Once north of the Mason-Dixon Line, Mary swiftly learns that racism persists, even among the freed slaves themselves. Hoping for a better life for their daughter, Lewis and Minnie send her North to be educated in Philadelphia. Leveen’s debut novel brings to life the true story of a young slave woman. Her abolitionist-leaning mistress, Bet Van Lew, sets Mary and her mother, Minnie, free. Yet Mary’s father and Minnie’s husband, Lewis, remains enslaved as a blacksmith to his master. So freedom proves more difficult than either woman had anticipated. Under Virginia law, Mary and her mother may stay in the Commonwealth only a year after being set free. After that mark, either could be resold into slavery. Unwilling to leave her husband, Minnie chooses a dangerous path of deception, pretending to still be a slave. Set free by her mistress, can a young slave find true freedom up North? Or will she discover that there is more than one way to be enslaved?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |