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Willow
In 1848, an educated slave girl faces an inconceivable choice — between bondage and freedom, family and love.
On one side of the Mason-Dixon Line lives fifteen-year-old Willow, her master’s favorite servant. She’s been taught to read and has learned to write. She believes her master is good to her and fears the rebel slave runaways. On the other side of the line is seventeen-year-old Cato, a black man, free born. It’s his personal mission to sneak as many fugitive slaves to freedom as he can. Willow’s and Cato’s lives are about to intersect, with life-changing consequences for both of them. Tonya Cherie Hegamin’s moving coming-of-age story is a poignant meditation on the many ways a person can be enslaved, and the force of will needed to be truly emancipated.
On one side of the Mason-Dixon Line lives fifteen-year-old Willow, her master’s favorite servant. She’s been taught to read and has learned to write. She believes her master is good to her and fears the rebel slave runaways. On the other side of the line is seventeen-year-old Cato, a black man, free born. It’s his personal mission to sneak as many fugitive slaves to freedom as he can. Willow’s and Cato’s lives are about to intersect, with life-changing consequences for both of them. Tonya Cherie Hegamin’s moving coming-of-age story is a poignant meditation on the many ways a person can be enslaved, and the force of will needed to be truly emancipated.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2014
19 people are currently reading
986 people want to read
About the author
Tonya Cherie Hegamin
3 books14 followersTonya Cherie Hegamin is the author of the young adult novel M+O 4EVR and the coauthor with Marilyn Nelson of Pemba’s Song. She received an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award and a Christopher Award for her picture book Most Loved in All the World, illustrated by Cozbi Cabrera. Tonya Cherie Hegamin is the creative writing coordinator at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 10, 2014
Willow lives on Knotwild, a Maryland plantation just south of the Mason-Dixon line owned by a relatively broad-minded slave owner, “Rev Jeff.” Willow’s father is related to the Reverend, so he and Willow have somewhat more privileges than the other slaves, and the Rev has taught Willow to read and write. By the large willow tree on the river at Knotwild, Willow keeps a secret diary in which she addresses entries to her dead mother. Her life hasn’t been bad until now, but it is 1848, and she has just turned fifteen, a time when her father deems it essential she gets married. He has selected a husband for her from an adjacent planation, but Willow doesn’t love this boy; she doesn’t even like him. No one except Willow considers that to be important.
Meanwhile, a young free black named Cato, 17, has come to the Mason-Dixon line area to help rescue runaway slaves and take them across the line to the North. He and Willow see each other, and he starts leaving her messages in her diary. They fall for each other, and Cato tries to convince Willow to run away with him. She doesn’t consider it until Cato gets caught, and then her eyes open and her world changes.
Discussion: The story line is a good one, but the execution isn’t as smooth as it might be. The author wants to educate readers on too many things and I think perhaps she takes on too much. The dialogue comes across as didactic and awkward at times. Moreover, the characters aren’t entirely consistent. Some of them are well-drawn, and some are caricatures. The Rev and Papa seem to switch personas depending on the situation.
The romance between Willow and Cato is rather insipid; it seems mainly to serve as a vehicle for the author to air her views on gender equality.
I think the author does a good job, however, in showing the ways in which slavery corrupted the mind and spirit, not only of those who were inherently evil, but even among those who thought themselves enlightened.
Evaluation: For those who know little about slavery in the near-North, this book will prove most informative. There is a fair amount of suspense, and Willow is an admirable character. The young romance aspects of the story are not as compelling as the exploration of the feelings Willow has with her father; the Rev; and another slave who loved Willow's mother, and tries to protect her as a father would.
Meanwhile, a young free black named Cato, 17, has come to the Mason-Dixon line area to help rescue runaway slaves and take them across the line to the North. He and Willow see each other, and he starts leaving her messages in her diary. They fall for each other, and Cato tries to convince Willow to run away with him. She doesn’t consider it until Cato gets caught, and then her eyes open and her world changes.
Discussion: The story line is a good one, but the execution isn’t as smooth as it might be. The author wants to educate readers on too many things and I think perhaps she takes on too much. The dialogue comes across as didactic and awkward at times. Moreover, the characters aren’t entirely consistent. Some of them are well-drawn, and some are caricatures. The Rev and Papa seem to switch personas depending on the situation.
The romance between Willow and Cato is rather insipid; it seems mainly to serve as a vehicle for the author to air her views on gender equality.
I think the author does a good job, however, in showing the ways in which slavery corrupted the mind and spirit, not only of those who were inherently evil, but even among those who thought themselves enlightened.
Evaluation: For those who know little about slavery in the near-North, this book will prove most informative. There is a fair amount of suspense, and Willow is an admirable character. The young romance aspects of the story are not as compelling as the exploration of the feelings Willow has with her father; the Rev; and another slave who loved Willow's mother, and tries to protect her as a father would.
March 16, 2014
This review (and others) can be found on My Full Bookshelf
Willow was a conflicting book for me, because I think that this is an important subject, but the way it was written wasn't so great, and I didn't think the romance was necessary at all. It ended up being somewhat mediocre of a read for me, which was disappointing since I'd been looking forward to this book.
Something that really bugged me was the way Willow wrote as opposed to how she spoke. In her diary, there would be grammatical errors like putting 'glare' instead of 'glared', but she does not talk this way. When she speaks in the book, there is not one grammatical error to be seen. This inconsistency confused me. What confused me even more is that sometimes her writing would be one hundred percent grammatically sound, and the next entry would not be.
Secondly, there were characters I didn't like, first being the Rev. Sometimes he would be nice and rather fatherly to Willow, other times he was racist and awful. I didn't know what to think of him at all. I also did not like Cato all that much; I suppose I would have if there had not been the awkward romance between him and Willow. Quite frankly, I don't know why it was necessary, except for the fact that the book is Young Adult and it seems like romance in YA is just expected. Also, it happened so quickly, I couldn't even tell when they fell in love. On one page, Willow slaps Cato and is furious at him, and it basically seemed like the next time they met they were kissing and in love. I've read my fair share of unrealistically quick romances, but it seems like a worse offense to me when it makes its way into historical fiction for some reason.
