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A Wave From Mama
A former slave gets his dream job building the Brooklyn Bridge, but finds himself at war with the gangs of Irishtown. Will the corrupt Metropolitan Police save or sacrifice him?
1863 Weeksville, Brooklyn: The free Black community of Weeksville becomes home to an unusually small boy and his mother who fled Manhattan during New York’s Draft Riots. When his mother succumbs to her injuries, the boy swears revenge against everyone and everything that contributed to her death. His diminutive size and acrobatic climbing abilities make him a spectacle to behold, while his awkward social habits make him an outcast to everyone in Weeksville, except the adopted family he swears to protect.
When his stepbrother is attacked, the boy becomes embroiled in a battle between the Irish Gangs and Whiskey Kings of Irishtown while the corrupt Metropolitan Police sit on the sidelines. The backdrop of the action is the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the racial tensions of the period.
Will the boy survive the ordeals of the day and achieve his dream of being a high-flying tower man on the bridge project? Or, will he become another victim of the Irish gangs and never know the joy of standing atop the tallest structure in North America?
1863 Weeksville, Brooklyn: The free Black community of Weeksville becomes home to an unusually small boy and his mother who fled Manhattan during New York’s Draft Riots. When his mother succumbs to her injuries, the boy swears revenge against everyone and everything that contributed to her death. His diminutive size and acrobatic climbing abilities make him a spectacle to behold, while his awkward social habits make him an outcast to everyone in Weeksville, except the adopted family he swears to protect.
When his stepbrother is attacked, the boy becomes embroiled in a battle between the Irish Gangs and Whiskey Kings of Irishtown while the corrupt Metropolitan Police sit on the sidelines. The backdrop of the action is the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the racial tensions of the period.
Will the boy survive the ordeals of the day and achieve his dream of being a high-flying tower man on the bridge project? Or, will he become another victim of the Irish gangs and never know the joy of standing atop the tallest structure in North America?
246 pages, ebook
First published August 1, 2016
36 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
A. Robert Allen
9 books86 followersA. Robert Allen has published four volumes and two prequels in his Slavery and Beyond series. All are stand-alone novels connected by theme. He writes historical fiction that transports readers to times and places immediately before or soon after the end of slavery. A. Robert is a long-time higher education professional and resides in New York. The first volume in the series, Failed Moments, is a fictional account of Allen’s ancestors in 1790 during the slave revolution in what would become Haiti and later in 1863 during New York’s Draft Riots. The second volume, A Wave From Mama, immerses readers in racially charged post Civil War Brooklyn and gives an interesting look at the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. The third book in the series, Minetta Lane, takes place in 1904 in a downtown New York neighborhood that lives by an unusual race-based code. The prequel to this third volume, Minetta Mornings, takes place twenty-five years earlier. His most recent release, Living in the Middle, transports readers to perhaps the most violent and significant incident of racial violence in U.S. history, the Tulsa Race Riots of 1921. The prequel to this novel, which takes place in 1896, is entitled Ticket to Tulsa. Find out more about the author and his works at his website: http://arobertallen.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
August 28, 2016
In the midst of the Civil War, 1863, after the Draft Riots, where tensions between blacks and Irish immigrants ran high for employment after the emancipation of slaves, the neighborhood of Weeksville within the city of Brooklyn, New York, became a safe haven for black families fleeing from Manhattan, and this is where A. Robert Allen's continuation novel, A Wave From Mama, begins. This is a beautiful book of fiction, yet also a harsh remembrance of history, one where good souls work hard to protect innocence and freedom. The evil herein, in the form of racism, gangs, corruption, sadly still occurs 153 years later. I loved reading about one of the most adored Christian hymns of many a lifetime -- 'Amazing Grace' spread popularly from the north to the south as a result of the Civil War. And quite wonderfully 'Amazing Grace' hums deeply within these pages. Main character Venture Simmons will break your heart as a boy who's emotionally damaged and he'll make you proud as a young man who influences the historical building of the Brooklyn Bridge and takes care of those he loves dearly. His relationship with three characters -- Georgia, Moses, and John Singleton -- is what makes this book shine so brightly. But most delicately, the love between Venture and his mother bring a soulful, faithful, and heavenly vibe as son devotes his lifetime to being the best man he can possibly be. Thank you, Author A. Robert Allen, for giving me the chance to read another one of your works of art. Your book gets its own freedom wings now in my little free library.
October 30, 2016
A Wave From Mama confirms that Allen has a talent for orchestrating interesting, imaginative, unpredictable plot designs. I like a book to adhere to norms related to plot development, but at the same time, I want surprises, too. Allen gave me both. The characters didn’t act “out of character.” Here, the surprises came from clever construction. Also, I’ve never seen Allen’s protagonist before. Surely, the anti-hero architype has been worked to death, but I’ve never seen anyone specifically take a 19th century, , ex-slave and turn him into the anti-hero.
There was a nice melding of fact and fiction in A Wave From Mama, and there aren’t an abundance of historical fiction books that focus on the topic of race relations between Irish and Blacks on the Eastern Seaboard, at the turn of the century.
My only criticism is that the writing is a bit simplistic. As a specific example, the word “snort” in some grammatical form is used eight times to describe someone laughing. Every “knee slap” made me cringe just a little. There is repetition in the way Allen writes that I think could have been solved with another round with an editor. A Wave From Mama is a good book, but if A. Robert Allen can up his game when it comes to the actual turn of phrase and sentence structure, his next book will be outstanding.
There was a nice melding of fact and fiction in A Wave From Mama, and there aren’t an abundance of historical fiction books that focus on the topic of race relations between Irish and Blacks on the Eastern Seaboard, at the turn of the century.
My only criticism is that the writing is a bit simplistic. As a specific example, the word “snort” in some grammatical form is used eight times to describe someone laughing. Every “knee slap” made me cringe just a little. There is repetition in the way Allen writes that I think could have been solved with another round with an editor. A Wave From Mama is a good book, but if A. Robert Allen can up his game when it comes to the actual turn of phrase and sentence structure, his next book will be outstanding.
October 5, 2016
I'm happy to say this book was a pure pleasure to read. I very much enjoyed the short chapters, each with a title that brought some insight to what would come. After reading a description of what this book is about, it reminded me of Seven for a Secret by Lyndsay Faye but once reading began, the similarities stopped.
The setting is mid 1800's New York. Corruption on the police force is alive and well. Wars between different races are fought on many levels. The emotional problems that come with every day life for escaped slaves and the conflicts within families are described with such clear detail that you cannot help but understand and feel the pains and joys that the individuals and families go through. Each chapter tells a unique story, builds the foundation to the next story and it is all wrapped up into one neat book of mystery, intrigue and history about the building of the Brooklyn bridge. To be fair, this book is about so much more than the bridge, it is also about the characters of people both good and bad, about the ambitions and destinies of mankind.
This author is very talented and has written a book about complex issues in an easy to understand way using simple honest characters to guide the reader through the hard parts.
This book is part two of The Slavery and Beyond Series. I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to go backwards and read book 1 to get the full experience of this series.
I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The setting is mid 1800's New York. Corruption on the police force is alive and well. Wars between different races are fought on many levels. The emotional problems that come with every day life for escaped slaves and the conflicts within families are described with such clear detail that you cannot help but understand and feel the pains and joys that the individuals and families go through. Each chapter tells a unique story, builds the foundation to the next story and it is all wrapped up into one neat book of mystery, intrigue and history about the building of the Brooklyn bridge. To be fair, this book is about so much more than the bridge, it is also about the characters of people both good and bad, about the ambitions and destinies of mankind.
This author is very talented and has written a book about complex issues in an easy to understand way using simple honest characters to guide the reader through the hard parts.
This book is part two of The Slavery and Beyond Series. I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to go backwards and read book 1 to get the full experience of this series.
