The Book of Negroes: a Novel

by Lawerence Hill

Story about a young African girl captured in tribal raid and sold in to slavery in the Americas.

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

Published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Salem · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The stars were brilliant that night and the cicadas were crying in endless song, If the sky was so perfect, why was the earth all wrong” 🌑😭

<< I would sooner swallow poison than live twenty more years as the property of another man - African, or toubab. Bayo, I could live without. But for freedom, I would die. >>
🌍

Strange fruit: Billie Holiday

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was 18. Lawrence Hill takes an incredibly sensitive history and provides a view into what those victims of the slave trade might have gone through. Starting in Bayo, of West Africa, we closely follow Aminata as she is stolen and transported across the ocean, to be sold in America. This book is heavy, the topics requiring you to take a break at times, but the story told is important. It shows one experience of horror that an enslaved women might have gone through, though there are many, many unique and varied lives that enslaved people go through during the slave trade.

I won't outline the entire book, because I want you to read this, to absorb what Lawrence Hill is presenting us, and to continue to look into the horrors and inhumanity that is commonplace, both then and now. Expect to need moments to process, as this book covers situations of enslavement, sexual assault, abuse, violence, death and more.

[Helen O'Sh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating historical novel following a woman stolen from her small village by slave traders. She was transported across the Atlantic Ocean and sold into slavery in South Carolina. She escaped slavery in New York, and later sailed to Nova Scotia, Sierra Leone and London. I had never heard of the Book of Negroes. It was a list of 3000 black Americans who had worked for the British in the War of Independence and who were sponsored to resettle in Nova Scotia, Canada (of all places). A decade later, 1200 of these resettled in Africa, building Freetown in Sierra Leone, with the support (and under the rule) of British Abolitionists.

Well written and horrifically believable. The list of sources supports its accuracy.

[Benita Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a powerful book!! Reading about the life and hardships of Aminata Diallo really makes you rethink the hardships in your own life, as well as highlights just how much suffering people are capable of perpetuating on other people, and how much you can overcome with internal strength, heart, perseverance and wits. I could not wait for my opportunity each day to pick up this book. I couldn’t recommend it more!!

[Kell Nilsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing books, great story telling kept me hooked. Truly shows the gruesome reality of slave trade. I very much appreciated the multitude of historical references and citations. Clearly the work of some one who appreciates the history of the world

[P.M.C. Smy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It is the perfect combination of dramatic and historic.
But please, if I read the word ‘calabash’ one more time I’ll scream.

This book should be required reading for all North Americans and British regardless of color.

[Chantal C · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read. Tear-jerker, a beautiful story highlighting atrocities that are not spoken of enough.
A story of perseverance, torture, strength and important history we must remember. Masterpiece.