At the beginning, there were times when I felt I was reading out of a textbook talking about women's rights. However, this issue didn't come up for the rest of the book.
I appreciated the fact that the author wrote about slavery, since it seems to be a topic that doesn't get mentioned a lot in the YA genre. The other books on slavery I have read were middle grade. Still, I am not sure I would recommend it or not. I suppose it really depends on the person.
Willow was a conflicting book for me, because I think that this is an important subject, but the way it was written wasn't so great, and I didn't think the romance was necessary at all. It ended up being somewhat mediocre of a read for me, which was disappointing since I'd been looking forward to this book.
Something that really bugged me was the way Willow wrote as opposed to how she spoke. In her diary, there would be grammatical errors like putting 'glare' instead of 'glared', but she does not talk this way. When she speaks in the book, there is not one grammatical error to be seen. This inconsistency confused me. What confused me even more is that sometimes her writing would be one hundred percent grammatically sound, and the next entry would not be.
Secondly, there were characters I didn't like, first being the Rev. Sometimes he would be nice and rather fatherly to Willow, other times he was racist and awful. I didn't know what to think of him at all. I also did not like Cato all that much; I suppose I would have if there had not been the awkward romance between him and Willow. Quite frankly, I don't know why it was necessary, except for the fact that the book is Young Adult and it seems like romance in YA is just expected. Also, it happened so quickly, I couldn't even tell when they fell in love. On one page, Willow slaps Cato and is furious at him, and it basically seemed like the next time they met they were kissing and in love. I've read my fair share of unrealistically quick romances, but it seems like a worse offense to me when it makes its way into historical fiction for some reason.
At the beginning, there were times when I felt I was reading out of a textbook talking about women's rights. However, this issue didn't come up for the rest of the book.
I appreciated the fact that the author wrote about slavery, since it seems to be a topic that doesn't get mentioned a lot in the YA genre. The other books on slavery I have read were middle grade. Still, I am not sure I would recommend it or not. I suppose it really depends on the person.
July 11, 2019
Willow of Knotwilde Estate in Maryland is technically a slave but her life on the estate with her father is fairly comfortable. She knows herbal remedies for her asthma and other ailments from her grandmother, how to read and write, a horse (a gift from her owner) and light household duties. What more could she ask for? As Willow grows older, she yearns for more. She has a thirst for knowledge and can't get enough of reading. Willow writes letters to her dead Mama under her favorite tree each day. Nearby is the Mason Dixon line and across that- freedom. Freedom is a scary thing Willow doesn't want to or need to know about. Then she learns of some runaways and sees a young man beckoning her to freedom. How can she leave her Papa and her home? Why would anyone want to run to freedom? Then on her birthday, Papa springs the news that Willow will soon marry a slave named Raymond from a nearby plantation and her son will one day inherit the care of Knotwilde just as Papa inherited it from his grandmother who helped build the estate with her blood, sweat and tears - literally. Willow would like to marry and raise a family - one day, but not now and shouldn't she have a say in who she marries and when? What about her children? Will they be ripped from her side by Raymond's cruel owner?
Across the Mason-Dixon line, Cato Freeman longs to prove to his father, a former slave, that he is a man. Cato sets out on a journey to help free slaves from plantations in nearby Maryland. He plans for every eventuality bringing his free papers, his gun, food and water. What could go wrong? When he's injured in an escape attempt, Cato must use his wits to survive. When he discovers Willow's journal he learns what it truly means to be free. He must help her but how?
I don't know what to say about this book. It made me very uncomfortable in different ways than the usual fictional slave narrative or even a real slave narrative. The author crammed a LOT of experiences of enslaved people into one novel and added a teen romance drama. I'm sure the author intended her readers, especially white readers like myself, to be uncomfortable. "Master" Rev. Jeff is a man of a cloth yet still owns other human beings. He uses numerous excuses and even cites religion as a reason for hanging on to his family's slaves. Rev. Jeff is a benevolent slave owner yet he still believes in the same stupid, unfounded racist junk that everyone else believed in. He taught Willow to read but doesn't believe a black person is capable of understanding literature beyond the Bible. While he leaves Ryder, Willow's Papa in charge of the estate and the workers, he doesn't hesitate to threaten selling a slave when they won't comply with his wishes. The most uncomfortable thing for me is that Ryder actually believes the nonsense his owner spouts, even going so far as to inform the other slaves the only reason they were brought out of Africa is to save them from heathenism! WHA???? Ryder is not right in the head. His loyalty to the estate and the family knows no bounds. It causes him to behave like the very people who keep his people enslaved. This is what made me incredibly uncomfortable with the novel.
Then the novel adds in the usual tropes. There's lots of commentary on women's rights and how women were enslaved by men "Ain't I a woman and a sister?" kept ringing through my head. I liked Willow and wanted her to be happy and get an education but knowing history, I knew her dreams could never come true. Did Rev. Jeff do the right thing educating her and spoiling her? She isn't "fit" to work anywhere else because of her gentle upbringing and also because she suffers from asthma attacks. What happens when Papa and Rev. Jeff die? Who will protect her then? As the story progresses, we are introduced to Mistress Evelyn, a southern belle stereotype whom Rev. Jeff is courting. She is not a pleasant woman and I don't feel sorry for her in the least bit. I think she can make life difficult for Willow. Mistress Evelyn naturally has a young adult son, Philippe "a typical southern gentleman who always gets what he wants." What he wants is his mother's maid Sylvie, of course. I felt empathy for Sylvie while not always agreeing with her choices. Introducing her little brother "Little Luck" gives Sylvie more depth. He is an adorable boy who can't hear or speak but somehow knows everything that is going on. People tend to dismiss him and that works in his favor. He is clever and cunning. I can see why Sylvie adores her little brother so much, aside from the fact they're always together and separated from the only other family they know.
