A review by frogqueen
The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

• yeah yeah we learn about slavery in school but after reading this i'm thinking.....do we?
• obviously we *know* slavery was bad and we *know* slaves were stolen from africa only to be abused in the usa but that's kind of it until abolition
• like we know these things more as facts rather than experiencing the full emotional impact you know what i mean?
• anyway this book depicted so many overlooked aspects of both slavery and Black history in america that were completely glossed over in my primary education
• so heartbreaking but also with a perfect ending
• also contains some conversation about complacency in the face of evil (even the "good" white people participate in slavery and/or the mistreatment of Black people and
  aminata has to confront this herself when she returns to africa
  ) and what makes a person really "from" somewhere/how where we live and what culture we live in shapes our identity