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raebooknerd's review
emotional
fast-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? No
4.0
jenniferstringer's review against another edition
3.0
3.5-4 stars. Historical fiction that weaves 2 timelines together. Often when that happens, I prefer one story line to the other, but in this case, both we're enjoyable. A fairly quick read.
beastreader's review
4.0
It has been a long time since I have read a story that had to do with the Underground Railway. I have always been fascinated by stories related to this event in history. The brave souls that helped these people. So this is the reason that I was draw to check this book out. While I liked this book and the people in it a lot, I felt that I sharded a strong, instant connection with Eden than I did Sarah. This surprised me a bit as I thought due to my love with the past that I would share a quick connection with Sarah. There was something about Eden that made me feel for her. Maybe it was due to her loss and longinf ro a child of her own. Also Cleo, the neighbor girl was a charming addition to this book. As was Cricket, the dog. However as I got futher into the story, I did like Sarah and grew more interested in the past and the events. The switching between the past and the present and visa versa was a smooth transaction. An enjoyable read.
meshuggeknitter's review
4.0
I enjoyed the historical story line more than the present day, though I felt they did fit together well.
literarylover37's review
3.0
I received a digital copy of this book from Crown Publishing via Netgalley.
This story takes place in the 1800's with Sarah Brown, abolitionist John Brown's daughter, who makes makes in order to help slaves make their way to freedom, and 2014 with Eden Andersen, a woman suffering from seven years of unsuccessful infertility treatments who has recently moved into a new home that has a connection with the Underground Rail Road.
At first, I found Eden's story much more compelling. While other reviewers have said that they didn't like her very much I find it easy to see her viewpoint after having been through all the loss that she has the previous seven years. I really enjoyed her interactions with the young neighbor Cleo, and the puppy Cricket. I liked watching her heal over the course of the book and become engaged with her new community. It was telling that she was able to find fulfillment in something new. The only two issues I had with her storyline was (spoilers) how Cricket was handled at the end, and her reaction to her brother's pregnant baby-mama deciding to abort their baby. I know that both of these are probably more realistic and I know that the author made a point to say that Eden realized her brother's baby had nothing to do with her, I still imagine that a woman who has spent the past seven years focused solely on getting pregnant would have a much stronger and more negative response to the news of her niece/nephew being aborted. Just my opinion though.
In regards to the Sarah portion of the story, it took about halfway through the novel before I really began to get into this sections. I don't know why this was but once they began living with Freddy and his family was where these parts began picking up for me. I'm undecided as to whether I liked the letter writing or not but I did appreciate when both story lines finally began to come together. It seemed like that was when the story really picked up and I was able to finish it quicker.
Overall, I thought this was a creative story and it gave me more information on Sarah Brown so I'd say as far as historical fiction goes, it was a success.
This story takes place in the 1800's with Sarah Brown, abolitionist John Brown's daughter, who makes makes in order to help slaves make their way to freedom, and 2014 with Eden Andersen, a woman suffering from seven years of unsuccessful infertility treatments who has recently moved into a new home that has a connection with the Underground Rail Road.
At first, I found Eden's story much more compelling. While other reviewers have said that they didn't like her very much I find it easy to see her viewpoint after having been through all the loss that she has the previous seven years. I really enjoyed her interactions with the young neighbor Cleo, and the puppy Cricket. I liked watching her heal over the course of the book and become engaged with her new community. It was telling that she was able to find fulfillment in something new. The only two issues I had with her storyline was (spoilers) how Cricket was handled at the end, and her reaction to her brother's pregnant baby-mama deciding to abort their baby. I know that both of these are probably more realistic and I know that the author made a point to say that Eden realized her brother's baby had nothing to do with her, I still imagine that a woman who has spent the past seven years focused solely on getting pregnant would have a much stronger and more negative response to the news of her niece/nephew being aborted. Just my opinion though.
In regards to the Sarah portion of the story, it took about halfway through the novel before I really began to get into this sections. I don't know why this was but once they began living with Freddy and his family was where these parts began picking up for me. I'm undecided as to whether I liked the letter writing or not but I did appreciate when both story lines finally began to come together. It seemed like that was when the story really picked up and I was able to finish it quicker.
Overall, I thought this was a creative story and it gave me more information on Sarah Brown so I'd say as far as historical fiction goes, it was a success.
susanp's review
2.0
So disappointing. How can a book about the underground railroad be dull and boring, but it was. Had really looked forward to reading another book by the author of the Baker's Daughter, but this was not of the same caliber.
hatrireads's review
2.0
I read this book for Blogging for Books. I was intrigued to read about the family of abolitionist John Brown and what happened them after he was hanged in the mid-1800s. McCoy created a compelling portrait of Sarah Brown and I felt great sympathy for her as she navigated life as a feminist and an abolitionist on her own right. But McCoy decided to have a dual story with a modern day woman living near Harper's Ferry, West Virginia and that was irritating. The switching back and forth between the historical drama of Sarah Brown and the story of Eden Anderson and her family travails just didn't work for me. Yes, there were many connections between the two plot lines but they still seemed inadequate and contrived. I enjoyed each story separately for different reasons, but I didn't like them side by side. I will review on my book blog today. Check it out for more!
kdurham2's review
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A dual narrative with one story taking place right before the Civil War begins and a current story line that from the start of the book intersect and weave in and out of each other. Sarah Brown is a gifted artist and a daughter of John Brown an up and coming abolitionist. Eden is our modern day character and she has moved into an old home and is finding hidden things in the home to help her uncover the secret history of this home and town she is living in.
Usually when reading a dual narrative, I fall in love with one character and shy away from the other, but in this book both narrators and their stories were equally interesting. I loved the apparent similarities between the characters and how Eden's discoveries help unfold Sarah's story. The puzzle pieces were revealed at just the right time with enough anticipation, but not feeling like the author was holding things for too long.
A dual narrative with one story taking place right before the Civil War begins and a current story line that from the start of the book intersect and weave in and out of each other. Sarah Brown is a gifted artist and a daughter of John Brown an up and coming abolitionist. Eden is our modern day character and she has moved into an old home and is finding hidden things in the home to help her uncover the secret history of this home and town she is living in.
Usually when reading a dual narrative, I fall in love with one character and shy away from the other, but in this book both narrators and their stories were equally interesting. I loved the apparent similarities between the characters and how Eden's discoveries help unfold Sarah's story. The puzzle pieces were revealed at just the right time with enough anticipation, but not feeling like the author was holding things for too long.
kategci's review
4.0
Iwould like to than Crown publishers, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, LLC, a Penguin Random House Company who sent me an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC). Really 3 1/2 stars, but I rounded up. This is enjoyable historical fiction, told in 2 parallel stories,. The older story is that of Sarah Brown, an abolitionist and the son of John Brown who was hung at Harper's Ferry after a slave uprising in 1858. The modern story takes place near Haper's Ferry and concerns Eden who is coming out of a very stressful time and perhaps out of her marriage. Sarah McCoy writes skillfully and interweaves the stories well. Dual narratives are not always my favorite and I think that may be why it took me a while to complete this book, but it was a clever way to tell Sarah Brown's story.