Other people in Willow's life include Cholly Dee, a recalcitrant slave at Knotwilde. He's pure African and therefore, somehow less manageable than African-American slaves. He is a very proud man and slavery does not agree with his sense of manhood. He longs to be free. His character is interesting once the story gets going. At first he seems like he is going to be a villain but he has more depth than it seems. His revelations are surprising and heartbreaking. Tiny, Willow's adoptive aunt, came from the next plantation where she was used for breeding. She's very sweet and kind. Tiny sounds grandmotherly but is in actuality a young woman. Sadly, her youth was cut short given her cruel owner and drunken overseer's plans for her. Her words about freedom broke my heart and illustrate exactly WHY many people chose to stay after the Civil War- not out of love or loyalty to their former owners. Tiny's former owner, Rawlins, is the type of slave owner more commonly appearing in novels. His nephew, Hendricks, is the overseer and enjoys drinking and whipping slaves-sometimes both at the same time. Both are evil men who serve to heighten the drama of the story.
The story alternates from Cato's point-of-view. Cato comes from a safe place, Haven, a free black community in Pennsylvania. He's never known cruelty or hardship like his father Atalantus. Educated by a Quaker gentleman, Cato is determined to right the wrongs of his people. Like most teens, he acts first and thinks later. This gets him into trouble but I admire the way he handled his problems and how he came to appreciate the lessons his father tried to teach him. I don't buy his suddenly modern, feminist viewpoint he takes after reading Willow's journal and the love story happens ridiculously fast. For Willow, I do believe in the decisions she makes and how quickly she makes them. Normally I wouldn't approve of a teen romance like that but given her situation as an enslaved woman, she doesn't have many life choices. Her father is determined to give her in marriage to a "fine buck" whom she doesn't love and isn't attracted to. It's her body and she's determined to take agency over it. The drama is a bit too much for me.
I think teens that haven't studied slavery extensively may enjoy this novel but as an adult and a scholar, I wanted less drama and more history. The author needed to have included a historical note or bibliography.
Across the Mason-Dixon line, Cato Freeman longs to prove to his father, a former slave, that he is a man. Cato sets out on a journey to help free slaves from plantations in nearby Maryland. He plans for every eventuality bringing his free papers, his gun, food and water. What could go wrong? When he's injured in an escape attempt, Cato must use his wits to survive. When he discovers Willow's journal he learns what it truly means to be free. He must help her but how?
I don't know what to say about this book. It made me very uncomfortable in different ways than the usual fictional slave narrative or even a real slave narrative. The author crammed a LOT of experiences of enslaved people into one novel and added a teen romance drama. I'm sure the author intended her readers, especially white readers like myself, to be uncomfortable. "Master" Rev. Jeff is a man of a cloth yet still owns other human beings. He uses numerous excuses and even cites religion as a reason for hanging on to his family's slaves. Rev. Jeff is a benevolent slave owner yet he still believes in the same stupid, unfounded racist junk that everyone else believed in. He taught Willow to read but doesn't believe a black person is capable of understanding literature beyond the Bible. While he leaves Ryder, Willow's Papa in charge of the estate and the workers, he doesn't hesitate to threaten selling a slave when they won't comply with his wishes. The most uncomfortable thing for me is that Ryder actually believes the nonsense his owner spouts, even going so far as to inform the other slaves the only reason they were brought out of Africa is to save them from heathenism! WHA???? Ryder is not right in the head. His loyalty to the estate and the family knows no bounds. It causes him to behave like the very people who keep his people enslaved. This is what made me incredibly uncomfortable with the novel.
Then the novel adds in the usual tropes. There's lots of commentary on women's rights and how women were enslaved by men "Ain't I a woman and a sister?" kept ringing through my head. I liked Willow and wanted her to be happy and get an education but knowing history, I knew her dreams could never come true. Did Rev. Jeff do the right thing educating her and spoiling her? She isn't "fit" to work anywhere else because of her gentle upbringing and also because she suffers from asthma attacks. What happens when Papa and Rev. Jeff die? Who will protect her then? As the story progresses, we are introduced to Mistress Evelyn, a southern belle stereotype whom Rev. Jeff is courting. She is not a pleasant woman and I don't feel sorry for her in the least bit. I think she can make life difficult for Willow. Mistress Evelyn naturally has a young adult son, Philippe "a typical southern gentleman who always gets what he wants." What he wants is his mother's maid Sylvie, of course. I felt empathy for Sylvie while not always agreeing with her choices. Introducing her little brother "Little Luck" gives Sylvie more depth. He is an adorable boy who can't hear or speak but somehow knows everything that is going on. People tend to dismiss him and that works in his favor. He is clever and cunning. I can see why Sylvie adores her little brother so much, aside from the fact they're always together and separated from the only other family they know.
Other people in Willow's life include Cholly Dee, a recalcitrant slave at Knotwilde. He's pure African and therefore, somehow less manageable than African-American slaves. He is a very proud man and slavery does not agree with his sense of manhood. He longs to be free. His character is interesting once the story gets going. At first he seems like he is going to be a villain but he has more depth than it seems. His revelations are surprising and heartbreaking. Tiny, Willow's adoptive aunt, came from the next plantation where she was used for breeding. She's very sweet and kind. Tiny sounds grandmotherly but is in actuality a young woman. Sadly, her youth was cut short given her cruel owner and drunken overseer's plans for her. Her words about freedom broke my heart and illustrate exactly WHY many people chose to stay after the Civil War- not out of love or loyalty to their former owners. Tiny's former owner, Rawlins, is the type of slave owner more commonly appearing in novels. His nephew, Hendricks, is the overseer and enjoys drinking and whipping slaves-sometimes both at the same time. Both are evil men who serve to heighten the drama of the story.