I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2016
This story takes place during the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. A young boy (Vent) lives with his mother just outside of Brooklyn, after she was killed a local family took him in. He had seen too many things so he had a hard time adjusting to the family and school too.
He had two unique gifts, math and a strong athletic abilities .
He was the right person to work on the Bridge, especially the tall towers.
He almost died during an act of retaliation between the Blacks and the Irish. It took many months for him to recover. This job on the bridge was done as an honor to his late mother.
I want to thank the author for sending me the book for my honest review.
It was a wonderful story and very well written.
He had two unique gifts, math and a strong athletic abilities .
He was the right person to work on the Bridge, especially the tall towers.
He almost died during an act of retaliation between the Blacks and the Irish. It took many months for him to recover. This job on the bridge was done as an honor to his late mother.
I want to thank the author for sending me the book for my honest review.
It was a wonderful story and very well written.
August 24, 2016
I received a free advanced copy of the ebook for this title in exchange for an honest review.
Book #2 in the Slavery and Beyond series, A Wave from Momma, by Anthony Robert Allen is a wonderful story surrounding real historical events and communities in Brooklyn beginning at the time of the Draft Riots of 1863 and up until the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge some decades later. Allen has crafted a host of characters for readers to invest in and care about, and villains to loathe.
As with book #1, Failed Moments, I learned some interesting history from the view points of several central characters while enjoying a great story. It's a quick read but stocked full of good reading. Details were carefully measured to add to each setting and scene without dragging down the pace of the story. Real places, real events, real people set inside a fictional tale. Allen's ability to sculpt such a believable plot around true historical places, events, people, and facts is amazing. In fact he had an overlap of sorts between the two books where our characters in each are presented with the same historic event, although they do not cross paths. I enjoyed book #1 immensely and have enjoyed this new story even more. I'm eager to learn what Allen will focus on for book #3 in the series.
Book #2 in the Slavery and Beyond series, A Wave from Momma, by Anthony Robert Allen is a wonderful story surrounding real historical events and communities in Brooklyn beginning at the time of the Draft Riots of 1863 and up until the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge some decades later. Allen has crafted a host of characters for readers to invest in and care about, and villains to loathe.
As with book #1, Failed Moments, I learned some interesting history from the view points of several central characters while enjoying a great story. It's a quick read but stocked full of good reading. Details were carefully measured to add to each setting and scene without dragging down the pace of the story. Real places, real events, real people set inside a fictional tale. Allen's ability to sculpt such a believable plot around true historical places, events, people, and facts is amazing. In fact he had an overlap of sorts between the two books where our characters in each are presented with the same historic event, although they do not cross paths. I enjoyed book #1 immensely and have enjoyed this new story even more. I'm eager to learn what Allen will focus on for book #3 in the series.
September 4, 2016
I was asked by the author to give a review of this book via Goodreads and, despite the genre of the book not being my usual, I thought I would give it a go as it was included in my Kindle Unlimited subscription. I was reading another book at the time, and I am usually a "one book at a time" reader, however I started to read, and once I did I could not put this book down until I had finished it.
I was immediately engrossed in the characters and the story. The characters was so well developed, they jumped right out of my Kindle as if they were real - I felt I knew them personally, and I loved how their lives interwove with one another. I have never rooted for a character as much as I did for Vent! I was so happy he got his "Wave from Mama" that I cried!
I agree with some other reviewers of this book - that it should most definitely be made into a film. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, it is truly one of the best books I have ever read! I have now downloaded the first book in this volume: Failed Moments while I eagerly await new books in the Slavery and Beyond Series.
I was immediately engrossed in the characters and the story. The characters was so well developed, they jumped right out of my Kindle as if they were real - I felt I knew them personally, and I loved how their lives interwove with one another. I have never rooted for a character as much as I did for Vent! I was so happy he got his "Wave from Mama" that I cried!
I agree with some other reviewers of this book - that it should most definitely be made into a film. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, it is truly one of the best books I have ever read! I have now downloaded the first book in this volume: Failed Moments while I eagerly await new books in the Slavery and Beyond Series.
September 8, 2016
A Wave From Mama: A Book Review by Tyra Sherese Peterson
Title: A Wave From Mama (The Slavery and Beyond Series)(Volume 2)
Author: A. Robert Allen is a longtime resident of New York City, who works in higher education. He has traced his family tree back hundreds of years and has written a series, Slavery and Beyond, which consists of two volumes of historical fiction. Volume 1, Failed Moments, is a fictional account of his ancestors beginning in 1790 during the slave revolution in what would become Haiti and later in 1863 during New York Draft Riots. His current release, A Wave From Mama, Volume 2, continues the fictional account of his ancestors after the 1863 New York Draft Riots and later in 1883 during the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Edition: First
Number of Pages: 246
Price: $9.99 (Amazon)
ISBN: 1534936904 and 13:978-1534936904
Preface or Introduction: None
Table of Contents: Yes
Number of Chapters: 56 (Parts I through IV)
General Field or Genre: Historical Fiction
Author Sources
Brooklyn’s Promised Land: The Free Black Community of Weeksville, New York by Judith Wellman
The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough
Brooklyn and the Civil War by E.A. Bud Livingston
Chronicles of Historic Brooklyn by John B. Manbeck
Black Gotham: A Family History of African-Americans in Nineteenth Century New York City by Carla L. Peterson
The New York City Draft Riots by Iver Bernstein
Asperger Syndrome Explained by Sara Elliot Price
Assistance and resources provided by the Weeksville Heritage Center
Brief Overview: A Wave From Mama is the continuation of the fictional account of a story which focuses on various ancestors from the author’s family. A Wave From Mama begins after Venture (also known as Vent), a 6 year old boy and former slave and his mother flee Manhattan (New York) to the town of Weeksville, a black community in Brooklyn during the 1863 New York Draft Riots. His mother promises him that life would be different, better for them in Weeksville, where a black person could be a land owner for $250.00. However, when Vent’s mother suffers injuries during the riot and later dies, he is left alone in the world. Consumed with hate and anger as a result of the pain and suffering his mother experienced by others during her lifetime, he vows to make everyone pay for all the wrong that was done to her, including her death.
Small in stature, Vent is naturally talented in acrobatic climbing and has a way with numbers. He is also very rigid and has a need to always do things in the same manner. He is found by two brothers, Ezra and Moses Brown, who are residents of Weeksville. The Brown brothers introduce him to Thomas and Esther Washington, who own the town’s most successful shoemaking business.
Despite his awkward social habits, the Washingtons adopt Vent as their son and provide him with the food, shelter and the love his so desperately needs. As a part of the family, he has a new stepbrother, Horace, and a new stepsister, Mabel. He also finds a job, and love with Georgia, a woman who is fond of him despite his social challenges. While he struggles with hate and anger, which he keeps to himself, he remembers the lessons taught to him by his mother, and learns new lessons from Miss Esther, and Janius Morel, the principal at Local Color School No. 2. He also finds friendship in Moses Brown and John Singleton, an officer working with a corrupt police department.
In keeping his vow to protect his new family, Vent becomes involved in a battle between the Irish gangs and the Whiskey Kings (owners of illegal distilleries) when his stepbrother, Horace is attacked. In addition, the local police department is staffed with corrupt officers who assist the Whiskey Kings in the illegal businesses.
He has his sights on one day working on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and being a high-flying tower man on the bridge which will become the tallest structure in North America, but the racial tensions between blacks and the Irish present an obstacle for him.
Will his vows to seek revenge against others on behalf of his mother and his brother, and his current obstacles relative to race relations, prevent him from achieving his dreams?
Analysis: I am pleased that once again the author reached out to me to inquire about my interest in reading and reviewing A Wave From Mama, Volume 2 in his The Slavery and Beyond Series and I was provided with an advance copy of the book. I am an avid reader, and I enjoy reading books from a various genres, especially memoirs, biographies and autobiographies. I am intrigued that the author has traced his family tree back hundreds of years and is now sharing his fictional account of his ancestors through a series of volumes, and I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the author’s work.
