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Red Clay
An astounding multigenerational saga, Red Clay chronicles the interwoven lives of an enslaved Black family and their white owners as the Civil War ends and Reconstruction begins.
In 1943, when a frail old white woman shows up in Red Clay, Alabama, at the home of a Black former slave—on the morning following his funeral—his family hardly knows what to expect after she utters the words “… a lifetime ago, my family owned yours.” Adelaide Parker has a story to tell—one of ambition, betrayal, violence, and redemption—that shaped both the fate of her family and that of the late Felix H. Parker.
But there are gaps in her knowledge, and she’s come to Red Clay seeking answers from a family with whom she shares a name and a history that neither knows in full. In an epic saga that takes us from Red Clay to Paris, to the Côte d’Azur and New Orleans, human frailties are pushed to their limits as secrets are exposed and the line between good and evil becomes ever more difficult to discern. Red Clay is a tale that deftly lays bare the ugliness of slavery, the uncertainty of the final months of the Civil War, the optimism of Reconstruction, and the pain and frustration of Jim Crow.
With a vivid sense of place and a cast of memorable characters, Charles B. Fancher draws upon his own family history to weave a riveting tale of triumph over adversity, set against a backdrop of societal change and racial animus that reverberates in contemporary America. Through seasons of joy and unspeakable pain, Fancher delivers rich moments as allies become enemies, and enemies—to their great surprise—find new respect for each other.
In 1943, when a frail old white woman shows up in Red Clay, Alabama, at the home of a Black former slave—on the morning following his funeral—his family hardly knows what to expect after she utters the words “… a lifetime ago, my family owned yours.” Adelaide Parker has a story to tell—one of ambition, betrayal, violence, and redemption—that shaped both the fate of her family and that of the late Felix H. Parker.
But there are gaps in her knowledge, and she’s come to Red Clay seeking answers from a family with whom she shares a name and a history that neither knows in full. In an epic saga that takes us from Red Clay to Paris, to the Côte d’Azur and New Orleans, human frailties are pushed to their limits as secrets are exposed and the line between good and evil becomes ever more difficult to discern. Red Clay is a tale that deftly lays bare the ugliness of slavery, the uncertainty of the final months of the Civil War, the optimism of Reconstruction, and the pain and frustration of Jim Crow.
With a vivid sense of place and a cast of memorable characters, Charles B. Fancher draws upon his own family history to weave a riveting tale of triumph over adversity, set against a backdrop of societal change and racial animus that reverberates in contemporary America. Through seasons of joy and unspeakable pain, Fancher delivers rich moments as allies become enemies, and enemies—to their great surprise—find new respect for each other.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published February 4, 2025
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About the author
Charles B. Fancher
1 book165 followersCharles B. Fancher is the author of Red Clay, the forthcoming historical novel from Blackstone Publishing. The novel, which covers the final months of the Civil War, Reconstruction and the early years of Jim Crow in the American South, is the latest turn in a wide-ranging career that spans journalism, public relations, and academia.
As a journalist, Fancher worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was an editor on the Foreign and News desks, and, as a reporter, he wrote features and covered higher education. He also worked for the Detroit Free Press, where he held a variety of positions, including Editor of Detroit Free Press Magazine, the newspaper’s Sunday magazine. His time at the Free Press, also included stints as a member of the Editorial Board, as the Deputy Business Editor, and as the Assistant to the Executive Editor. He began his journalism career as a broadcast reporter in Nashville, Tennessee for the local NBC-TV affiliate, WSM-TV (now WSMV-TV).
Fancher moved back and forth between journalism and public relations over the course of his career. As a corporate communications executive, he served as Vice President, Communications for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. and as Vice President/Communications and Public Affairs for Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Knight-Ridder, Inc., then-publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. He also directed the company’s philanthropic activities.
His public relations work also included operating a consultancy, Annapolis, Maryland-based Fancher Associates, which provided writing, editing, research and communications planning services to corporate and non-profit clients. His early public relations work included working as a publicist for the ABC Television Network in New York, assigned to programs produced by ABC Entertainment, ABC Sports and ABC News. He was also the Publicity Manager for the Opryland complex in Nashville, Tennessee.
In academia, Fancher was a Lecturer in the School of Communications at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he served as Coordinator of the Strategic Communications sequence in the Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communication and as interim Assistant Chair of the Department of Journalism. He has also been a member of the adjunct faculty of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for Journalists at the University of Michigan (now known as the Knight-Wallace Fellowships). He lives with his wife, former journalist Diane Brozek Fancher, in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains.
As a journalist, Fancher worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he was an editor on the Foreign and News desks, and, as a reporter, he wrote features and covered higher education. He also worked for the Detroit Free Press, where he held a variety of positions, including Editor of Detroit Free Press Magazine, the newspaper’s Sunday magazine. His time at the Free Press, also included stints as a member of the Editorial Board, as the Deputy Business Editor, and as the Assistant to the Executive Editor. He began his journalism career as a broadcast reporter in Nashville, Tennessee for the local NBC-TV affiliate, WSM-TV (now WSMV-TV).
Fancher moved back and forth between journalism and public relations over the course of his career. As a corporate communications executive, he served as Vice President, Communications for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. and as Vice President/Communications and Public Affairs for Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Knight-Ridder, Inc., then-publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. He also directed the company’s philanthropic activities.
His public relations work also included operating a consultancy, Annapolis, Maryland-based Fancher Associates, which provided writing, editing, research and communications planning services to corporate and non-profit clients. His early public relations work included working as a publicist for the ABC Television Network in New York, assigned to programs produced by ABC Entertainment, ABC Sports and ABC News. He was also the Publicity Manager for the Opryland complex in Nashville, Tennessee.
In academia, Fancher was a Lecturer in the School of Communications at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he served as Coordinator of the Strategic Communications sequence in the Department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communication and as interim Assistant Chair of the Department of Journalism. He has also been a member of the adjunct faculty of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for Journalists at the University of Michigan (now known as the Knight-Wallace Fellowships). He lives with his wife, former journalist Diane Brozek Fancher, in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 841 reviews
November 3, 2025
What a beautiful book... I finished it feeling so hopeful and filled with love.
It is not every day I read a historical fiction like this. It is filled with love, adventure, and characters you can't help but cheer for.
Please read this one.
It is not every day I read a historical fiction like this. It is filled with love, adventure, and characters you can't help but cheer for.