The story alternates from Cato's point-of-view. Cato comes from a safe place, Haven, a free black community in Pennsylvania. He's never known cruelty or hardship like his father Atalantus. Educated by a Quaker gentleman, Cato is determined to right the wrongs of his people. Like most teens, he acts first and thinks later. This gets him into trouble but I admire the way he handled his problems and how he came to appreciate the lessons his father tried to teach him. I don't buy his suddenly modern, feminist viewpoint he takes after reading Willow's journal and the love story happens ridiculously fast. For Willow, I do believe in the decisions she makes and how quickly she makes them. Normally I wouldn't approve of a teen romance like that but given her situation as an enslaved woman, she doesn't have many life choices. Her father is determined to give her in marriage to a "fine buck" whom she doesn't love and isn't attracted to. It's her body and she's determined to take agency over it. The drama is a bit too much for me.
I think teens that haven't studied slavery extensively may enjoy this novel but as an adult and a scholar, I wanted less drama and more history. The author needed to have included a historical note or bibliography.
November 18, 2017
The story of a content slave girl and a discontent freedman finding each other and their place in the world. Fifteen year old Willow is a slave, but she doesn’t mind; she has been cosseted most of her life, made almost like a pet to her indulgent master. Her master has even gone so far as to defy the law and teach her to read, intending her to derive spiritual improvement from the study of the bible, but Willow also sneaks in Shakespeare and from that acquires a longing for more than the life she is expected to lead, and so when she is told that she will soon be married, whether or not she wishes it, she feels angry and betrayed and begins to see for the first time the inequalities surrounding her. Meanwhile, Cato was born north of the Mason-Dixon line and has been free all his life, and believes that freedom is the right of every human being, black or white, and so he becomes involved in the Underground Railroad. He is wounded on his first mission and seeks refuge near where Willow hides to think and write letters to her dead mother in a book she leaves hidden in a tree, which he reads and thereby comes to know and care for Willow.
The historical aspects are intriguing, but the prose is mediocre when the dialects don’t make it actually annoying and the premise and characters are unremarkable.
The historical aspects are intriguing, but the prose is mediocre when the dialects don’t make it actually annoying and the premise and characters are unremarkable.
December 11, 2013
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Willow is a story written for young readers, but this book is perfectly suitable for all ages.
The storyline in this book is really quite nice. There is enough excitement to keep the reader entertained, while still allowing ample room for character development. The story follows a young, educated, slave girl, Willow, as she faces challenges on the plantation she lives. Willow spends time each day writing letters in a journal to her long dead mother. One day when out writing at her usual spot; Willow sights some escaped slaves as they cross through the plantation she lives into the North. Then the story really takes off…
The characters in this book are really phenomenal. All of the characters are easy to relate to and understand, but Willow is especially so. All of Willow’s emotions just seem so real and true. It’s easy to image her as an actual young, slave girl living on a fair plantation.
The writing in this book is very pleasant. The author does a really good job of writing dialogue in an easy to understand manner, even when the accents are heavy. The dialogue is also written in a very believable manner, making it easy to imagine the characters actually conversing. The author also does a really good job of writing for a younger audience. The vocabulary isn’t as intense as it would be in an adult book, but the story doesn’t lose anything because of it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. While it wasn’t one of the best books I’ve ever read, it was certainly an enjoyable (and emotional) young-adult story that does a fantastic job of bringing a face to slavery. I would highly recommend this book to any young readers (or teachers) looking for a book about slavery and the true meaning of being free.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
Willow is a story written for young readers, but this book is perfectly suitable for all ages.
The storyline in this book is really quite nice. There is enough excitement to keep the reader entertained, while still allowing ample room for character development. The story follows a young, educated, slave girl, Willow, as she faces challenges on the plantation she lives. Willow spends time each day writing letters in a journal to her long dead mother. One day when out writing at her usual spot; Willow sights some escaped slaves as they cross through the plantation she lives into the North. Then the story really takes off…
The characters in this book are really phenomenal. All of the characters are easy to relate to and understand, but Willow is especially so. All of Willow’s emotions just seem so real and true. It’s easy to image her as an actual young, slave girl living on a fair plantation.
The writing in this book is very pleasant. The author does a really good job of writing dialogue in an easy to understand manner, even when the accents are heavy. The dialogue is also written in a very believable manner, making it easy to imagine the characters actually conversing. The author also does a really good job of writing for a younger audience. The vocabulary isn’t as intense as it would be in an adult book, but the story doesn’t lose anything because of it.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. While it wasn’t one of the best books I’ve ever read, it was certainly an enjoyable (and emotional) young-adult story that does a fantastic job of bringing a face to slavery. I would highly recommend this book to any young readers (or teachers) looking for a book about slavery and the true meaning of being free.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
February 9, 2014
This is a coming of age story about a young, slave girl and the family she lives with on a plantation in Maryland near the Mason-Dixon line. The MD line is historic for many reasons, but one of which is that it became the border between the North and South, or the border between Pennsylvania (had abolished slavery) and Maryland (had not abolished slavery).
The young girl, Willow, meets a free-born, black boy, Cato, who had crossed over the MD line in hopes of helping slaves escape. Their meeting takes them both on a different road than they had planned and this book is their story.
While a clean read, it does contain some scenes that might not be appropriate for younger children due to the nature of slavery. However, I think it is quite appropriate for pre-teens and older, and anyone interested in the historical fiction. For me, it began a little slow, but it wasn't long before the rest of the story flowed easily.
I received this book for free from Candlewick as part of a Goodreads Giveaway and in thanks wanted to write a quick review.
The young girl, Willow, meets a free-born, black boy, Cato, who had crossed over the MD line in hopes of helping slaves escape. Their meeting takes them both on a different road than they had planned and this book is their story.