I truly enjoyed reading the book. The author’s story, was very intriguing, suspenseful and inspiring! The book was easy to read and it was hard for me to put the book down. I found myself growing very fond of the characters and the love and loyalty as demonstrated in their relationships with one another. There are several other important themes throughout the story which resonated with me and which other readers may also relate to.
While the story is a fictional account, it was also very educational and served as an important history lesson for me. I appreciate that the author’s story, which covers a significant period in history, race relations between former slaves and Irish citizens, after the 1863 New York Draft Riots. The historical references piqued my interest in learning more about the towns of Weeksville (now known as Crown Heights), Irishtown (also known as Vinegar Hill), and Carrsville, and The New York-Brooklyn Bridge.
The author’s story also includes references to people who are significant in American history: Presidents Andrew Johnson and Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Governor of New York, and Frederick Douglass (a former slave, abolitionist, suffragist, author, editor and diplomat). John A. Roebling and Colonel Washington Roebling (designer and chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, respectively) and E.F. Farrington (master mechanic of the Brooklyn Bridge) are also referenced in the story. There are also other significant historical references noted and discussed throughout the story.
Conclusion: I enjoy learning and I always look for opportunities to do so. Whether I am engaged in an activity for business or pleasure, I seek opportunities to learn and to grow, to broaden my horizons. I am pleased that each time I read the author’s work, I am enlightened with respect to significant periods of time, place and events in American history, which pique my interest to conduct my own research to learn more. In addition, reading Volumes 1 and 2 of the author’s The Slavery and Beyond Series has encouraged me to resume my own research into my family genealogy.
Volumes 1 and 2 (Failed Moments and A Wave From Mama) of the author’s The Slavery and Beyond Series are must reads, and I rate the book A Wave From Mama a 5 out of 5 stars on the rating scale for Amazon. As I stated in my review of Failed Moments, I would welcome the opportunity to see a film, or even a mini-series, based on the author’s The Slavery and Beyond Series and I look forward to reading future volumes in the series.
Title: A Wave From Mama (The Slavery and Beyond Series)(Volume 2)
Author: A. Robert Allen is a longtime resident of New York City, who works in higher education. He has traced his family tree back hundreds of years and has written a series, Slavery and Beyond, which consists of two volumes of historical fiction. Volume 1, Failed Moments, is a fictional account of his ancestors beginning in 1790 during the slave revolution in what would become Haiti and later in 1863 during New York Draft Riots. His current release, A Wave From Mama, Volume 2, continues the fictional account of his ancestors after the 1863 New York Draft Riots and later in 1883 during the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Edition: First
Number of Pages: 246
Price: $9.99 (Amazon)
ISBN: 1534936904 and 13:978-1534936904
Preface or Introduction: None
Table of Contents: Yes
Number of Chapters: 56 (Parts I through IV)
General Field or Genre: Historical Fiction
Author Sources
Brooklyn’s Promised Land: The Free Black Community of Weeksville, New York by Judith Wellman
The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough
Brooklyn and the Civil War by E.A. Bud Livingston
Chronicles of Historic Brooklyn by John B. Manbeck
Black Gotham: A Family History of African-Americans in Nineteenth Century New York City by Carla L. Peterson
The New York City Draft Riots by Iver Bernstein
Asperger Syndrome Explained by Sara Elliot Price
Assistance and resources provided by the Weeksville Heritage Center
Brief Overview: A Wave From Mama is the continuation of the fictional account of a story which focuses on various ancestors from the author’s family. A Wave From Mama begins after Venture (also known as Vent), a 6 year old boy and former slave and his mother flee Manhattan (New York) to the town of Weeksville, a black community in Brooklyn during the 1863 New York Draft Riots. His mother promises him that life would be different, better for them in Weeksville, where a black person could be a land owner for $250.00. However, when Vent’s mother suffers injuries during the riot and later dies, he is left alone in the world. Consumed with hate and anger as a result of the pain and suffering his mother experienced by others during her lifetime, he vows to make everyone pay for all the wrong that was done to her, including her death.
Small in stature, Vent is naturally talented in acrobatic climbing and has a way with numbers. He is also very rigid and has a need to always do things in the same manner. He is found by two brothers, Ezra and Moses Brown, who are residents of Weeksville. The Brown brothers introduce him to Thomas and Esther Washington, who own the town’s most successful shoemaking business.
Despite his awkward social habits, the Washingtons adopt Vent as their son and provide him with the food, shelter and the love his so desperately needs. As a part of the family, he has a new stepbrother, Horace, and a new stepsister, Mabel. He also finds a job, and love with Georgia, a woman who is fond of him despite his social challenges. While he struggles with hate and anger, which he keeps to himself, he remembers the lessons taught to him by his mother, and learns new lessons from Miss Esther, and Janius Morel, the principal at Local Color School No. 2. He also finds friendship in Moses Brown and John Singleton, an officer working with a corrupt police department.
In keeping his vow to protect his new family, Vent becomes involved in a battle between the Irish gangs and the Whiskey Kings (owners of illegal distilleries) when his stepbrother, Horace is attacked. In addition, the local police department is staffed with corrupt officers who assist the Whiskey Kings in the illegal businesses.
He has his sights on one day working on the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and being a high-flying tower man on the bridge which will become the tallest structure in North America, but the racial tensions between blacks and the Irish present an obstacle for him.
Will his vows to seek revenge against others on behalf of his mother and his brother, and his current obstacles relative to race relations, prevent him from achieving his dreams?
Analysis: I am pleased that once again the author reached out to me to inquire about my interest in reading and reviewing A Wave From Mama, Volume 2 in his The Slavery and Beyond Series and I was provided with an advance copy of the book. I am an avid reader, and I enjoy reading books from a various genres, especially memoirs, biographies and autobiographies. I am intrigued that the author has traced his family tree back hundreds of years and is now sharing his fictional account of his ancestors through a series of volumes, and I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the author’s work.
I truly enjoyed reading the book. The author’s story, was very intriguing, suspenseful and inspiring! The book was easy to read and it was hard for me to put the book down. I found myself growing very fond of the characters and the love and loyalty as demonstrated in their relationships with one another. There are several other important themes throughout the story which resonated with me and which other readers may also relate to.
While the story is a fictional account, it was also very educational and served as an important history lesson for me. I appreciate that the author’s story, which covers a significant period in history, race relations between former slaves and Irish citizens, after the 1863 New York Draft Riots. The historical references piqued my interest in learning more about the towns of Weeksville (now known as Crown Heights), Irishtown (also known as Vinegar Hill), and Carrsville, and The New York-Brooklyn Bridge.
The author’s story also includes references to people who are significant in American history: Presidents Andrew Johnson and Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Governor of New York, and Frederick Douglass (a former slave, abolitionist, suffragist, author, editor and diplomat). John A. Roebling and Colonel Washington Roebling (designer and chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, respectively) and E.F. Farrington (master mechanic of the Brooklyn Bridge) are also referenced in the story. There are also other significant historical references noted and discussed throughout the story.
Conclusion: I enjoy learning and I always look for opportunities to do so. Whether I am engaged in an activity for business or pleasure, I seek opportunities to learn and to grow, to broaden my horizons. I am pleased that each time I read the author’s work, I am enlightened with respect to significant periods of time, place and events in American history, which pique my interest to conduct my own research to learn more. In addition, reading Volumes 1 and 2 of the author’s The Slavery and Beyond Series has encouraged me to resume my own research into my family genealogy.
Volumes 1 and 2 (Failed Moments and A Wave From Mama) of the author’s The Slavery and Beyond Series are must reads, and I rate the book A Wave From Mama a 5 out of 5 stars on the rating scale for Amazon. As I stated in my review of Failed Moments, I would welcome the opportunity to see a film, or even a mini-series, based on the author’s The Slavery and Beyond Series and I look forward to reading future volumes in the series.