Please read this one.
February 4, 2026
Dramatical family saga in the American south.
The most interesting thing about the story was the depiction of life of a man born as slave and died midst of WW2. Almost a century of significant historical events as background for surviving slavery and racism. Family secrets create interesting plot and several generations of characters cause a lot of emotional drama. Not always original but overall, very good. Especially brilliant reminder that people who owned other people as property were never! good, decent or moral. How desperately they clung (and some still do) to the idea of superiority.
So, great story that tells that cruelty and injustice didn’t end with abolishment of slavery.
The most interesting thing about the story was the depiction of life of a man born as slave and died midst of WW2. Almost a century of significant historical events as background for surviving slavery and racism. Family secrets create interesting plot and several generations of characters cause a lot of emotional drama. Not always original but overall, very good. Especially brilliant reminder that people who owned other people as property were never! good, decent or moral. How desperately they clung (and some still do) to the idea of superiority.
So, great story that tells that cruelty and injustice didn’t end with abolishment of slavery.
November 3, 2024
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!
Red Clay follows the lives of a formerly enslaved family on the Road’s End Plantation in Red Clay, Alabama. I love historical fiction that uses a dual timeline to convey the impact of the past on the future of the main characters. Fancher’s beautiful prose created characters I loved profoundly and settings and situations I loathed even more. Essentially, the novel encapsulates the resilience of enslaved people, fueled by the love of their families and themselves and a desire for liberation by any means necessary. This book does not stereotype (which is immensely refreshing ). It educates. It illustrates the darkest parts of American history. It determines that Black History is American History. It forces readers to consider their humanity and the humanity of those around them. It is what historical fiction should be, and it is a prototype of required reading for all Americans.
Red Clay follows the lives of a formerly enslaved family on the Road’s End Plantation in Red Clay, Alabama. I love historical fiction that uses a dual timeline to convey the impact of the past on the future of the main characters. Fancher’s beautiful prose created characters I loved profoundly and settings and situations I loathed even more. Essentially, the novel encapsulates the resilience of enslaved people, fueled by the love of their families and themselves and a desire for liberation by any means necessary. This book does not stereotype (which is immensely refreshing ). It educates. It illustrates the darkest parts of American history. It determines that Black History is American History. It forces readers to consider their humanity and the humanity of those around them. It is what historical fiction should be, and it is a prototype of required reading for all Americans.
February 17, 2025
In 1943, the former slave Felix Parker has just died. Attending his funeral is Adelaide Parker, the daughter of the family that once owned Felix, his parents and siblings in Red Clay, Alabama. This is the story of the intertwined Parker families, from the days of the Civil War, through Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era. While Adelaide (who was a mean little girl) knows only part of the story, Felix held some big secrets about her family. And Adelaide wants to fill in the gaps in her knowledge. The two Parker families are not related by blood, but by a shared history.
The author drew on a few family anecdotes for this book, but it is a work of fiction. It is very well written and compelling, and does not at all read like a first book. The characters were vividly developed and realistic, although I occasionally thought that the dialogue was a little melodramatic. I wasn’t very interested In Adelaide’s sojourn in Europe. I thought that that part of the book was unnecessary. I was much more interested in her brother Claude and his interactions with Felix and his father. There is violence and betrayal in the book, but it’s really a success story.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Dion Graham. Hiring Mr. Graham is usually a sign that you have a quality book and you want to do it justice. He was wonderful.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
The author drew on a few family anecdotes for this book, but it is a work of fiction. It is very well written and compelling, and does not at all read like a first book. The characters were vividly developed and realistic, although I occasionally thought that the dialogue was a little melodramatic. I wasn’t very interested In Adelaide’s sojourn in Europe. I thought that that part of the book was unnecessary. I was much more interested in her brother Claude and his interactions with Felix and his father. There is violence and betrayal in the book, but it’s really a success story.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Dion Graham. Hiring Mr. Graham is usually a sign that you have a quality book and you want to do it justice. He was wonderful.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
September 20, 2025
"It's a sad thing, son, but here it is. White folks think we ain't no better than animals, like pigs and the cows, 'cept we know how to behave in the house."
A masterpiece.
Perfection.
A great read.
I don't know why this book isn't the biggest book of the year (I mean I do but we won't talk about that). This book scared me when I first got it because books about slavery obviously put me in a bad mood. I was so touched by this book. It's not a book about slavery, it's a book about a strong Black family who persevered through slavery.
It's such a moving and well-written piece of art.
I highly recommend Red Clay.
A masterpiece.
Perfection.
A great read.
I don't know why this book isn't the biggest book of the year (I mean I do but we won't talk about that). This book scared me when I first got it because books about slavery obviously put me in a bad mood. I was so touched by this book. It's not a book about slavery, it's a book about a strong Black family who persevered through slavery.
It's such a moving and well-written piece of art.
I highly recommend Red Clay.
August 21, 2025
It was an okay read, but it feels like one of those books that I will forget in a few months.
The pacing was a bit draggy in places, and the ending seemed rushed. Some of the dramatic moments came across as unnatural, which pulled me out of the story. I also found the shifts in timeline a little confusing, and I wish there had been more historical context to ground the narrative.
Overall, it felt incomplete and slower than I would have liked.
The pacing was a bit draggy in places, and the ending seemed rushed. Some of the dramatic moments came across as unnatural, which pulled me out of the story. I also found the shifts in timeline a little confusing, and I wish there had been more historical context to ground the narrative.
Overall, it felt incomplete and slower than I would have liked.
March 3, 2025
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!! This book was absolutely incredible! Even though the subject matter was heavy, the story was told in such a beautiful and powerful way.
It follows Felix Parker’s family after his passing. At his funeral, a white woman named Addie shows up and later visits his family’s home, revealing a shocking connection—her ancestors once owned Felix’s family.
As Addie shares their intertwined history, the story moves between pre- and post-slavery, showing how their lives were shaped over time. It’s a deeply moving, multi-layered story about family, resilience, and legacy. I laughed, I cried, and I was completely invested. Highly recommend!
It follows Felix Parker’s family after his passing. At his funeral, a white woman named Addie shows up and later visits his family’s home, revealing a shocking connection—her ancestors once owned Felix’s family.