While a clean read, it does contain some scenes that might not be appropriate for younger children due to the nature of slavery. However, I think it is quite appropriate for pre-teens and older, and anyone interested in the historical fiction. For me, it began a little slow, but it wasn't long before the rest of the story flowed easily.
I received this book for free from Candlewick as part of a Goodreads Giveaway and in thanks wanted to write a quick review.
March 21, 2025
From the first page, I could feel the constricting world Willow lives in, and it was both fascinating and painful.
The book is slow paced, with not much happening but description of life at Knotwild, with the owner being as good as a slave owner can be in that time, especially compared to the terrible neighbour, while still being cruel.
Willow's entire world is the relatively 'good' and 'kind' Knotwild, with her father and the other slaves and she is reluctant to leave it behind, out of fear for worse and love for the people she know.
As the story goes on, the terrible world of that time closes in on both the reader and Willow, getting more and more constricting by the page.
A beautifully written story, highly recommended.
I received a digital ARC and this review is based on the proof.
The book is slow paced, with not much happening but description of life at Knotwild, with the owner being as good as a slave owner can be in that time, especially compared to the terrible neighbour, while still being cruel.
Willow's entire world is the relatively 'good' and 'kind' Knotwild, with her father and the other slaves and she is reluctant to leave it behind, out of fear for worse and love for the people she know.
As the story goes on, the terrible world of that time closes in on both the reader and Willow, getting more and more constricting by the page.
A beautifully written story, highly recommended.
I received a digital ARC and this review is based on the proof.
February 7, 2015
It was only ok. Actually, I thought it was pretty boring until about 1/2 way through. I had high hopes for it, it sounded good, but not my cup of tea. It was about a young slave who is treated well by the master of the plantation. It is implied that he is actually an uncle. She is going to be married off to a man from another plantation, who she does not know, nor love. The she meets a young free man who she begins to love. Eh.
It sounded great, but it was pretty dull.
It sounded great, but it was pretty dull.
July 2, 2020
Two lives become intertwined in unexpected ways in 1848 when Willow, a fifteen-year-old slave on the Knotwild Plantation in Maryland, meets Cato, a seventeen-year-old educated free black man. Cato has come to the area to help fugitive slaves escape, something that Willow has never really considered doing. Willow has led a relatively easy life on the plantation since she is allowed to ride her beloved horse, Mayapple, and is able to read and write. Her master faces harsh criticism for how he treats his slaves since he's deemed too generous. Willow often writes letters to her mother who died many years ago, and the writing helps her feel connected to the woman. But when her father hatches plans for her own marriage and her master brings home a new bride who is far from generous, Willow chafes under her new responsibilities and wonders if there is more to life than this. A chance meeting with Cato, who has stumbled upon her writing, opens her mind to new possibilities. But how can she ever dream of leaving her family and home? While I appreciated the insight this book provides into a slave who was more privileged than others and the exploration of gender roles and equality, the romance seems to have taken off too quickly and Willow's father's anger seemed out of character for him. There are many secrets about Willow's past that propel her into a very different future than she might have dreamed. In the end, readers can easily see that slavery is slavery and no matter how comfortable the situation might seem to be, there is no freedom or choice given to the individual who is enslaved. I found the book's shifts from Willow's perspective and letters to Cato's a bit abrupt at times and had to take a moment to understand how the author was handling this because of the odd shift in time.
December 16, 2023
An enthralling masterpiece that captivates the reader from the first page to the last!! A beautiful read with rich characters, compelling emotions and seamless storytelling. I regret not reading this sooner! An absolute gem that deserves four stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐
(In my opinion, the ending was a little rushed!)
(In my opinion, the ending was a little rushed!)
September 24, 2019
I loved the simplicity and beauty of this book. I mean look at that cover! The author chose to tell about a slave who actually was treated well (to a slave standard) which I enjoyed because it's good to read something different every once and a while. Anyway I thought it was a cute book.
October 7, 2020
It took me a while to get into this book. The first 5th(approximately) was very slow. It was still fairly slow, but improved throughout. I liked the way it was wrapped up at the end. The characters were believable, & as always, I enjoyed the historical content.
August 13, 2024
The book was okay. I liked it! I enjoyed Willow's insight into her life and circumstances and those that differed from her own.
It was fascinating to me that the town I live in is mentioned quite a bit and the story takes place fairly locally.
It was fascinating to me that the town I live in is mentioned quite a bit and the story takes place fairly locally.
May 30, 2021
Could have been shorter. I found it to be a bit drawn out.
March 13, 2023
My 2 star review is generous!
January 22, 2024
Good book!! Not many historical facts but more focused on the novel aspect.
April 15, 2024
plot is a bit slow but the characters are very complex!
October 31, 2025
This was such a sweet book about love! Willow is such an honest, likeable character, and it was great to follow her through her life.
April 6, 2014
I was looking for a book to discuss with my teen book club and came across this one. Pre-Civil War time in Maryland with an educated slave named, Willow, gives readers a look into slave life from a slave's point of view.
Willow's master has taken a soft spot towards Willow, and not in an inappropriate way either. He was taught her to read and write, which she has to keep hidden or they both will be a serious trouble. Willow writes in a journal letters to her deceased mother. She leaves it hidden far from the house where no one will see her writing in it. At 15, Willow's father is looking to find her a husband, and Willow is not interested in marriage, especially not an arraigned marriage. Her father tells her as a slave she does not have the luxury of love.
This book is fully of characters, almost too many only because I felt at the end of the book there were still quite a few loose ends. Rev Jeff is the slave owner. He is kind for the most part, and he and Willow's father almost seem more like friends, than slave and owner. He also is a businessman and looks for ways to profit his farm with the use of slaves. There is also the other side of him that is hinted to. His wife passed away and shows interest in another widow from a wealthy, one who has a 19 year old son, Phillip. She comes to Knotwild and brings her slave, Silvey (spelling?) which Phillip causes serious issues for. That is the only part that makes me a little uncertain with the younger teens for this book, but it is not explicit. There were the slaves Cholly, who was in love with Willow's mother, and Raymond, the slave that Willow is to marry.