September 19, 2016
A Wave From Mama: The Slavery and Beyond Series is by A. Robert Allen. It is historical fiction. It takes place in New York City, at Weeksfield and Brooklyn. It is the story of a young Black boy who dreams of working on the Brooklyn Bridge however there are many obstacles in his way. He gets into a fight with the Irish gangs. He is also small but agile. He dreams of being a high flying tower man on the project. The story begins in 1863 and ends in 1883.
Moses and Ezra Brown were working in Fort Sumter, a portion of Weeksfield which housed Black refugees from New York City during the Draft Riots. These refugees made shelters out of whatever they could find. They came upon a lady who had been cut badly in the riots but refused any help. She had built a shelter out of boxes and then died in the shelter. They removed her body and started tearing down her shelter when out of one box came a small boy with long arms and a hatchet which he attacked them with all the while saying he would kill those who killed his Mama. He got away from the men and very quickly ran. The next time Moses saw the boy, he was stealing from a couple in town. Moses followed the boy and finally managed to catch him. The boy was extremely quick and could jump onto and over fences, etc. When he was returned to the couple, Moses was verbally attacked for tying the boy up and dragging him along like a slave. Esther Washington insisted on taking him into her home and raising him as her own son. Venture Simmons, the boy, was small with long arms and short legs. He was somewhat mentally diminished, almost like a form of autism. Venture had one mission in life at first and that was to kill those who killed his Mama. With Esther’s help, he put aside this revenge and set out to try to lead a normal life. When he heard of the Brooklyn Bridge being built, he knew he wanted to work on the towers and when they were finished, to talk to his Mama from the top. He would be the closest to Heaven he could be and maybe she would answer.
The story of his painful adaptation to society and the Irish in Irishtown is accompanied by his close friendship with Moses and the attempt of his adopted mother, Esther, to get him married makes the book interesting. I have to admit that I had problems getting into the book at first; but once I got into it, I really liked it.
Moses and Ezra Brown were working in Fort Sumter, a portion of Weeksfield which housed Black refugees from New York City during the Draft Riots. These refugees made shelters out of whatever they could find. They came upon a lady who had been cut badly in the riots but refused any help. She had built a shelter out of boxes and then died in the shelter. They removed her body and started tearing down her shelter when out of one box came a small boy with long arms and a hatchet which he attacked them with all the while saying he would kill those who killed his Mama. He got away from the men and very quickly ran. The next time Moses saw the boy, he was stealing from a couple in town. Moses followed the boy and finally managed to catch him. The boy was extremely quick and could jump onto and over fences, etc. When he was returned to the couple, Moses was verbally attacked for tying the boy up and dragging him along like a slave. Esther Washington insisted on taking him into her home and raising him as her own son. Venture Simmons, the boy, was small with long arms and short legs. He was somewhat mentally diminished, almost like a form of autism. Venture had one mission in life at first and that was to kill those who killed his Mama. With Esther’s help, he put aside this revenge and set out to try to lead a normal life. When he heard of the Brooklyn Bridge being built, he knew he wanted to work on the towers and when they were finished, to talk to his Mama from the top. He would be the closest to Heaven he could be and maybe she would answer.
The story of his painful adaptation to society and the Irish in Irishtown is accompanied by his close friendship with Moses and the attempt of his adopted mother, Esther, to get him married makes the book interesting. I have to admit that I had problems getting into the book at first; but once I got into it, I really liked it.
September 19, 2016
GNAB I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from A. Robert Allen through Goodreads. Thank you, Tony, for sharing your hard work with me.
And this is a excellent novel, taking place in Brooklyn and the neighboring black community of Weeksville from 1863 through the completion of the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge in May of 1886. We follow several families through these times, but they all connect in their relationships with Venture Simmons, the son of an escaped slave. Vent's mom died of her injuries in a makeshift camp on the outskirts of Weeksville following their escape from the Irish vs. Blacks in the Draft Riots in New York, where she was raped and stabbed by unknown men also fleeing New York. Twelve year old Vent, very small of frame, quite agile and fearless of heights, witnessed the assault on his Mom from a neighboring roof, and at her death swore to avenge her. Vent is absorbed into the community of Weeksville despite his lack of social graces, and his adopted family help him learn to control his anger and channel his angst into his work. Watching him grow up, accept the responsibilities and perks of adulthood, and thrive on the high reaches of the bridge is an excellent way to spend a lazy Sunday.
The unexpected perk of this novel is in the closing chapters, where A. Robert Allen gives us the actual facts and characters this novel is drawn from, and sources to follow up on this grand tale. And this is a stand alone novel, but volume 2 of a series - Slavery and Beyond. The first novel, Failed Moments, is on my to read list. I will want to read this novel again after I finish volume 1.
I highly recommend this tale to those who enjoy historical novels, the Eastern seaboard in the later 19th century, and the reality of Northern black communities following the Civil War.
And this is a excellent novel, taking place in Brooklyn and the neighboring black community of Weeksville from 1863 through the completion of the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge in May of 1886. We follow several families through these times, but they all connect in their relationships with Venture Simmons, the son of an escaped slave. Vent's mom died of her injuries in a makeshift camp on the outskirts of Weeksville following their escape from the Irish vs. Blacks in the Draft Riots in New York, where she was raped and stabbed by unknown men also fleeing New York. Twelve year old Vent, very small of frame, quite agile and fearless of heights, witnessed the assault on his Mom from a neighboring roof, and at her death swore to avenge her. Vent is absorbed into the community of Weeksville despite his lack of social graces, and his adopted family help him learn to control his anger and channel his angst into his work. Watching him grow up, accept the responsibilities and perks of adulthood, and thrive on the high reaches of the bridge is an excellent way to spend a lazy Sunday.
The unexpected perk of this novel is in the closing chapters, where A. Robert Allen gives us the actual facts and characters this novel is drawn from, and sources to follow up on this grand tale. And this is a stand alone novel, but volume 2 of a series - Slavery and Beyond. The first novel, Failed Moments, is on my to read list. I will want to read this novel again after I finish volume 1.
I highly recommend this tale to those who enjoy historical novels, the Eastern seaboard in the later 19th century, and the reality of Northern black communities following the Civil War.
August 16, 2016
This historically based novel takes Place in New York City and Brooklyn starting in 1863 Right after the NY Draft Riots, which brings us to The free Black community of Weeksville (now Crown Heights) where one could be a black land owner if they could pay $250 and also have the privilege to vote.
Then there is also the rival Irish gangs in NYC, The whiskey kings, protecting their illegal distilleries, where they make a spirit called sweet Poteen, and the crooked cops who oversee the whole area.
The story mainly follows a young black man (Venture) of small stature, who loved to run jump and climb with amazing agility. But who has some type of mental challenge, such as Asperger Syndrome. He is befriended after losing his mother, by a family in weeksville and by two brothers, Moses and Ezra, who do all they can to help him.
We learn a lot about New York and that part of Brooklyn during this time period. The racial tension between the Irish, Blacks and Germans, and of the relationship between the police and the Irish.
The later part of the book describes the building of the Brooklyn bridge and how Venture (Vent, for short) Has always wanted to work on the top of the bridge, as he is not afraid of heights and loves feeling on top of the world.
There are so many interactions between people, all fascinating but too many to really include in the review, but you will get caught up in all of these characters, and want to know what happens.
I read the first book by this Author and loved it as well. This second novel, follows the first chronologically but not as far as the characters go.
I want to thank the author for letting me read this very interesting story. I look forward to the next.
Then there is also the rival Irish gangs in NYC, The whiskey kings, protecting their illegal distilleries, where they make a spirit called sweet Poteen, and the crooked cops who oversee the whole area.