As Addie shares their intertwined history, the story moves between pre- and post-slavery, showing how their lives were shaped over time. It’s a deeply moving, multi-layered story about family, resilience, and legacy. I laughed, I cried, and I was completely invested. Highly recommend!
February 3, 2026
Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher
Red Clay is a sweeping historical novel that entwines the lives of an enslaved Black family and their white owners in and around Red Clay, Alabama from the Civil War into the mid-twentieth century. The story begins in 1943 when Eileen Epps attends her grandfather Felix Parker’s funeral and is confronted by Adelaide Parker, an elderly white woman who reveals a shared, painful past rooted in slavery. The narrative then moves back to the 1860s to follow Felix’s early years on the Road’s End plantation, the complexities of life under and after enslavement, and the long aftermath of Reconstruction and Jim Crow. Fancher draws on rich historical detail and his own family history to build a multigenerational tale of memory, resilience, and the tangled legacies of America’s racial past.
I was struck by how vividly the characters stood out, especially Felix whose quiet determination and craftsmanship made his life’s arc deeply affecting. The dynamic between past and present, framed through Eileen’s discovery of secrets long buried, gave this novel a contemplative heartbeat that stayed with me long after the last page. Fancher’s pacing is thoughtful and the period detail immersive, grounding emotional truth in the weight of history.
4 out of 5: a powerful, character-driven journey through pain and perseverance.
Red Clay is a sweeping historical novel that entwines the lives of an enslaved Black family and their white owners in and around Red Clay, Alabama from the Civil War into the mid-twentieth century. The story begins in 1943 when Eileen Epps attends her grandfather Felix Parker’s funeral and is confronted by Adelaide Parker, an elderly white woman who reveals a shared, painful past rooted in slavery. The narrative then moves back to the 1860s to follow Felix’s early years on the Road’s End plantation, the complexities of life under and after enslavement, and the long aftermath of Reconstruction and Jim Crow. Fancher draws on rich historical detail and his own family history to build a multigenerational tale of memory, resilience, and the tangled legacies of America’s racial past.
I was struck by how vividly the characters stood out, especially Felix whose quiet determination and craftsmanship made his life’s arc deeply affecting. The dynamic between past and present, framed through Eileen’s discovery of secrets long buried, gave this novel a contemplative heartbeat that stayed with me long after the last page. Fancher’s pacing is thoughtful and the period detail immersive, grounding emotional truth in the weight of history.
4 out of 5: a powerful, character-driven journey through pain and perseverance.
August 20, 2024
Red Clay is a biographical look back at the life of Felix from Civil War era slave to a successful free man. At Felix’s funeral, his family notice a white woman in attendance. She has come to find out what ultimately happened to Felix. Felix and his family were owned by a fair plantation owner who seems to really take care of his ‘property’. But then an incident in Felix’s young life with the owner, sets in motion a secret that will influence his entire life. The story is fast paced and unpredictable which makes you want to keep reading.
March 2, 2025
Red Clay is a compelling historical fiction novel that masterfully intertwines the lives of two families, one formerly enslaved and the other their former owners, on the Road's End Plantation in Red Clay, Alabama. The narrative spans from the Civil War era through Reconstruction and the Jim Crow period, offering a remarkable story of resilience, determination, and perseverance.
The story begins in 1943 with the funeral of Felix Parker, a former slave, and the provocative statement by Adelaide Parker, a frail, elderly white woman who once knew Felix. The novel delves into the dangerous and complex dynamics of the Parker families on the plantation during the Civil War and the upheaval that followed emancipation.
The prose is both beautiful and true to the setting; the characters are memorable and easy to care for and root for. Readers understand their desire for freedom and respect. There are uncomfortable passages – reflective of the era, but necessary to convey the weight and depth of this existence. The novel is a moving and beautifully written portrayal of a complex, painful time in American history, making it a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction.
The story begins in 1943 with the funeral of Felix Parker, a former slave, and the provocative statement by Adelaide Parker, a frail, elderly white woman who once knew Felix. The novel delves into the dangerous and complex dynamics of the Parker families on the plantation during the Civil War and the upheaval that followed emancipation.
The prose is both beautiful and true to the setting; the characters are memorable and easy to care for and root for. Readers understand their desire for freedom and respect. There are uncomfortable passages – reflective of the era, but necessary to convey the weight and depth of this existence. The novel is a moving and beautifully written portrayal of a complex, painful time in American history, making it a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction.
October 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was the third book I read this year that was set in the south during that period of American history labeled Reconstruction.
This novel actually begins when Felix H. Parker is a slave child and the Civil War is still raging. His parents were “house slaves” so they had a relatively better life than the field slaves for the first 17 chapters. However, there are 54 chapters so there’s lots to be read after that.
This books ends up being a multigenerational saga of one family’s transition from slavery to land owning successful business owners. Of course, there’s lots of foul play from most of the white families and the re-emergence of the Ku Klux Klan despite the laws to prohibit it. Probably if the Trump administration gets a hold of this book they will ban it. It doesn’t pretty up the history of America.
This author says this book is based on his own late great- grandfather’s experiences. He states that his mother started sharing those stories with him when she was 92! I can’t imagine what she was waiting for.
ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2025
Prompt #51 - A book published in 2025
This was the third book I read this year that was set in the south during that period of American history labeled Reconstruction.
This novel actually begins when Felix H. Parker is a slave child and the Civil War is still raging. His parents were “house slaves” so they had a relatively better life than the field slaves for the first 17 chapters. However, there are 54 chapters so there’s lots to be read after that.
This books ends up being a multigenerational saga of one family’s transition from slavery to land owning successful business owners. Of course, there’s lots of foul play from most of the white families and the re-emergence of the Ku Klux Klan despite the laws to prohibit it. Probably if the Trump administration gets a hold of this book they will ban it. It doesn’t pretty up the history of America.
This author says this book is based on his own late great- grandfather’s experiences. He states that his mother started sharing those stories with him when she was 92! I can’t imagine what she was waiting for.
ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2025
Prompt #51 - A book published in 2025
March 19, 2025
4.5⭐️
This is historical fiction that deals with a heavy topic, yet doesn’t leave you feeling hopeless. If you’re worried that reading about Reconstruction and the re-emergence of the KKK will be too much, I would say that this feels less sad than Yellow Wife. Yes, hard things happen to these characters, but there is hope.
😬There were a couple of things that happened near the end that I found unnecessary to the plot. I lowered my rating to 4.5 stars because I disliked them so much. In the end, I still found the story compelling- I just could have lived without those events.
