Review: Emotionally gripping
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2013
Imagine being 11 years old and forced to make a life-changing, potentially deadly choice. Now imagine you're 11 years old caught in the midst of the American Civil war, living on the banks of the Ohio River. Your father has gone off to war, leaving you alone with your mother and aging grandfather. Not only that, your home is a "Safe House" on the Underground Railway. A stopping off place for runaway slaves.But your mother doesn't approve. And your grandfather is too old and crippled to take responsibility when a young family appears in the family's barn. You're the only one that can help. The only one. Do you do it? Can you do it?This is what I'd call a "coming of age" story about young Nathaniel Johnson. No boy of eleven should have to make such choices. Yet he must. The slave-catchers are coming . . . with dogs . . . a young slave couple with a newborn baby depend on his decision.I loved this story from a master story-teller and a writer I trust to deliver a deeply gripping, moving read. Multi-published author Kathi Macias has not disappointed me.I was provided with a PDF copy of this book in exchange for an honest review with no obligation to do so. But I have done so willingly.