The story mainly follows a young black man (Venture) of small stature, who loved to run jump and climb with amazing agility. But who has some type of mental challenge, such as Asperger Syndrome. He is befriended after losing his mother, by a family in weeksville and by two brothers, Moses and Ezra, who do all they can to help him.
We learn a lot about New York and that part of Brooklyn during this time period. The racial tension between the Irish, Blacks and Germans, and of the relationship between the police and the Irish.
The later part of the book describes the building of the Brooklyn bridge and how Venture (Vent, for short) Has always wanted to work on the top of the bridge, as he is not afraid of heights and loves feeling on top of the world.
There are so many interactions between people, all fascinating but too many to really include in the review, but you will get caught up in all of these characters, and want to know what happens.
I read the first book by this Author and loved it as well. This second novel, follows the first chronologically but not as far as the characters go.
I want to thank the author for letting me read this very interesting story. I look forward to the next.
January 13, 2017
I was sent this book by the author in return for an honest review, This book had me gripped from the outset. Venture Simmons is a young man with obvious Asperger's syndrome, although it is never stated - no-one knew about it in 1869. Set around what is now Brooklyn and New York city just after the civil war, it is the story of the building of the Brooklyn bridge, But it is oh so much more that that. Young Vent builds relationships, first with Moses and Ezra Brown, who rescue him when his mother is brutally murdered by white men, then by a family of free men and women. He learns to trust others. Also we read about the battles between the Irish and Coloureds as they compete for jobs, the battles between the Irish gangs in New York at the time. So much better than the author's first book. Would definitely recommend it!
September 8, 2016
Sit back and relax with a good book. We've all heard that saying, but have you ever actually done it purposefully? If not, A Wave From Mama by A. Robert Allen should be the first book you relax to.
There are so many wonderful things about this book form the history references to the strong developed characters, this novel is the book that keeps on giving. There are moments that will make you laugh. Moments that will make you cry . There are feel good moments and angry moments. All the while carrying you back into a time that requires thought and makes you want to be every character in the book...both good and bad.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second novel by A. Robert Allen in his Slavery and Beyond Series. Here's to hopes there will be a volume III.
There are so many wonderful things about this book form the history references to the strong developed characters, this novel is the book that keeps on giving. There are moments that will make you laugh. Moments that will make you cry . There are feel good moments and angry moments. All the while carrying you back into a time that requires thought and makes you want to be every character in the book...both good and bad.
I thoroughly enjoyed this second novel by A. Robert Allen in his Slavery and Beyond Series. Here's to hopes there will be a volume III.
August 15, 2016
I was asked to read this book and give a VERY honest review. My first thoughts that I eagerly wrote took 3pages and I knew nobody reads long reviews and besides I probably just gave away the whole book!. But IT'S that remarkably well written that you will definitely want everyone else to read it.. It's based on facts from historical events that effect the world basically wether you come to the same conclusion is neither here no there. But the two main characters a small black boy and a young Irish cop find life deductions to make and discover what rules and family are
Many heart breaking and tear filled pages
Many heart breaking and tear filled pages
September 13, 2016
A few spot checks (plus some notes at the end of the book) assured me this was a well researched piece of history. New York, Brooklyn and surrounding area in the period after the Civil War, provides the backdrop for a wonderful story about the lives of freed blacks and Irish immigrants. The story weaves together a series of seemingly unrelated events with the centrepiece being an unlikely hero - one of the recently freed slaves who captures the reader's heart. A very well written book that starts slowly but builds suspense and emotion leading to a more than satisfactory conclusion.
September 20, 2016
Wow where do I start? This was my first read of historical fiction that I intentionally set out to read. This author undoubtedly gave us a first hand account of a mixed bag of sorts. Complete with the lingo and vivid details of events. I was thoroughly pleased and will continue to read the work that is published. Thank you for allowing me to read and review your work.
August 3, 2016
‘He screamed back, “I made it, Mama! I made it, Mama!” over and over.'
New York City author Anthony Robert Allen made his literary debut with an exceptionally fine novel – FAILED MOMENTS - that is based on the `what if' concept - having the possibility to correct wrongs or change life by going back in time and doing things differently. The story is solid, the writing excellent (Allen is a college administrator!) and the novel is labeled `historical fiction'. Having read and enjoyed his book, this reviewer looked for more information about the genesis of the novel: `My goal was to present a family history book to my immediate family as a present for Christmas in 2013. I hired genealogists in the U.S., Ireland, and the Caribbean. As the story started to come together, I uncovered some interesting things in terms of ethnicity and religion. My Irish ancestry can be traced back to the late 1700s in Ireland. Each of my Irish family lines stayed throughout the Great Famine in the 1840s, but then left for the United States over the next 20-30 years. Some of my ancestors went to Chicago, which had a tremendous Irish population, and they were in the city during the Great Chicago fire of 1871. Others went to New York around the time of the Draft Riots in 1863, which pitted the Irish against the blacks. My Irish line has been consistently Catholic over the years. While the Irish side didn't offer so many surprises, my "other side" did. I have one line of Sephardic Jews that I can trace back to Portugal in the 1500s. This branch of the family owned slaves in St. Domingue (modern-day Haiti) just before the slave revolution, eventually intermarried with a mulatto line of former slaves, and became Anglican from that point forward. I have another branch of my family tree that I can trace back to the marriage of a white planter to a free woman of color on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean in the early 1800s. This line was also Protestant. Life, of course, is so much more than ethnicity and religion, and the stories I uncovered--which are very well-documented --are much more sensational than ordinary. My family has been both poor and wealthy and no stranger to scandal. Some of the more colorful characters include disbarred lawyers, promiscuous husbands, bootleggers, numbers runners, scammers, politicians, and athletes.'
Given that exhaustive research and discovery of the complexities of time and change and mutations of thought and lines to which we all are inherent, Allen has created a condensation of all this in this brief but involving and poignant second novel A WAVE FROM MAMA. His synopsis serves the book well: ‘A former slave gets his dream job building the Brooklyn Bridge, but finds himself at war with the gangs of Irishtown. Will the corrupt Metropolitan Police save or sacrifice him? 1863 Weeksville, Brooklyn: The free Black community of Weeksville becomes home to an unusually small boy and his mother who fled Manhattan during New York’s Draft Riots. When his mother succumbs to her injuries, the boy swears revenge against everyone and everything that contributed to her death. His diminutive size and acrobatic climbing abilities make him a spectacle to behold, while his awkward social habits make him an outcast to everyone in Weeksville, except the adopted family he swears to protect. When his step-brother is attacked, the boy becomes embroiled in a battle between the Irish Gangs and Whiskey Kings of Irishtown while the corrupt Metropolitan Police sit on the sidelines. The backdrop of the action is the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the racial tensions of the period. Will the boy survive the ordeals of the day and achieve his dream of being a high-flying tower man on the bridge project? Or, will he become another victim of the Irish gangs and never know the joy of standing atop the tallest structure in North America?’
Reading FAILED MOMENTS and the followup A WAVE FROM MAMA is the privilege to reminisce about our own ancestry and despite all the current banter about immigration reform; we in America are all immigrants. Allen takes us through that discovery and in doing so has provided a very fine novel. Highly Recommended.