🥰If you enjoyed Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson, pick this up!
🎧You absolutely should do this on audio! Excellent narration.
⚠️Profanity: 2/5 (less than ten total; no f-words)
Sexual content: 2/5 (closed door)
Other: Murder by a racist mob, infidelity is mentioned, n-word is used a few times, suicide
This is historical fiction that deals with a heavy topic, yet doesn’t leave you feeling hopeless. If you’re worried that reading about Reconstruction and the re-emergence of the KKK will be too much, I would say that this feels less sad than Yellow Wife. Yes, hard things happen to these characters, but there is hope.
😬There were a couple of things that happened near the end that I found unnecessary to the plot. I lowered my rating to 4.5 stars because I disliked them so much. In the end, I still found the story compelling- I just could have lived without those events.
🥰If you enjoyed Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson, pick this up!
🎧You absolutely should do this on audio! Excellent narration.
⚠️Profanity: 2/5 (less than ten total; no f-words)
Sexual content: 2/5 (closed door)
Other: Murder by a racist mob, infidelity is mentioned, n-word is used a few times, suicide
February 28, 2025
4.5 stars. Outstanding, powerful debut!
March 7, 2026
This historical fiction set in the American South opens in 1943, and flashes back to tell the life story of Felix Parker, who was born into slavery on a plantation called Road's End. It covers a wide swath of history from Felix’s youth through the uncertainty of the final months of the Civil War, the optimism of Reconstruction, resurgence of the KKK, and the pain and frustration of Jim Crow. Felix eventually becomes a successful furniture maker, husband, and father. He deals with racism, sadness, and tragedy but there are also a few brighter moments in his personal relationships.
It is structured around a meeting of an elderly white woman and Felix’s surviving family. It depicts one of the darkest parts of American History and covers all the ugliness of slavery. It also provides a vivid sense of rural life in the deep South. The characters are deeply drawn, and the storyline is engrossing. It is based on the life of the author’s great-grandfather. I am so glad one of my Goodreads friends called this book to my attention. It is a rich but emotionally demanding read.
It is structured around a meeting of an elderly white woman and Felix’s surviving family. It depicts one of the darkest parts of American History and covers all the ugliness of slavery. It also provides a vivid sense of rural life in the deep South. The characters are deeply drawn, and the storyline is engrossing. It is based on the life of the author’s great-grandfather. I am so glad one of my Goodreads friends called this book to my attention. It is a rich but emotionally demanding read.
July 8, 2025
Red Clay, Alabama 1860s, a town full of plantations and slave owners. This historical fiction follows multiple families and generations through the war and up to 1915. We particularly focus on the domestic ramifications of slavery, civil war, and the price of freedom, and the effects this had on individuals. With historical acumen, a picture is painted of what it might have been like to grow up and fall in love during this post-war time in the US. The author drew on experiences and stories from his own family.
July 11, 2025
Whew. Red Clay had me in my feelings the whole time.
As a Black woman, this story hit hard. I was mad. I was sad. I was appalled. I was even happy at times. It brought everything up.
But let me say this loud: this book isn’t just for Black readers. This is real life. This is history. These are things people lived through.
We’re not sugarcoating it. We’re not closing our eyes and pretending it didn’t happen.
And if that makes you uncomfortable, good—read it anyway.
Black, white, purple, polka dot—I don’t care. READ THE BOOK.
5 stars. Powerful. Unskippable.
As a Black woman, this story hit hard. I was mad. I was sad. I was appalled. I was even happy at times. It brought everything up.
But let me say this loud: this book isn’t just for Black readers. This is real life. This is history. These are things people lived through.
We’re not sugarcoating it. We’re not closing our eyes and pretending it didn’t happen.
And if that makes you uncomfortable, good—read it anyway.
Black, white, purple, polka dot—I don’t care. READ THE BOOK.
5 stars. Powerful. Unskippable.
March 1, 2025
IG review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DGqQTZNAk...
Did I just read my first 5⭐️ book of 2025?!
Yes, yes I did. Y’all this book🫶🏼 Okay, at the core of this story is Felix H. Parker. He and his parents are enslaved in Red Clay, Alabama. We follow the lives of their enslavers and Felix’s family through the years as the Civil War comes to an end and the Reconstruction era begins and the two family’s lives become more entwined than they know.
What I thought the author did so brilliantly was show the many nuances of thought, actions and ideas within different races, classes and even families. I never felt like I was reading stereotypes or caricatures, instead characters had individual stories that were built through the influences around them in the individual choices they made (or were forced upon them.)
What shone throughout this book was the resilience of those enslaved and the powerful bond of family and being known.
This story showed the evils and horrors of the time (slavery, white supremacy ideals) vividly without ever feeling gratuitous or like trauma for the sake of drama.
The author’s note at end was particularly touching as Fancher’s own great-grandfather and the stories from his life are what inspired and helped craft this story. READ IT Y’ALL!!
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @blackstonepublishing for this gifted copy!
Did I just read my first 5⭐️ book of 2025?!
Yes, yes I did. Y’all this book🫶🏼 Okay, at the core of this story is Felix H. Parker. He and his parents are enslaved in Red Clay, Alabama. We follow the lives of their enslavers and Felix’s family through the years as the Civil War comes to an end and the Reconstruction era begins and the two family’s lives become more entwined than they know.
What I thought the author did so brilliantly was show the many nuances of thought, actions and ideas within different races, classes and even families. I never felt like I was reading stereotypes or caricatures, instead characters had individual stories that were built through the influences around them in the individual choices they made (or were forced upon them.)
What shone throughout this book was the resilience of those enslaved and the powerful bond of family and being known.
This story showed the evils and horrors of the time (slavery, white supremacy ideals) vividly without ever feeling gratuitous or like trauma for the sake of drama.
The author’s note at end was particularly touching as Fancher’s own great-grandfather and the stories from his life are what inspired and helped craft this story. READ IT Y’ALL!!
Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @blackstonepublishing for this gifted copy!
February 17, 2026
After listening to this book on audio I keep asking myself, what took me so long to read this book..
My favorite books are historical fiction, and this one did not disappoint. I loved the characters, the plot and the family dynamics. I love when I read a book about slavery and yet the slaves come out on top.
