Miles' Song

by Alice McGill

It is 1851. Miles is a house slave on the Tilery Plantation, but when he is caught looking at an open book, he is sent to the breaking ground where he learns what it really means to be a slave.

12-year-old Miles is allowed to work in the great house on the Tillery Plantation, where he is training to be a house servant, rather than labor in the fields. But after he is caught looking at an open book while dusting the library, Miles is banished from the mansion and sent to the breaking ground. There, he learns what it truly means to feel like a slave. But it is also at the breaking ground that he meets Elijah, an older slave who teaches Miles to read and tells him of the land of freedom up north. Armed with his new knowledge, Miles tells himself that he does not feel like a slave and he no longer believes working in the great house is a privlege.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Readersaurus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a good read but (appropriately, given the topic) very sad and hard to get through. Miles is a boy who is enslaved on a southern plantation in the 1800s. The story follows him as he is sent away to be "broken" and then returns to find his views and aspirations changed. Although there are a lot of details of the brutality of slave life, the writing lends a slightly disassociated feeling. Miles' experiences are shown but the emotion does not touch the reader the way you might expect it to. That might recommend it as an introduction to this topic for younger readers. However, the writing in dialect makes this a choice for stronger readers only.

[Damario Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've just got done reading the book Mile's Song by Alice McGill, and I got to say it was quite the eye opener for me. At first (mainly because I had a low self esteem), I thought it would be one of those books whereby the third chapter I become bored with it and just threw it to the side and go on with my unproductive life. I was wrong. I found myself hooked to the story, the conflicts, and the characters.

I really enjoyed the main character (Miles). As I was intrigued by his goals and the struggles he had faced. All he ever wanted in life is to read and write, all while dreaming of becoming a free man. Now believe me, I was never really a history kind of guy, so I never first read it with an open mind and thought this would be another Roots knockoff (again I was an unproductive slob). But after reading it for 2-3 days, this book did not disappoint when showing what slavery life was like. Especially if the title character was young. I even tried picturing myself in Miles's shoes and it proves that he is quite the relatable character. He may have some childish tendencies left in him, but still knows he's a grown man on the inside. The obstacles and situations he faced varies from sad to harsh. Especially what happened to one character at the end of the book. Whose death is depressing! Yet, Miles was strong enough to overcome it. He was basic at first (it took me awhile to get used to him), but as he becomes fully developed, you might grow some feelings towards him.

I was also fascinated by its message on knowledge, and it's saying something. It's funny because one review stated that this was also meant to be a "suspense thriller". Almost like it's a mystery. I got to hand it to them, I agree to that critic. I was just guessing every twists and turns in my head. The main character had poor literacy and mostly talk in a slave language. That's what's great about his character. Going back to what I said about Miles's goals, it was interesting seeing him trying to use his knowledge to help him reach his goals, while trying to overcome a few obstacles here and there. It's basically the African-American equivalent to "The Great Escape", where a character must use their mind or wits to escape a sketchy environment. The same applies to this story.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Sure, like I said before, I was never good at history, and learning about my kind's culture. But I find this book to be a perfect refresher if you're curious to know what the old slavery life is like. Or if you're like me, looking for a story whose character is destined to "Man Up".

[Erica Gronowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a slave named Miles. By the shrewdness of his Mama Cee, he was assigned at an early age to work in the great house on the Tillery Plantation. Like the other servants-in-training, Miles is proud to wear soft wool knee britches and to use the speech of the great house. Each day he helps to provide the creature comforts of a well-run mansion. Until he is caught looking at the open pages of a book. As a punishment, twelve-year-old Miles is sent to the breaking ground. There he experiences what it really means to be a slave. With the help of a mysterious man named Elijah, Miles learns to read and forms a pact to escape. Watching and waiting, Miles takes risk after risk to gain freedom for himself and Mama Cee in a story that will inspire readers of all ages.

I gave this a 5 out of 5 because it is a great read!

[Ellen Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Review to come

[Hunter Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miles song is a great book that has a brief story behind it and brutality of being a slave in the 1800s.love it though

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book, but something occurred in the final few pages that disappointed me so much that I can only give it two stars. It's well written and engrossing--but there was that one event...

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book so many years ago as a child so I don't remember it too well but I think it was alright

[Jenn Stepney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story and easy read but so many holes in the plot…this story was all over the place

[Lotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I chose to read this quarter was Miles' Song. It was written by Alice McGrill. In this book it talks about a boy named Miles and his determination to read and write, and escape slavery. He a servant in trainimg intill he accidentally knocked over a book while he was dusting and it fell over and opened up. He then was brought to the ground breakers. The ground breakers were people who would take bad slaves in and basically break there soul so they wouldnt want to read, write, or try to escape slavery. He spent a long time at the ground breakers property and during that time he meet a slave about 35 years old who knew how to read and write. Miles was quickly was intrested in learning what he was forbidden to learn, day by day the slave named Elijah taught him a few letters everyday. Within 2 months Miles knew how to spell and write many words. But soon they would be separated and Miles would be heading back to the Tillery Plantation. He spent his time trying to make his English more proper due to him still being a servent in training. He wanted to be a field worker because his friend said it would be easier to contact him, so Miles convinced his trainer to put him in the fields. After he was settled back into his old cabin he got a note from Elijah saying he was goimg to freedom and Miles was going with. But Miles didn't want to leave his mom Mama Cee alone so he wanted to take her with. Elijah soon appeared himself and before he could be noticed he spit out the
name Bounty who was a slave tracker. Mile trusted this slave tracker because he showed him kindness when he was going to the ground breakers. He ask Boumty if he could help him escape and Bounty shook his head yes to prevent being heard, he told Miles to meet him at the horses stables tomorrow night. If you want to know if Bounty was worth trusting and if Miles and Mama Cee eventually find freedom find out in the book yourself. My favorite part in this book was when Bounty sold his watch to get money for the escape for Miles and Mama Cee. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction, slavery storys and action.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr 6-8 213pgs


1851, South Carolina. 12 year old Miles is terrified when he is accused of looking at a book and as punishment is sent to the breaking ground. Having worked as a house servant in training since he was five years old, Miles is scared of what will happen. Once there, Miles endures harsh conditions, but also makes a friend Elijah who secretly teaches him to read and gives him hope that one day he might be free.