Then there is Cato, the free black man from Pennsylvania. He was educated and finds Willow's journal and writes to her, much to Willow's dismay when she discovers that. Eventually the two characters meet. Here is one part that completely annoyed me. They "fell" in love far too quickly for it to be believable. Their relationship was not developed enough for the extent of their "love."
This book touches on the horrors slavery, but not to the extent of being too much descriptiveness for a teenage reader. I did enjoy this novel, but I found the beginning slow. The end, however, is far more interesting.
Willow's master has taken a soft spot towards Willow, and not in an inappropriate way either. He was taught her to read and write, which she has to keep hidden or they both will be a serious trouble. Willow writes in a journal letters to her deceased mother. She leaves it hidden far from the house where no one will see her writing in it. At 15, Willow's father is looking to find her a husband, and Willow is not interested in marriage, especially not an arraigned marriage. Her father tells her as a slave she does not have the luxury of love.
This book is fully of characters, almost too many only because I felt at the end of the book there were still quite a few loose ends. Rev Jeff is the slave owner. He is kind for the most part, and he and Willow's father almost seem more like friends, than slave and owner. He also is a businessman and looks for ways to profit his farm with the use of slaves. There is also the other side of him that is hinted to. His wife passed away and shows interest in another widow from a wealthy, one who has a 19 year old son, Phillip. She comes to Knotwild and brings her slave, Silvey (spelling?) which Phillip causes serious issues for. That is the only part that makes me a little uncertain with the younger teens for this book, but it is not explicit. There were the slaves Cholly, who was in love with Willow's mother, and Raymond, the slave that Willow is to marry.
Then there is Cato, the free black man from Pennsylvania. He was educated and finds Willow's journal and writes to her, much to Willow's dismay when she discovers that. Eventually the two characters meet. Here is one part that completely annoyed me. They "fell" in love far too quickly for it to be believable. Their relationship was not developed enough for the extent of their "love."
This book touches on the horrors slavery, but not to the extent of being too much descriptiveness for a teenage reader. I did enjoy this novel, but I found the beginning slow. The end, however, is far more interesting.
December 1, 2014
Reviewed this on my blog.
Fifteen-year-old Willow is a resourceful, intelligent young girl who spends her days reading, writing, and taking care of her horse Mayapple. But unfortunately, Willow lives 1848 Maryland. And Willow is a slave. Though Willow’s life is relatively easy compared to the lives of other slaves in her community, she yearns to go to school and learn to write. Meanwhile, Cato, a headstrong teenager lives a free, but still oppressed life, in Haven, Pennsylvania. Against his father’s wishes, Cato gets involved with smuggling slaves to freedom, and on his first naive attempt, he gets into more trouble than he expected. When Willow and Cato finally meet, their lives and everything they thought they believed about freedom and prejudice are completely changed forever.
With this unique novel Tonya Cherie Hegamin explores life as a slave on a plantation with a “kind” owner–the hypocrisy, the lies, and the secrets that remain hidden. She explores what it means to be not only a slave, but a female slave. What do family obligations mean when you know you are related to your master? What does “home” mean when your family helped build the plantation where you live enslaved? What does “escape” even mean when there is nothing and no one to escape to?
Even while bringing up all these fascinating questions, Hegamin’s writing is lyrical and poignant, but most importantly it’s incredibly compelling. I connected with Willow from the very first few pages and did not want to put this book down.
Though Cato’s voice is not as strong as Willow’s and the romance between the two characters–though wonderful and believable–often felt besides the point, this novel is heartfelt, thought-provoking, and so, so good.
Fifteen-year-old Willow is a resourceful, intelligent young girl who spends her days reading, writing, and taking care of her horse Mayapple. But unfortunately, Willow lives 1848 Maryland. And Willow is a slave. Though Willow’s life is relatively easy compared to the lives of other slaves in her community, she yearns to go to school and learn to write. Meanwhile, Cato, a headstrong teenager lives a free, but still oppressed life, in Haven, Pennsylvania. Against his father’s wishes, Cato gets involved with smuggling slaves to freedom, and on his first naive attempt, he gets into more trouble than he expected. When Willow and Cato finally meet, their lives and everything they thought they believed about freedom and prejudice are completely changed forever.
With this unique novel Tonya Cherie Hegamin explores life as a slave on a plantation with a “kind” owner–the hypocrisy, the lies, and the secrets that remain hidden. She explores what it means to be not only a slave, but a female slave. What do family obligations mean when you know you are related to your master? What does “home” mean when your family helped build the plantation where you live enslaved? What does “escape” even mean when there is nothing and no one to escape to?
Even while bringing up all these fascinating questions, Hegamin’s writing is lyrical and poignant, but most importantly it’s incredibly compelling. I connected with Willow from the very first few pages and did not want to put this book down.
Though Cato’s voice is not as strong as Willow’s and the romance between the two characters–though wonderful and believable–often felt besides the point, this novel is heartfelt, thought-provoking, and so, so good.
March 18, 2014
From Children's Literature: In 1848 Maryland, Willow is content with her lot in life on Knotwild Plantation: Reverend Jeffries is a kind master, and she and her father, Ryder, enjoy more freedoms than many slaves. Rev Jeff even taught her to read, although he is dismayed to discover that she does not limit herself to the Bible, but has moved on to Shakespeare. When her father and the reverend decide that it is time for her to marry a slave on a neighboring plantation, the 15-year-old realizes just how little say she has in her own future. One day, as Willow visits her mother’s grave, she witnesses a free young black man on the other side of the Mason-Dixon line helping a runaway slave. The slave successfully disappears into the Pennsylvania woods, but Cato injures his ankle and is forced to hide out near the plantation for days. Willow later finds him, and as they come to know each other, he pleads with her to escape to freedom in Pennsylvania. Initially, she cannot bring herself to leave her father, and when he does finally convince her and some of the other slaves to break free, Ryder comes very close to sabotaging their plans. While the first-person perspective for Willow and the third-person perspective for Cato can be a bit jarring, Hegamin offers contemplative readers an engaging story about one girl’s efforts to be loyal to herself and to her family.