While telling the story, the author gave much history on facts during and after slavery. I felt like I was able to get inside the white owners and their family's head and understand why they did the things they did and said the things they said. Even when slavery ended they truly felt superior than the black race.
This story has positive and not so positive vibes. Even though the hurt for most is real, we can't undo the pain and the sadness of our ancestors that lives on both sides, black and white, but we do understand. We try to make it better so that the stories to be told in the future are much happier for all involved. I will forever think about Red Clay, and the Parker families.
Let's not forget the Narrator, 10 out of 10!!!!
Loved the book and highly recommended!!!
My favorite books are historical fiction, and this one did not disappoint. I loved the characters, the plot and the family dynamics. I love when I read a book about slavery and yet the slaves come out on top.
While telling the story, the author gave much history on facts during and after slavery. I felt like I was able to get inside the white owners and their family's head and understand why they did the things they did and said the things they said. Even when slavery ended they truly felt superior than the black race.
This story has positive and not so positive vibes. Even though the hurt for most is real, we can't undo the pain and the sadness of our ancestors that lives on both sides, black and white, but we do understand. We try to make it better so that the stories to be told in the future are much happier for all involved. I will forever think about Red Clay, and the Parker families.
Let's not forget the Narrator, 10 out of 10!!!!
Loved the book and highly recommended!!!
March 11, 2025
RED CLAY by Charles B. Fancher
I'm so grateful to @librofm & @blackstonepublishing for my #gifted copy.
📌 Inspired by the author's own family history.
Set between the Civil War and Jim Crow, Red Clay is a powerful, multigenerational story about an enslaved Black family and their white enslavers—and a plot of land and its rightful owners.
It all begins in 1943 when an elderly white woman knocks on the door of a Black family and says: “A lifetime ago, my family owned yours.” Intrigued yet?
Unlike other historical fiction novels from this era that focus solely on the brutalities of slavery, this went further than the Emancipation Proclamation and explored the violence and inhumanies that occurred during Reconstruction and beyond. Red Clay examines the horrific racial injustices that followed emancipation (as it's a white man's myth that enslaved folks were magically "free" post-Civil War), but it also honors the strength, love, and determination of those who refused to be defined by oppression.
Fancher’s rich storytelling, coupled with Dion Graham's soulful audio narration, creates an immersive, visceral experience. I felt every heartbreak, every triumph, every moment of resistance and hope. A beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time. ❤️
📌 Available now!
I'm so grateful to @librofm & @blackstonepublishing for my #gifted copy.
📌 Inspired by the author's own family history.
Set between the Civil War and Jim Crow, Red Clay is a powerful, multigenerational story about an enslaved Black family and their white enslavers—and a plot of land and its rightful owners.
It all begins in 1943 when an elderly white woman knocks on the door of a Black family and says: “A lifetime ago, my family owned yours.” Intrigued yet?
Unlike other historical fiction novels from this era that focus solely on the brutalities of slavery, this went further than the Emancipation Proclamation and explored the violence and inhumanies that occurred during Reconstruction and beyond. Red Clay examines the horrific racial injustices that followed emancipation (as it's a white man's myth that enslaved folks were magically "free" post-Civil War), but it also honors the strength, love, and determination of those who refused to be defined by oppression.
Fancher’s rich storytelling, coupled with Dion Graham's soulful audio narration, creates an immersive, visceral experience. I felt every heartbreak, every triumph, every moment of resistance and hope. A beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time. ❤️
📌 Available now!
April 8, 2025
I'm an emotional wreck! 😭🤧 What a stunning debut! How do I even begin to explain how much I LOVED this book?! I love the feeling when a book grips me from the first page and never lets go and this book did that and more! This will be in my top 3 reads this year. 💔😭😡🫂
This is the story of an enslaved black family (Plessant, Elmira and Felix) and their white owners. It spans the end of the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era and it's a mulitigenerational saga done right.
Plessant, Elmira and Felix have a special place in my heart. I'll never forget them.
Loved Felix, Jimmy and Big Joe's friendship. 😭
The writing was so vivid and the author does a beautiful job of dropping the reader into the town of Red Clay, Alabama and Road's End plantation. I felt like I was right there and the characters felt so real to me. Loved that we got to see the characters building their lives as free men and women. While certain scenes completely gutted me, I appreciate that they weren't gratuitously violent.
The Author's Note was beautiful and I loved that this novel was inspired by the stories Fancher's mother told him about his great-grandfather.
I'll be thinking about this story for a long time.
An absolute must-read! 👏
Thank you Kenz and Nae for recommending! 🙏💕😭
This is the story of an enslaved black family (Plessant, Elmira and Felix) and their white owners. It spans the end of the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era and it's a mulitigenerational saga done right.
Plessant, Elmira and Felix have a special place in my heart. I'll never forget them.
Loved Felix, Jimmy and Big Joe's friendship. 😭
The writing was so vivid and the author does a beautiful job of dropping the reader into the town of Red Clay, Alabama and Road's End plantation. I felt like I was right there and the characters felt so real to me. Loved that we got to see the characters building their lives as free men and women. While certain scenes completely gutted me, I appreciate that they weren't gratuitously violent.
The Author's Note was beautiful and I loved that this novel was inspired by the stories Fancher's mother told him about his great-grandfather.
I'll be thinking about this story for a long time.
An absolute must-read! 👏
Thank you Kenz and Nae for recommending! 🙏💕😭
February 24, 2025
finished copy gifted by @bibliolifestyle and the publisher. ALC gifted by @librofm
you can read more reviews and support me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ambershelf/
A sweeping, multigenerational saga inspired by Fancher’s family history, RED CLAY refuses to soften the brutal realities of slavery and its lasting impact. At its core, this is a story following Felix Parker’s life from being an innocent boy growing up enslaved on a plantation to a free man navigating the treacherous landscape of reconstruction.
What I appreciate most about RED CLAY is its unflinching portrayal of the emotional depth of its characters. Fancher doesn’t offer comfort or absolution, just the stark reality of power, cruelty, and survival, without resorting to bombarding readers with Black trauma. The depiction of life on the plantation is visceral, filled with the unbearable weight of oppression but also the acts of defiance that keep hope alive.
Felix is an incredible character, inspired by Fancher’s own daring great-grandfather, and it shows in his boldness and his willingness to do what it takes for justice when needed. I especially admire how Fancher writes about Black men with anger—not the sanitized, “perfect victim” kind of suffering, but a deep, raw, and justified rage that simmers beneath the surface. That emotion is palpable on every page, making the horrors of slavery feel all the more real.