New York City author Anthony Robert Allen made his literary debut with an exceptionally fine novel – FAILED MOMENTS - that is based on the `what if' concept - having the possibility to correct wrongs or change life by going back in time and doing things differently. The story is solid, the writing excellent (Allen is a college administrator!) and the novel is labeled `historical fiction'. Having read and enjoyed his book, this reviewer looked for more information about the genesis of the novel: `My goal was to present a family history book to my immediate family as a present for Christmas in 2013. I hired genealogists in the U.S., Ireland, and the Caribbean. As the story started to come together, I uncovered some interesting things in terms of ethnicity and religion. My Irish ancestry can be traced back to the late 1700s in Ireland. Each of my Irish family lines stayed throughout the Great Famine in the 1840s, but then left for the United States over the next 20-30 years. Some of my ancestors went to Chicago, which had a tremendous Irish population, and they were in the city during the Great Chicago fire of 1871. Others went to New York around the time of the Draft Riots in 1863, which pitted the Irish against the blacks. My Irish line has been consistently Catholic over the years. While the Irish side didn't offer so many surprises, my "other side" did. I have one line of Sephardic Jews that I can trace back to Portugal in the 1500s. This branch of the family owned slaves in St. Domingue (modern-day Haiti) just before the slave revolution, eventually intermarried with a mulatto line of former slaves, and became Anglican from that point forward. I have another branch of my family tree that I can trace back to the marriage of a white planter to a free woman of color on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean in the early 1800s. This line was also Protestant. Life, of course, is so much more than ethnicity and religion, and the stories I uncovered--which are very well-documented --are much more sensational than ordinary. My family has been both poor and wealthy and no stranger to scandal. Some of the more colorful characters include disbarred lawyers, promiscuous husbands, bootleggers, numbers runners, scammers, politicians, and athletes.'
Given that exhaustive research and discovery of the complexities of time and change and mutations of thought and lines to which we all are inherent, Allen has created a condensation of all this in this brief but involving and poignant second novel A WAVE FROM MAMA. His synopsis serves the book well: ‘A former slave gets his dream job building the Brooklyn Bridge, but finds himself at war with the gangs of Irishtown. Will the corrupt Metropolitan Police save or sacrifice him? 1863 Weeksville, Brooklyn: The free Black community of Weeksville becomes home to an unusually small boy and his mother who fled Manhattan during New York’s Draft Riots. When his mother succumbs to her injuries, the boy swears revenge against everyone and everything that contributed to her death. His diminutive size and acrobatic climbing abilities make him a spectacle to behold, while his awkward social habits make him an outcast to everyone in Weeksville, except the adopted family he swears to protect. When his step-brother is attacked, the boy becomes embroiled in a battle between the Irish Gangs and Whiskey Kings of Irishtown while the corrupt Metropolitan Police sit on the sidelines. The backdrop of the action is the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the racial tensions of the period. Will the boy survive the ordeals of the day and achieve his dream of being a high-flying tower man on the bridge project? Or, will he become another victim of the Irish gangs and never know the joy of standing atop the tallest structure in North America?’
Reading FAILED MOMENTS and the followup A WAVE FROM MAMA is the privilege to reminisce about our own ancestry and despite all the current banter about immigration reform; we in America are all immigrants. Allen takes us through that discovery and in doing so has provided a very fine novel. Highly Recommended.
October 12, 2016
A. Robert Allen offered copies of his latest book for review; I accepted a copy and am so glad I did! A Wave from Mama is the second book in The Slavery and Beyond Series, and the first book of Allen's I've read.
The story begins shortly after the New York City draft riots during the Civil War, when the Irish attacked Blacks in protest of their being drafted or forced to fight in place of wealthier white men. The book opens as Black refugees from New York are fleeing to Weeksville, a Black town in Brooklyn.
This is so much more than a novel of the Black American experience, although it certainly is that. It is the story of Venture Simmons, an orphaned Black child who is taken in by just the right family. Vent is not quite lilke other boys; we begin to realize he had what would today be called Asperger's. His innate understanding of math is phenomenal, and his mother had taught him to recite times table when he was on the verge of losing control.
Allen portrays the New York City police department in its early days and the corruption that was rampant, and how the small group of cops trying to fight the corruption had to make strategic decisions about law enforcement and tolerance. During the time period covered, it was understood by Irish and non-Irish that the Irish needed their drink; since the tariffs on whiskey were too high, bootlegging was rampant.
Also during this period, construction began on the Brooklyn Bridge, and the book provides a bit of engineering history and a view of labor conditions and practices. At this time, New York City was the largest city in the country and Brooklyn, the third largest; they would eventually merge, in 1898. When the Bridge was built, its towers were the tallest structures in the nation. While it was not the first suspension bridge, it was the most ambitious.
The one quibble I had was at the very end, where the stories of all of the people in Vent's life were wrapped up - except for the love of his life, his wife. We never learn whether she lived as long as he did or whether they had children.
One of the best things about A Wave from Mama is that it is, first and foremost, a story of American history. It is one of those novels that helps us understand that Black history is not something that happened within a bubble!
The story begins shortly after the New York City draft riots during the Civil War, when the Irish attacked Blacks in protest of their being drafted or forced to fight in place of wealthier white men. The book opens as Black refugees from New York are fleeing to Weeksville, a Black town in Brooklyn.
This is so much more than a novel of the Black American experience, although it certainly is that. It is the story of Venture Simmons, an orphaned Black child who is taken in by just the right family. Vent is not quite lilke other boys; we begin to realize he had what would today be called Asperger's. His innate understanding of math is phenomenal, and his mother had taught him to recite times table when he was on the verge of losing control.
Allen portrays the New York City police department in its early days and the corruption that was rampant, and how the small group of cops trying to fight the corruption had to make strategic decisions about law enforcement and tolerance. During the time period covered, it was understood by Irish and non-Irish that the Irish needed their drink; since the tariffs on whiskey were too high, bootlegging was rampant.
Also during this period, construction began on the Brooklyn Bridge, and the book provides a bit of engineering history and a view of labor conditions and practices. At this time, New York City was the largest city in the country and Brooklyn, the third largest; they would eventually merge, in 1898. When the Bridge was built, its towers were the tallest structures in the nation. While it was not the first suspension bridge, it was the most ambitious.
The one quibble I had was at the very end, where the stories of all of the people in Vent's life were wrapped up - except for the love of his life, his wife. We never learn whether she lived as long as he did or whether they had children.
One of the best things about A Wave from Mama is that it is, first and foremost, a story of American history. It is one of those novels that helps us understand that Black history is not something that happened within a bubble!
August 30, 2016
“A Wave From Mama” is historical fiction which is my favorite type of book. This book is fiction based on historical facts. This is A. Robert Allen’s second book in the Slavery and Beyond series. I have not read his first book yet (“Failed Moments”) but after reading “A Wave From Mama” I plan on adding it to my “to read” list. This book caught my interest within the first few pages and kept it throughout the book. I found all of the characters to be believable and I came to care about them.
The story starts when Venture (Vent), a young 6 year old black boy, witnesses a horrible event involving his mother, who ultimately dies. They live in an area of New York City called Weeksville, where freed slaves live which is now known as Crown Heights. Vent is found in a box near the remains of his mother and as a result, has deep psychological scars. A family took Vent into their home and gave him the love he so badly needed. Eventually, he started to let go of the hate and anger within him. His new family, along with his friend Moses, showed him right from wrong. As a result, Vent developed a strong moral obligation to protect the people who helped him.
I learned so much about the history of the Brooklyn area at that time and the relationship between the Irish, Blacks, Germans and the surprising relationship between the police and the Irish. As the book progresses, the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge plays an integral role in the story, which is another very interesting part of our history. You will need to read the book to see what happens between the Blacks and the Irish gangs, what part Vent plays regarding the gangs, the Brooklyn Bridge and to discover if Vent ever finds true love.
You will learn the meaning of “A Wave From Mama” at the end of the book, which I promise will not disappoint. This book is very well written. It grabbed me and was difficult to put down. The historical aspects were thoroughly researched and make me want to learn more of that time and place. If you like historical fiction, I am confident you will enjoy this book.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest review and I am glad I accepted his offer.
The story starts when Venture (Vent), a young 6 year old black boy, witnesses a horrible event involving his mother, who ultimately dies. They live in an area of New York City called Weeksville, where freed slaves live which is now known as Crown Heights. Vent is found in a box near the remains of his mother and as a result, has deep psychological scars. A family took Vent into their home and gave him the love he so badly needed. Eventually, he started to let go of the hate and anger within him. His new family, along with his friend Moses, showed him right from wrong. As a result, Vent developed a strong moral obligation to protect the people who helped him.
