Father by Blood

by Louella Bryant

Although fifteen-year-old Annie Brown becomes drawn into her father's battle against slavery and his raid on Harpers Ferry, she later questions both his motives and his means.

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Louella Bryant’s novel WILLIE, RUM RUNNING QUEEN launched in early 2025 with Black Rose Writing. Her 2023 novel SHELTERING ANGEL, BASED ON A TRUE STORY OF THE TITANIC, has been a #1 bestseller on Amazon Kindle. Hot Springs and Moonshine Liquor, a family memoir follows the historic trail of bootleg liquor since the Revolutionary War. Louella's WWII novel Cowboy Code is based on the true story of a Virginia mountain town. Other books include While In Darkness There Is Light, nonfiction about the Vietnam era, a story collection, and two Civil War novels for young adult readers. Her award-winning writing has appeared in magazines and anthologies. A graduate of George Washington University and Vermont College of Fine Arts, Louella works as an independent editor. Visit her website at https://louellabryant.com.

Reviews

[Rhonda Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryant’s creative historical account of John Brown’s life and raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia is told through the eyes, and heart, of his 15 year old daughter, Annie. Annie struggles to understand why her father would oppose the violence of slavery with the violence of war. Bryant teaches middle-grade students about the abolitionist movement, how the raid played a pivotal role in West Virginia’s secession from Virginia, and how John Brown’s opposition of slavery changed our nation, while giving us a glimpse of a daughter’s love for her father, despite her doubts about his motives and methods. This book would appeal to adolescents who are learning to question societal decisions. Father By Blood is the winner of the 1998 Silver Bay Children’s Literature Award.