My one small wish is to focus more on the Black women. While their presence is certainly felt, I craved more of their perspectives. Overall, RED CLAY is a powerful and necessary read that doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of America’s past. Now more than ever, remembering the wrongs America has committed will help us navigate the treacherous future. If you appreciate historical fiction that challenges and provokes, this book belongs on your shelf.
you can read more reviews and support me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ambershelf/
A sweeping, multigenerational saga inspired by Fancher’s family history, RED CLAY refuses to soften the brutal realities of slavery and its lasting impact. At its core, this is a story following Felix Parker’s life from being an innocent boy growing up enslaved on a plantation to a free man navigating the treacherous landscape of reconstruction.
What I appreciate most about RED CLAY is its unflinching portrayal of the emotional depth of its characters. Fancher doesn’t offer comfort or absolution, just the stark reality of power, cruelty, and survival, without resorting to bombarding readers with Black trauma. The depiction of life on the plantation is visceral, filled with the unbearable weight of oppression but also the acts of defiance that keep hope alive.
Felix is an incredible character, inspired by Fancher’s own daring great-grandfather, and it shows in his boldness and his willingness to do what it takes for justice when needed. I especially admire how Fancher writes about Black men with anger—not the sanitized, “perfect victim” kind of suffering, but a deep, raw, and justified rage that simmers beneath the surface. That emotion is palpable on every page, making the horrors of slavery feel all the more real.
My one small wish is to focus more on the Black women. While their presence is certainly felt, I craved more of their perspectives. Overall, RED CLAY is a powerful and necessary read that doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of America’s past. Now more than ever, remembering the wrongs America has committed will help us navigate the treacherous future. If you appreciate historical fiction that challenges and provokes, this book belongs on your shelf.
February 27, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
WOW is all I can say. This book packs an emotional punch as the author carries us through generations of two key families, one a plantation owner full of broken people with horrific actions paving their legacy and the other a Black family navigating the fine balance of safety vs. their fight for freedom. The cast of characters navigating these storylines is full of memorable people that will stay with me for a long time.
My favorite part about the author’s writing is how he takes a well-developed character and uses them not only as a key part of the story but as a metaphor for an entire group of people. Claude, the white plantation owner, had so many moments where we get to see deep inside his intentions through thought or conversation, and it was more than unsettling to see strong parallels to situations and conversations happening today.
I highly recommend this book for the characters, the wide array of descriptive settings the author surrounds you in, and a very pivotal point in history that you can relive and reflect on. I have not read many books set during and right after the Emancipation Proclamation, and this book reminded me of the ugliness amidst the “freedom” that Black people had earned. Books like this spur conversation and reflection on where we have been and where we should be going. I’m thankful to the author for his talent and sharing pieces of his family history through storytelling!
WOW is all I can say. This book packs an emotional punch as the author carries us through generations of two key families, one a plantation owner full of broken people with horrific actions paving their legacy and the other a Black family navigating the fine balance of safety vs. their fight for freedom. The cast of characters navigating these storylines is full of memorable people that will stay with me for a long time.
My favorite part about the author’s writing is how he takes a well-developed character and uses them not only as a key part of the story but as a metaphor for an entire group of people. Claude, the white plantation owner, had so many moments where we get to see deep inside his intentions through thought or conversation, and it was more than unsettling to see strong parallels to situations and conversations happening today.
I highly recommend this book for the characters, the wide array of descriptive settings the author surrounds you in, and a very pivotal point in history that you can relive and reflect on. I have not read many books set during and right after the Emancipation Proclamation, and this book reminded me of the ugliness amidst the “freedom” that Black people had earned. Books like this spur conversation and reflection on where we have been and where we should be going. I’m thankful to the author for his talent and sharing pieces of his family history through storytelling!
October 2, 2025
Wow, this was amazing! 👏🏾 I found myself completely captivated and couldn’t stop listening. I even started imagining the characters’ faces; in my mind, Felix was played by Michael B. Jordan, and Big Joe reminded me of Tommy Lister Jr. from "Friday." It felt like I was casting a whole movie in my head! This story is so good—it would make an incredible film. If you enjoy historical fiction, you’ve got to check it out; you definitely won’t regret it!
August 20, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ it’s hard to believe that this is Charles B Fancher’s first book. The storytelling and POVs were executed so well. You’re angry when you are supposed to be angry, sad when you’re supposed to be sad, and love each character for their unique contribution. I deeply cared about Felix and his family. I feel special being amongst some of the first readers.
February 23, 2025
Thank you Bibliolifestyle, Blackstone Publishing and Libro FM for my gifted copy.
I remember as a kid when traveling south and knowing when we arrived because I would see the “red dirt” as I called it not knowing the histories of this “𝑅𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦.” Well Charles B Fancher dives deep into the ancestral history, showing the tough balance between enslavement and the illusions of freedom. This story packed with emotions and secrets as characters fight to reclaim what was taken from them in every sense. We see actions driven by a refusal to feel inferior and the struggle to face harsh truths. It really made me think “How long is too long to right a wrong” that shaped an entire life?
I loved that we followed this multigenerational saga mainly through Felix from childhood as he is forced to keep a life changing secret that changed his life through adulthood as well as many others. While he was one of the main characters there are other pivotal characters throughout the story that played a major role in this wonderfully written novel!
The audiobook is fantastic too! It was so well done that I did not want to stop listening. Each chapter, especially the last half of the book, was intense and pulled me in and I did not want to put this one down until I was finished! Fancher did a phenomenal job weaving a story that is both powerful and thought-provoking. I highly recommend picking this one up especially for my historical fiction lovers!
I remember as a kid when traveling south and knowing when we arrived because I would see the “red dirt” as I called it not knowing the histories of this “𝑅𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑦.” Well Charles B Fancher dives deep into the ancestral history, showing the tough balance between enslavement and the illusions of freedom. This story packed with emotions and secrets as characters fight to reclaim what was taken from them in every sense. We see actions driven by a refusal to feel inferior and the struggle to face harsh truths. It really made me think “How long is too long to right a wrong” that shaped an entire life?