August 19, 2014
There is plenty of historical fiction available for fans of Young Adult Literature. But however plentiful this subgenre may be, it is still lacking when it comes to variety. YA historical fiction seems to only focus on flappers and the high society members of nineteenth century New York. Rarely is there a novel whose plot branches away from the overdone ones and it is even more rare to find a novel focusing on slavery.
Tonya Cherie Hegamin adds diversity to YA historical fiction with her newest novel, Willow. For one who has read the likes of Harriet Jacobs or Toni Morrison, Willow will most definitely appeal. Hegamin has captured the voice of a slave narrative and that voice has the ability to capture readers.
One who has studied slave narratives knows that the skills of reading and writing are extraordinary things. The ability to read is the ability to collect knowledge and once one has knowledge, they can never truly be enslaved. Hegamin’s main character Willow is a fifteen year old girl who was born a slave. But unlike majority of slaves, Willow was...
Full review can be found here.
Tonya Cherie Hegamin adds diversity to YA historical fiction with her newest novel, Willow. For one who has read the likes of Harriet Jacobs or Toni Morrison, Willow will most definitely appeal. Hegamin has captured the voice of a slave narrative and that voice has the ability to capture readers.
One who has studied slave narratives knows that the skills of reading and writing are extraordinary things. The ability to read is the ability to collect knowledge and once one has knowledge, they can never truly be enslaved. Hegamin’s main character Willow is a fifteen year old girl who was born a slave. But unlike majority of slaves, Willow was...
Full review can be found here.
July 6, 2014
In 1848, Willow is a slave girl on a plantation in Pennsylvania just south of the Mason-Dixon line. Her master loves both her and her father dearly and has in fact broken the law by teaching Willow to read. Because her father is in turn loyal to the master, he wants the best for him, so betroths Willow to the neighboring plantation owner's slave overseer, who is himself a slave, to strenghten the economic ties between the two farms. Willow argues with her father, causing a rift between them, protesting that she will not marry this slave because he is stupid and mean. Willow's mother died years ago, leaving Willow alone in a very treacherous world for slave women. One day, she happens to meet Cato, a free black man, who is hiding down by the river where Willow goes to write in her journal. Cato has crossed the M-D line in order to help slaves escape into Ohio where he is from. Cato presents to Willow an existence she had never dreamed of: a free world for blacks. The rich historical material compounded with the themes of race, love, and betrayal make this an excellent book. It presented the pre-Civil War world in a new way for me, and I would like to read more like it. A good read for grades 7 and up.
November 11, 2015
Great character development and strong, believable character arc. Willow pulls you in with her language, intelligence, love for family, curiosity, and search for independence & freedom. Secondary characters are fleshed out and very human in their inner conflicts, complexity, and inconsistencies.
This novel has a lot of heart. The writing is poetic yet clear. Fully developed setting and historical moment. Variety of characters provide multiple windows into this time in American history, a major strength of the novel.
The major weakness, for me, was adding romance to Willow's relationship with Cato. It was unnecessary and undermined the story a bit. I appreciated their love for one another, but thought the story would be stronger without bringing romance into the equation, at least so soon.
I've read a few reviews from people who've given up on the book early on because they were frustrated that Willow's situation does not represent the life of the average person enslaved in the US. In the beginning, I was also worried that this might be some kind of revisionist novel. But it's not. Keep reading! Willow's perspective broadens with experience, and the book's perspective broadens along with it.
This novel has a lot of heart. The writing is poetic yet clear. Fully developed setting and historical moment. Variety of characters provide multiple windows into this time in American history, a major strength of the novel.
The major weakness, for me, was adding romance to Willow's relationship with Cato. It was unnecessary and undermined the story a bit. I appreciated their love for one another, but thought the story would be stronger without bringing romance into the equation, at least so soon.
I've read a few reviews from people who've given up on the book early on because they were frustrated that Willow's situation does not represent the life of the average person enslaved in the US. In the beginning, I was also worried that this might be some kind of revisionist novel. But it's not. Keep reading! Willow's perspective broadens with experience, and the book's perspective broadens along with it.
August 4, 2015
Willow entangles the lives of two completely opposite characters into one intense story. Willow, a fifteen year old slave living on the wrong side of the Mason-Dixon Line, is her master’s favorite servant. In stark contrast, Cato, a free, young black man living in New York, fights to free slaves. Their world’s crash together during a chance meeting on the outskirts of Willow’s plantation which changes the course of their lives forever.
The story alternates between Willow’s engrossing tale and Cato’s captivating, yet predictable account. Although the story is not entirely action oriented, there are many instances where the reader will be on the edge of his or her seat waiting to find out what the repercussions of Willow and Cato’s choices will be. Willow represents a strong period piece that focuses on an issue that is seldom discussed in school settings… the resistance efforts of black slaves. While there may have been little optimism for slaves during this particular time period, Willow and Cato’s love story certainly provides the reader with hope.
The story alternates between Willow’s engrossing tale and Cato’s captivating, yet predictable account. Although the story is not entirely action oriented, there are many instances where the reader will be on the edge of his or her seat waiting to find out what the repercussions of Willow and Cato’s choices will be. Willow represents a strong period piece that focuses on an issue that is seldom discussed in school settings… the resistance efforts of black slaves. While there may have been little optimism for slaves during this particular time period, Willow and Cato’s love story certainly provides the reader with hope.
January 25, 2015
This review is for the audiobook.
Willow is the story of a 15 year old slave girl living in Pennsylvania in 1848. The plantation Willow has been raised on has a kind slave owner who treats his slaves well, even teaching Willow to read and write, which is against the law.