I learned so much about the history of the Brooklyn area at that time and the relationship between the Irish, Blacks, Germans and the surprising relationship between the police and the Irish. As the book progresses, the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge plays an integral role in the story, which is another very interesting part of our history. You will need to read the book to see what happens between the Blacks and the Irish gangs, what part Vent plays regarding the gangs, the Brooklyn Bridge and to discover if Vent ever finds true love.
You will learn the meaning of “A Wave From Mama” at the end of the book, which I promise will not disappoint. This book is very well written. It grabbed me and was difficult to put down. The historical aspects were thoroughly researched and make me want to learn more of that time and place. If you like historical fiction, I am confident you will enjoy this book.
I was given this book by the author in exchange for my honest review and I am glad I accepted his offer.
September 12, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the series Slavery and Beyond. As with the first book, while the events are specific to the time period, you can't help but notice that history often repeats itself. Social injustices and inequalities replay time and time again, though in slightly different ways. The backdrop to the story was clearly well-researched and thought out, providing a clear picture of the different locations throughout the book. I also appreciated the history and liberties section at the end of the book that gave just a bit more historical information (though I found myself googling and looking for more information many times, on my own, throughout the story!).
The characters in this book were well developed and it didn't take long to become invested in their different stories and roles. The main character, Vent, has astonishing growth and overcomes some pretty traumatic events. The initial trauma leaves him with deep psychological issues that make it difficult for those around him to understand or help him. Most of the other characters are seen trying to make sense of the situation and help as best they can. Some of the people in his life, though, take advantage of him and the situation. It brings to mind the current mental health crisis we are seeing play out in the news and in our communities now.
A Wave from Mama covers a rough time in history and some heavy situations for the characters, but is written in a way that is enjoyable to read. There is humor that pops in, sometimes in unexpected places, and lightens the tone without taking away from the significance of the situation. I found myself rooting for Vent and smiling at his successes. It was story full of personal growth, redemption, and humility that was thoughtful and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
This is the second book in the series Slavery and Beyond. As with the first book, while the events are specific to the time period, you can't help but notice that history often repeats itself. Social injustices and inequalities replay time and time again, though in slightly different ways. The backdrop to the story was clearly well-researched and thought out, providing a clear picture of the different locations throughout the book. I also appreciated the history and liberties section at the end of the book that gave just a bit more historical information (though I found myself googling and looking for more information many times, on my own, throughout the story!).
The characters in this book were well developed and it didn't take long to become invested in their different stories and roles. The main character, Vent, has astonishing growth and overcomes some pretty traumatic events. The initial trauma leaves him with deep psychological issues that make it difficult for those around him to understand or help him. Most of the other characters are seen trying to make sense of the situation and help as best they can. Some of the people in his life, though, take advantage of him and the situation. It brings to mind the current mental health crisis we are seeing play out in the news and in our communities now.
A Wave from Mama covers a rough time in history and some heavy situations for the characters, but is written in a way that is enjoyable to read. There is humor that pops in, sometimes in unexpected places, and lightens the tone without taking away from the significance of the situation. I found myself rooting for Vent and smiling at his successes. It was story full of personal growth, redemption, and humility that was thoughtful and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
September 10, 2016
A Wave from Mama is the second novel in A. Robert Allen’s series, Slavery and Beyond. An historical fiction novel that begins in the year 1863, following the Draft Riots, in Weeksville, New York where former slaves find refuge in the camp where they found refuge and yearned to start a new life. It is a history lesson in post civil war tense relations between Blacks, Irish immigrants, gangs and police corruption and incorporated in the story is the historic importance of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The reader is immediately introduced to the central characters, Venture Simmons who is a socially awkward and physical small but very agile boy who witnessed the rape and murder of his mother, and the man, Moses Brown, who would become Venture’s confidant and best friend. Venture promises his Mama’s memory to all with the shouts, “You killed Mama, and you’re all gonna pay!”
The story of Venture is touching with the love and friendship of the people who would become his family who take him in as their own family (Esther, Thomas, Mabel and Horace Washington), his friend Moses, the young girl Grace who would eventually become his wife, and John Singleton and most importantly Venture’s love and devotion to his Mama’s memory. This love and friendship all in the midst of the tumultuous time in history.
A Wave from Mama is a history lesson of events that I wasn’t aware of; that is the Draft Riots, the clash between the Irish and Blacks and the history and significant importance of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was immediately drawn in to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thank the author, A. Robert Allen, for teaching me about these aspects of post civil war history and slavery that I knew little about in a most captivating novel.
The reader is immediately introduced to the central characters, Venture Simmons who is a socially awkward and physical small but very agile boy who witnessed the rape and murder of his mother, and the man, Moses Brown, who would become Venture’s confidant and best friend. Venture promises his Mama’s memory to all with the shouts, “You killed Mama, and you’re all gonna pay!”
The story of Venture is touching with the love and friendship of the people who would become his family who take him in as their own family (Esther, Thomas, Mabel and Horace Washington), his friend Moses, the young girl Grace who would eventually become his wife, and John Singleton and most importantly Venture’s love and devotion to his Mama’s memory. This love and friendship all in the midst of the tumultuous time in history.
A Wave from Mama is a history lesson of events that I wasn’t aware of; that is the Draft Riots, the clash between the Irish and Blacks and the history and significant importance of the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was immediately drawn in to the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thank the author, A. Robert Allen, for teaching me about these aspects of post civil war history and slavery that I knew little about in a most captivating novel.
August 20, 2016
A Wave From Mama: The Slavery and Beyond Series: Volume 2 (Paperback)
I was kindly given an advance copy of Robert Allen's book in exchange for a review of what I thought, and I have to say that won't be a hard job as I really did enjoy this book and would have read it free or not!
It is the second in his series about slavery and is quite poignant as Robert Allen has been able to trace his own roots back to these times. Very well written and researched, I loved it and can't wait for book 3 in the series.
Based in Weeksville in Brooklyn, it was a township set up when black people were fleeing from the Draft Riots of 1863 where many many of them were killed.
Vent Simmons arrived with his mama and whatever happened then left deep psychological scars, that could have been catastrophic for poor Vent.
He arrived in a place where the Irish were the lowest you could get, but the blacks unfortunately were lower still, the Irish reckoned they were taking the low paid jobs that they were almost assured of. Irish gangs ruled the roost and corrupt police allowed them to. Staying out of the way was hard, too hard, trouble was with you wherever you went.
The Kindness of strangers are what Vent hung onto, the Washingtons took in the damaged little boy who wanted to kill everything around him. Moses one of 2 brothers, takes him under his wing, with an unerring feeling of what is right and what is wrong.
Vent can only see black and white for a long long time, he had to help the people that helped him, but one of them almost got him killed!
You really will have to read this excellent book yourselves to find out the full story as I don't want to spoil it, but you will be really glad you did, a great read.
I was kindly given an advance copy of Robert Allen's book in exchange for a review of what I thought, and I have to say that won't be a hard job as I really did enjoy this book and would have read it free or not!
It is the second in his series about slavery and is quite poignant as Robert Allen has been able to trace his own roots back to these times. Very well written and researched, I loved it and can't wait for book 3 in the series.
Based in Weeksville in Brooklyn, it was a township set up when black people were fleeing from the Draft Riots of 1863 where many many of them were killed.
Vent Simmons arrived with his mama and whatever happened then left deep psychological scars, that could have been catastrophic for poor Vent.
He arrived in a place where the Irish were the lowest you could get, but the blacks unfortunately were lower still, the Irish reckoned they were taking the low paid jobs that they were almost assured of. Irish gangs ruled the roost and corrupt police allowed them to. Staying out of the way was hard, too hard, trouble was with you wherever you went.
The Kindness of strangers are what Vent hung onto, the Washingtons took in the damaged little boy who wanted to kill everything around him. Moses one of 2 brothers, takes him under his wing, with an unerring feeling of what is right and what is wrong.