I loved that we followed this multigenerational saga mainly through Felix from childhood as he is forced to keep a life changing secret that changed his life through adulthood as well as many others. While he was one of the main characters there are other pivotal characters throughout the story that played a major role in this wonderfully written novel!
The audiobook is fantastic too! It was so well done that I did not want to stop listening. Each chapter, especially the last half of the book, was intense and pulled me in and I did not want to put this one down until I was finished! Fancher did a phenomenal job weaving a story that is both powerful and thought-provoking. I highly recommend picking this one up especially for my historical fiction lovers!
February 28, 2025
TW/CW: racism, violence, rape (implied, off-page)
What a deeply moving and important story this book is. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, especially since the writing style was easy to read. It is clear that Fancher has writing experience, being an editor and journalist, as he easily captivated me with his words. At the beginning of the story, I felt so sorry for poor little Felix, who had to carry a heavy burden for the selfishness of a white, cowardly man (oh well, cowardice, racism, entitlement ... this all runs in the family, but they shall not be missed!). However, one thing that persevered were his parents, Plessant and Elmira. Such strong and loving parents, who made sure to raise Felix into a strong and confident man. The one thing I wasn't crazy about was when we returned back to 1943 and old Addie every now and then; I felt like those little bits didn't add much to the overall plot, and I found them rather disruptive. I also wonder what happened to Elmira, we don't get any news on her after a certain point in the story. Overall, a great story that should be shared more widely, it's kind of crazy that so few have read it/shelved it on here....!! Go read this story, it'll put you through a rollercoaster of emotions!!! 🎢
What a deeply moving and important story this book is. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, especially since the writing style was easy to read. It is clear that Fancher has writing experience, being an editor and journalist, as he easily captivated me with his words. At the beginning of the story, I felt so sorry for poor little Felix, who had to carry a heavy burden for the selfishness of a white, cowardly man (oh well, cowardice, racism, entitlement ... this all runs in the family, but they shall not be missed!). However, one thing that persevered were his parents, Plessant and Elmira. Such strong and loving parents, who made sure to raise Felix into a strong and confident man. The one thing I wasn't crazy about was when we returned back to 1943 and old Addie every now and then; I felt like those little bits didn't add much to the overall plot, and I found them rather disruptive. I also wonder what happened to Elmira, we don't get any news on her after a certain point in the story. Overall, a great story that should be shared more widely, it's kind of crazy that so few have read it/shelved it on here....!! Go read this story, it'll put you through a rollercoaster of emotions!!! 🎢
February 23, 2026
“They're always here. Your people will always be with you, whether they're living or passed on. It doesn't matter; they'll always be around to look after you when times are hard or when you're just feeling sad.”
With what began as research into the life of his great-grandfather, the author elected to write a historical novel loosely based upon his life. It is so well written and narrated.
Set in fictional Red Clay, Alabama from the civil war through reconstruction and beyond. The author paints a vivid picture of life for the characters, first as slaves and then the challenges they faced once they were declared free.
I learned several interesting things from the novel, one of them being that sometimes slaves took on a last name of their own choosing after emancipation. Often as a way to create their own identity. I thought that was really fascinating.
The story is interesting, tense and sad at times. I really felt for one of the characters who was sometimes reckless and often mistreated. I highly recommend this book!
[4.5 ⭐️]
CA | Contains depictions of racism, violence, and SA.
With what began as research into the life of his great-grandfather, the author elected to write a historical novel loosely based upon his life. It is so well written and narrated.
Set in fictional Red Clay, Alabama from the civil war through reconstruction and beyond. The author paints a vivid picture of life for the characters, first as slaves and then the challenges they faced once they were declared free.
I learned several interesting things from the novel, one of them being that sometimes slaves took on a last name of their own choosing after emancipation. Often as a way to create their own identity. I thought that was really fascinating.
The story is interesting, tense and sad at times. I really felt for one of the characters who was sometimes reckless and often mistreated. I highly recommend this book!
[4.5 ⭐️]
CA | Contains depictions of racism, violence, and SA.
March 16, 2025
4.5 stars ✮⋆˙
this book was so good!
historical fiction isn’t my typical go-to book choice but this was a really well written novel. it is extremely easy to follow and has so many well developed characters. i loved how well detailed the book was with everything that was happening around the characters. the narrator Dion Graham did an amazing job of bringing this book to life.
i loved that this was a novel focusing on the reconstruction era, i personally haven’t seen many novels touch on this era is historical fiction and i think that Charles B. Fancher does a really good job of displaying both the hopefulness & the dark side (greed, racism, prejudice, classism etc) of this era amongst the white & black communities during this era.
this book was so good!
historical fiction isn’t my typical go-to book choice but this was a really well written novel. it is extremely easy to follow and has so many well developed characters. i loved how well detailed the book was with everything that was happening around the characters. the narrator Dion Graham did an amazing job of bringing this book to life.
i loved that this was a novel focusing on the reconstruction era, i personally haven’t seen many novels touch on this era is historical fiction and i think that Charles B. Fancher does a really good job of displaying both the hopefulness & the dark side (greed, racism, prejudice, classism etc) of this era amongst the white & black communities during this era.
November 4, 2025
one of the best books I've listen to in a long time
April 17, 2025
Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher (2025)
10h 35m narrated by Dion Graham, 336, pages
Genre: Historical Fiction, African-American Fiction
Featuring: Alabama, 1943, Funeral, Church, Autumn, Pearl Harbor, WWII, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Army, Packard, Slavery, Octogenarian, 1864, September, American Civil War, Plantation, Racial Slurs, New Orleans, Louisiana; Violence, Family Dynamics, Haints, Sexual Assault - Off Camera, Reconstruction, Paris, France; Secrets, Dual Timelines, Sex - Off Camera, Murder, Afterward - Inspired by an Ancestor and True Event
Rating as a movie: PG-15, PG-13 with editing
Books and Authors mentioned: Collected Works of Marcus Tullius Cicero by Marcus Tullius Cicero, Peter Parley's Picture Book by Samuel Griswold Goodrich, Book of Isaiah, Epistle to the Colossians by Paul the Apostle and Timothy "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd" by Walt Whitman
Memorable Quotes: But the inhabitants of the cabin where eight-year-old Felix lived with his parents—Elmira, the big-house cook, and Plessant, the master’s valet—were already stirring in the dark. Although they enjoyed some privileges as enslaved house servants, they, like the field hands, were listed as property in the plantation’s ledgers, along with the furniture, the house, the barn and the other outbuildings, the livestock, and the tools. And, like the field hands, they lived in terror of being sold away from each other at any moment. Elmira and Plessant had already lost their two older children, John, age fifteen, and Bessie, age thirteen—recently sold to a Mississippi planter, like a litter of hound dog pups. One day, they had three children, and the next day they were left with one. The pain of the loss coursed through Elmira’s soul. What did I do to make God so mad? I didn’t do nothin’ to make Him do that to me, she thought as she trudged toward the big-house kitchen, with Plessant walking beside her, carrying Felix. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a spasm shot through her gut as her mind replayed the image of her babies, chained together in the back of a wagon, disappearing down the long road away from home, away from her. Forever.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½⛓️🏠👨🏿🌾👩🏾🍳
My thoughts: 📱25% 2:41:37 Part 1 Chapter 14 - I thought this was a children's story but it's pretty violent.
