last one one I read, but this one wasn’t much more than okay either. I feel like it started off strong and then just gradually died down. The middle felt quite dry and the end was just so abrupt. I will still be reading the next one though.
vanilla_yogurt739's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mommyhale's review against another edition
5.0
I don't normally cry in books, but I truly sobbed as I read the story of a slave family in 1776. The irony is palpable as the author writes of how the country is fighting for freedom from Britain, yet enslaves so many for the almighty dollar. 12 year old Isabel and her 5 year old sister Ruth are alone in the world and this book has you involved in every aspect of there sad situation. Laurie Anderson is an amazing storyteller, and I was enthralled with every word. I recommend it highly as an emotional, insightful, and historically accurate fictional novel of slavery in New York.
demottar's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this novel while reading it, and appreciated it even more after discussing it in book club. I will say it's for a younger YA audience, maybe 5th or 6th grade?
The somewhat less covered setting (NYC during the beginning of the American Revolution) offered a fresh look at the pretty heavily visited material. I loved the narrator almost immediately, though I do think she was a bit anachronistic, and I cared deeply about her outcome. Laurie Halse Anderson is a beautiful writer, and is so adept at connecting her primary stories to larger situations that speak to and add to her main characters' situations. The irony of a people fighting for their freedom while making use of another people's bondage is a devastating, but fascinating, aspect to American history.
The somewhat less covered setting (NYC during the beginning of the American Revolution) offered a fresh look at the pretty heavily visited material. I loved the narrator almost immediately, though I do think she was a bit anachronistic, and I cared deeply about her outcome. Laurie Halse Anderson is a beautiful writer, and is so adept at connecting her primary stories to larger situations that speak to and add to her main characters' situations. The irony of a people fighting for their freedom while making use of another people's bondage is a devastating, but fascinating, aspect to American history.
jlpowell890's review against another edition
5.0
Not my typical read, but I couldn't put this one down. Anderson does a great job of attaching the reader to Isabel. You root for her, you cry for her, and you are on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens to her. The sequel will be on my list to read next!
jhahn's review against another edition
3.0
It was ok. I have read many historical fiction books about this time period that I enjoyed much more.