When her father starts making plans for her to be married and a new mistress is moving into the house, she meets, by chance, a young black free man who was injured bringing fugitives to safety. Willow has to choose if she is going to stay on the plantation or run away in hopes of freedom.
The narrator does a great job with the voices, which are all quite distinct. I think this would have benefited from having a second (male) narrator voice the parts told from Cato's perspective, as the transitions between voices was not always smooth. There are some weaknesses in the story telling, but overall I enjoyed this recording.
Willow is the story of a 15 year old slave girl living in Pennsylvania in 1848. The plantation Willow has been raised on has a kind slave owner who treats his slaves well, even teaching Willow to read and write, which is against the law.
When her father starts making plans for her to be married and a new mistress is moving into the house, she meets, by chance, a young black free man who was injured bringing fugitives to safety. Willow has to choose if she is going to stay on the plantation or run away in hopes of freedom.
The narrator does a great job with the voices, which are all quite distinct. I think this would have benefited from having a second (male) narrator voice the parts told from Cato's perspective, as the transitions between voices was not always smooth. There are some weaknesses in the story telling, but overall I enjoyed this recording.
August 13, 2015
Through the young enslaved girl, Willow, the reader is able to explore topics of slavery, feminism, confines of marriage, and the value of education in this bittersweet, historical fiction.
This story creates an element of suspense through moments of danger, opportunity, and heart-ache. The character's conundrum is tangible to the reader because of the realistic conflict between wants and needs of Willow. We have all found ourselves in situations which were hopeless and dismal. Willow's strong and enlightened outlook encourage readers to persevere through life's difficulties.
Although the subject matter may be a bit too intense for young reader, Tonya Cherie Hegamin offers a developmentally appropriate but honest insight into the pains of slavery. This book appeals to all women who will be able to internalize how women have been enslaved in marriage and while exploring freedom from slavery.
This story creates an element of suspense through moments of danger, opportunity, and heart-ache. The character's conundrum is tangible to the reader because of the realistic conflict between wants and needs of Willow. We have all found ourselves in situations which were hopeless and dismal. Willow's strong and enlightened outlook encourage readers to persevere through life's difficulties.
Although the subject matter may be a bit too intense for young reader, Tonya Cherie Hegamin offers a developmentally appropriate but honest insight into the pains of slavery. This book appeals to all women who will be able to internalize how women have been enslaved in marriage and while exploring freedom from slavery.
August 4, 2015
Willow
Hegamin, Tonya Cherie
Willow is the self titled novel of one slave girls journey to freedom. The style of the novel is very descriptive in the development of protagonist but does not fully explain her supporting characters. The novel is easy to read but allows the reader to learn more vocabulary with Willow, who is an avid reader. I did think that there were some similarities to Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Connecting both of them, the thought of women reading (even harsher in Willow's case) was just absurd.
Willow character development seems to go at an extremely slow pace because even through she is a slave, she is treated far better than other slaves on the plantation. Willow also sneaks in Shakespeare and from that acquires a longing for more than the life she is expected to lead, and so when she is told that she will soon be married. The historical research that went into this novel is amazing! I felt as though I was walking through the late 1800s.
Hegamin, Tonya Cherie
Willow is the self titled novel of one slave girls journey to freedom. The style of the novel is very descriptive in the development of protagonist but does not fully explain her supporting characters. The novel is easy to read but allows the reader to learn more vocabulary with Willow, who is an avid reader. I did think that there were some similarities to Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Connecting both of them, the thought of women reading (even harsher in Willow's case) was just absurd.
Willow character development seems to go at an extremely slow pace because even through she is a slave, she is treated far better than other slaves on the plantation. Willow also sneaks in Shakespeare and from that acquires a longing for more than the life she is expected to lead, and so when she is told that she will soon be married. The historical research that went into this novel is amazing! I felt as though I was walking through the late 1800s.
January 6, 2015
While this book started slowly for me, after a while I found it difficult to put it down. Such a compelling story! Willow had a strength that slavery could not touch. I found her father to be a less sympathetic character. His complete acceptance of slavery as a correct way of life, his dedication to the family that owned him and his daughter...that was willing to sell his wife away...and his amazing belief that the plantation was somehow his and that it would be handed down to Willow’s son showed a remarkable lack of understanding. I suppose it was how he could cope with life and with the decisions that he made. Cato was a great character. Willow and Cato together...perfect! All the additional characters really kept the story moving and allowed Willow’s character to grow in her understanding of the world.
August 14, 2015
Willow
Hegamin, Tonya Cherie
Willow's deliberate pace carries the reader through the most important moments in the life of a young girl who just turned fifteen. Willow's father has decided to marry her off and the independent and somewhat spoiled girl is very resistant to the idea. While she is struggling with what feels like betrayal by her father and her master Rev Jeff, she meets Cato, a freeborn young man from the North. Their relationship begins through a series of enigmatic letters to each other as he intercepts her notebook in the woods. The story quickens as the marriage deadline looms for Willow and Cato is caught and presumed to be a runaway. The multiple plot lines engage the reader as Willow struggles with her need for independence, her sense of loyalty to her family and the mystery of what happened to her mother.
Hegamin, Tonya Cherie
Willow's deliberate pace carries the reader through the most important moments in the life of a young girl who just turned fifteen. Willow's father has decided to marry her off and the independent and somewhat spoiled girl is very resistant to the idea. While she is struggling with what feels like betrayal by her father and her master Rev Jeff, she meets Cato, a freeborn young man from the North. Their relationship begins through a series of enigmatic letters to each other as he intercepts her notebook in the woods. The story quickens as the marriage deadline looms for Willow and Cato is caught and presumed to be a runaway. The multiple plot lines engage the reader as Willow struggles with her need for independence, her sense of loyalty to her family and the mystery of what happened to her mother.
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