📱32% 3:24:20 Part 2 Revelations Chapter 18 - Well that most recent event was pretty predictable. The rest is one long reveal.
📱38% 4:03:46 Part 2 Chapter 23 - My son has officially lost interest in this story. I am still interested but I just feel like it's about to be some drama and a lull ahead.
📱42% 4:24:56 Part 2 Chapter 25 Starkville, Mississippi, Late Spring, 1865 - This is definitely moving up to the teen level.
📱46% 4:48:50 Part 2 Chapter 27 Aboard a Northbound Train, Autumn, 1868 - I'm not surprised, but I'm starting to lose interest.
📱75% 7:53:18 Part 3 Chapter 43 Roads End Plantation, Spring 1877 - My son has abandoned this story so I'm on my own today. There was a bit of a lull, but it's picking up again.
My son gave up on this story but he didn't want to know what happened since he quit. This is a debut offer and I think it is written well enough but you can tell that the author It's still working on his craft. Part of the story did not flow well for me, But I think the historical aspects mostly made up for it there are little nonsense like a few inconsistencies and caramel and café au lait being used interchangeably for the same complexion, they are even close. I tried to ignore the little things and focus on the bigger picture. Part of this book is a bit violent for middle grade so I assume it is targeted toward high school readers. I struggled to see what age group it fit in. The Color Purple movie seems tame compared to this story, but it's nowhere near The Color Purple novel in content. The present-day portions of the story, 1943, felt out of place and completely unneeded, it also ended abruptly. So it wasn't the best but I think it's worth the read.
Recommend to others: Sure. This was recommended to me in February and I took my time getting around to it, but I would recommend it to those looking for a reconstruction story.
10h 35m narrated by Dion Graham, 336, pages
Genre: Historical Fiction, African-American Fiction
Featuring: Alabama, 1943, Funeral, Church, Autumn, Pearl Harbor, WWII, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Army, Packard, Slavery, Octogenarian, 1864, September, American Civil War, Plantation, Racial Slurs, New Orleans, Louisiana; Violence, Family Dynamics, Haints, Sexual Assault - Off Camera, Reconstruction, Paris, France; Secrets, Dual Timelines, Sex - Off Camera, Murder, Afterward - Inspired by an Ancestor and True Event
Rating as a movie: PG-15, PG-13 with editing
Books and Authors mentioned: Collected Works of Marcus Tullius Cicero by Marcus Tullius Cicero, Peter Parley's Picture Book by Samuel Griswold Goodrich, Book of Isaiah, Epistle to the Colossians by Paul the Apostle and Timothy "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd" by Walt Whitman
Memorable Quotes: But the inhabitants of the cabin where eight-year-old Felix lived with his parents—Elmira, the big-house cook, and Plessant, the master’s valet—were already stirring in the dark. Although they enjoyed some privileges as enslaved house servants, they, like the field hands, were listed as property in the plantation’s ledgers, along with the furniture, the house, the barn and the other outbuildings, the livestock, and the tools. And, like the field hands, they lived in terror of being sold away from each other at any moment. Elmira and Plessant had already lost their two older children, John, age fifteen, and Bessie, age thirteen—recently sold to a Mississippi planter, like a litter of hound dog pups. One day, they had three children, and the next day they were left with one. The pain of the loss coursed through Elmira’s soul. What did I do to make God so mad? I didn’t do nothin’ to make Him do that to me, she thought as she trudged toward the big-house kitchen, with Plessant walking beside her, carrying Felix. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a spasm shot through her gut as her mind replayed the image of her babies, chained together in the back of a wagon, disappearing down the long road away from home, away from her. Forever.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½⛓️🏠👨🏿🌾👩🏾🍳
My thoughts: 📱25% 2:41:37 Part 1 Chapter 14 - I thought this was a children's story but it's pretty violent.
📱32% 3:24:20 Part 2 Revelations Chapter 18 - Well that most recent event was pretty predictable. The rest is one long reveal.
📱38% 4:03:46 Part 2 Chapter 23 - My son has officially lost interest in this story. I am still interested but I just feel like it's about to be some drama and a lull ahead.
📱42% 4:24:56 Part 2 Chapter 25 Starkville, Mississippi, Late Spring, 1865 - This is definitely moving up to the teen level.
📱46% 4:48:50 Part 2 Chapter 27 Aboard a Northbound Train, Autumn, 1868 - I'm not surprised, but I'm starting to lose interest.
📱75% 7:53:18 Part 3 Chapter 43 Roads End Plantation, Spring 1877 - My son has abandoned this story so I'm on my own today. There was a bit of a lull, but it's picking up again.
My son gave up on this story but he didn't want to know what happened since he quit. This is a debut offer and I think it is written well enough but you can tell that the author It's still working on his craft. Part of the story did not flow well for me, But I think the historical aspects mostly made up for it there are little nonsense like a few inconsistencies and caramel and café au lait being used interchangeably for the same complexion, they are even close. I tried to ignore the little things and focus on the bigger picture. Part of this book is a bit violent for middle grade so I assume it is targeted toward high school readers. I struggled to see what age group it fit in. The Color Purple movie seems tame compared to this story, but it's nowhere near The Color Purple novel in content. The present-day portions of the story, 1943, felt out of place and completely unneeded, it also ended abruptly. So it wasn't the best but I think it's worth the read.
Recommend to others: Sure. This was recommended to me in February and I took my time getting around to it, but I would recommend it to those looking for a reconstruction story.
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