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A review by blessingo
The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
No matter what Mama said or did, she wouldn't back down and she wouldn't change her mind... Maybe she'd be happy and learn to do for herself. She'd never know unless she tried.
So ends Delia Sherman's The Freedom Maze. This book was the same type of rollicking adventure that pro agonist Sophie Fairchild craves so much in the books she loves to read.
This book was a tale of Sophie's self-discoveru after she gets transported to her family's Oak Cottage a hundred years in the past—1860. Here, she can be whupped, her great-great-grandmother is her slave master, sugar is selling, and Sophie is mistaken for a slave because of the deep tan she's accrued after vacationing (or being held hostage) in her Aunt Enid's home that her mother's dropped her off at for the summer.
On her family's few-hundred acres, she meets people like Africa, Oak Cottage's chief chef, Canada, Africa's daughter (or "Canny" as she's affectionately called by the other slaves), and Antigua, Africa's other prickly, sarcastic daughter who Sophie doesn't like the first day she meets her.
How will Sophie fare as a slave? Will she seek freedom? Or die in the process?
I liked this book for the self-development of Sophie. She turned from a precocious, privileged white girl who was afraid of her mother to someone who candidly understood the struggles of being black and how to stand up for herself and underprivileged people that she saw.
This book ha some slight magical realism in it which prevented me from liking it as much. But seeing how the story is set near New Orleans, a place famous for its voodoo and juju, it makes sense. I also don't personally like fantasy as much, but I'm happy to finish this story.
A good read if you're looking for a middle-grade story dealing with some tough subjects. Also, there are "n-word" bombs in reference to slaves in this story; among other derogatory terms. I would say this book would be best for ages 12 and up.
This book was a tale of Sophie's self-discoveru after she gets transported to her family's Oak Cottage a hundred years in the past—1860. Here, she can be whupped, her great-great-grandmother is her slave master, sugar is selling, and Sophie is mistaken for a slave because of the deep tan she's accrued after vacationing (or being held hostage) in her Aunt Enid's home that her mother's dropped her off at for the summer.
On her family's few-hundred acres, she meets people like Africa, Oak Cottage's chief chef, Canada, Africa's daughter (or "Canny" as she's affectionately called by the other slaves), and Antigua, Africa's other prickly, sarcastic daughter who Sophie doesn't like the first day she meets her.
How will Sophie fare as a slave? Will she seek freedom? Or die in the process?
I liked this book for the self-development of Sophie. She turned from a precocious, privileged white girl who was afraid of her mother to someone who candidly understood the struggles of being black and how to stand up for herself and underprivileged people that she saw.
This book ha some slight magical realism in it which prevented me from liking it as much. But seeing how the story is set near New Orleans, a place famous for its voodoo and juju, it makes sense. I also don't personally like fantasy as much, but I'm happy to finish this story.
A good read if you're looking for a middle-grade story dealing with some tough subjects. Also, there are "n-word" bombs in reference to slaves in this story; among other derogatory terms. I would say this book would be best for ages 12 and up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing