Gr 2—5—Narrated by an African-American boy recently freed from slavery, this moving tale recounts the heartbreaking struggle of those looking to reconnect with family members after the Civil War. Gabe has only the tips of his fellow northward-bound travelers and the sadly overburdened Freedmen's Bureau for assistance in tracking down his mama. He follows one lead after another without success, and readers will wonder whether he will ever find her. They will not be disappointed. Gabe's tale concludes with a prayer that all the other sons and mothers find one another as well. LaFaye crafts a convincing voice for Gabe, conveying a sense of world-weary pragmatism in his sometimes clipped sentences. The book also has a beautiful lyricism that will make for an impressive read-aloud. "I stumbled off down the road, crying for the Rosie I couldn't find. Not in Jasper, not in Chattanooga, not in any other place the rumors of a fine-cooking Rosie took me. Had me thinner than a leaf with the sorrow of it…." Shepherd's richly hued paintings echo both the burden of Gabe's sad journey and the sense of connection he finds with the other travelers he encounters, often shown united by a comforting physical gesture. Though LaFaye's tale about the lingering effects of slavery on families is sobering, this work will be useful in creating context for historical units. The well-crafted narrative and the artist's thoughtful imagery make it a powerful choice.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI
"War's over. Government say we free." A young boy, Gabe, searches for his mother, who was "sold...away from me." Along the way he's aided by other free black people. Just as he's about to give up, his story, lyrically told, takes a joyous turn. Emotion-filled illustrations capture the intense focus of young Gabe. An author's note is appended.
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