Vent can only see black and white for a long long time, he had to help the people that helped him, but one of them almost got him killed!
You really will have to read this excellent book yourselves to find out the full story as I don't want to spoil it, but you will be really glad you did, a great read.
November 10, 2019
This story kept me captivated from beginning to end with a mixture of historical detail and contrasting relationships between the characters. Vent and Moses set the stage for a thickening plot dealing with the temptations of revenge versus the struggle to forgive in order to move forward.
The historical facts range from the black population in New York to the gangs of Brooklyn with a little bit of politics sprinkled in for good measure. It also provided interesting details about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge which linked New York and Brooklyn during a time when they were only connected by a ferry system. Although the setting takes place between 1863 and 1883, many of the issues still exist today with regard to law enforcement, ethnic backgrounds, racial differences and family values.
A. Robert Allen gave me an advanced copy of his novel in exchange for an honest review. Throughout the story, I wavered between not wanting the book to end and not being able to turn the pages fast enough to see what happened next. When I can't predict the ending of a book, I know I have stumbled on an excellent read. The author's writing style and plot development creatively tie every facet of the story together by the last chapter.
The novel may be part of the slavery and beyond series, but it is independent of the first novel, "Failed Moments". It leaves the reader thinking about the characters way beyond the last page. My thanks to A. Robert Allen for another good read.
The historical facts range from the black population in New York to the gangs of Brooklyn with a little bit of politics sprinkled in for good measure. It also provided interesting details about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge which linked New York and Brooklyn during a time when they were only connected by a ferry system. Although the setting takes place between 1863 and 1883, many of the issues still exist today with regard to law enforcement, ethnic backgrounds, racial differences and family values.
A. Robert Allen gave me an advanced copy of his novel in exchange for an honest review. Throughout the story, I wavered between not wanting the book to end and not being able to turn the pages fast enough to see what happened next. When I can't predict the ending of a book, I know I have stumbled on an excellent read. The author's writing style and plot development creatively tie every facet of the story together by the last chapter.
The novel may be part of the slavery and beyond series, but it is independent of the first novel, "Failed Moments". It leaves the reader thinking about the characters way beyond the last page. My thanks to A. Robert Allen for another good read.
August 28, 2016
This book is like no other book that I have read. I found myself totally engrossed with the characters and where the story was going. The characters are well developed and you get a clear picture of who they are. I did not know until the end that this is a mix of fact and fiction. The author took one time period in New York history and told the story of a free slave called Vent. Vent has many issues and the biggest is he is alone in the world at eight years old. He has an unusual body build, along with a lack of social skills, he is a light-skinned black, small for his age and a deep, deep hatred for the men who killed his mama. He will get even if it's the last thing he ever does. Vent has the ability to run, jump and flip in the air with great agility which helps him get a job on the new Brooklyn Bridge being built. This is a dangerous job some men can't take it and some men die trying. There is so much to Vents' life that will surprise, alarm, delight you and make you cry. Vent is taken in by a new family. Most of the family will love and guide him. Don't be misled by that, there is nothing goody two shoes about this story. It is raw and honest and at times gut wrenching, remember this is the time when slaves were freed but times were slow to change. I must admit I did cry at times. I did receive this ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review. Treat yourself to a wonderful book with characters that won't soon leave you. I absolutely loved it.
October 3, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book. It is organized in four parts and centers around Venture Simmons, a small boy who's mother was tragically killed during the New York draft riots. The short chapters make the book a good read since the story never drags.
Venture is a mixed color boy that escapes from a life of slavery in Virginia. He gets adopted by a family in the town of Weeksville, basically present day Brooklyn. The main historical background of the book is focused on the construction of the Brooklyn bridge, at the time, the tallest structure in the United States. Other important themes introduced in the book focus on the whiskey kings of Irishtown, and black immigration to Liberia.
The book follows Venture's adventures across a couple of decades and focuses on issues of morality. The main characters face everyday life dilemmas which they figure out with the help of older characters. Most of the time, the solution implies that things are never just black and white but certain compromises are necessary and required.
How Venture reaches maturity is an interesting story. He goes from simply reacting to the things that happen around him to developing a framework that helps him deal with every day life. And although, his main goal in life early on is to avenge the death of his mother, he eventually understands that the good things that happened to him cannot be taken for granted and he needs to let the bad things go. Helps a lot that he has good people around him.
Venture is a mixed color boy that escapes from a life of slavery in Virginia. He gets adopted by a family in the town of Weeksville, basically present day Brooklyn. The main historical background of the book is focused on the construction of the Brooklyn bridge, at the time, the tallest structure in the United States. Other important themes introduced in the book focus on the whiskey kings of Irishtown, and black immigration to Liberia.
The book follows Venture's adventures across a couple of decades and focuses on issues of morality. The main characters face everyday life dilemmas which they figure out with the help of older characters. Most of the time, the solution implies that things are never just black and white but certain compromises are necessary and required.
How Venture reaches maturity is an interesting story. He goes from simply reacting to the things that happen around him to developing a framework that helps him deal with every day life. And although, his main goal in life early on is to avenge the death of his mother, he eventually understands that the good things that happened to him cannot be taken for granted and he needs to let the bad things go. Helps a lot that he has good people around him.
August 11, 2016
A Wave for Mama
I really enjoyed this book. I love historical fiction, and the author included a chapter at the end explaining the actual history of both the Brooklyn Bridge and the locations.
The story starts when a little 6-year-old Negro boy witnesses a horrible tragedy involving his mother. 2 brothers subsequently discover him, and then he’s adopted into their family. The assimilation is not easy, and there are lots of interesting situations that develop the story and his growth into a young man.
The boy is obviously emotionally damaged, and this damage plays out through the next 18 years of his life.
Without repeating a previous reviewer’s telling of the story, I really enjoyed a different take on the political atmosphere that existed in that period. I was not aware that there was tremendous friction between the Irish and the Blacks. The immigrant Irish hated the Blacks because they thought they were taking their jobs. Much like the fear of illegal Mexicans taking jobs today. I also appreciated the fact that the author pointed out that it was actually the Republicans who originally promoted the freedom of the slaves-not the Democrats.
Highly recommend this book, and you’ll really enjoy discovering where the title of the book comes from. I did.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, and I am happy that I did.
I really enjoyed this book. I love historical fiction, and the author included a chapter at the end explaining the actual history of both the Brooklyn Bridge and the locations.
The story starts when a little 6-year-old Negro boy witnesses a horrible tragedy involving his mother. 2 brothers subsequently discover him, and then he’s adopted into their family. The assimilation is not easy, and there are lots of interesting situations that develop the story and his growth into a young man.
The boy is obviously emotionally damaged, and this damage plays out through the next 18 years of his life.
Without repeating a previous reviewer’s telling of the story, I really enjoyed a different take on the political atmosphere that existed in that period. I was not aware that there was tremendous friction between the Irish and the Blacks. The immigrant Irish hated the Blacks because they thought they were taking their jobs. Much like the fear of illegal Mexicans taking jobs today. I also appreciated the fact that the author pointed out that it was actually the Republicans who originally promoted the freedom of the slaves-not the Democrats.
Highly recommend this book, and you’ll really enjoy discovering where the title of the book comes from. I did.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, and I am happy that I did.
September 11, 2016
A Wave From Mama is the second book in the Slavery and Beyond series by A. Robert Allen (the first being Failed Moments, which I also read and reviewed). It highlights the tensions between Irish immigrants and freed slaves living in and around New York. Although this is a work of fiction, the descriptions of Weeksville (a town settled by freed slaves, later to become part of Brooklyn), the Draft Riots, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and the missionaries in Liberia are all historically accurate and obviously well researched.
The fictional characters of Ezra and Moses Brown, Junius Morel, Ester Washington and several others are well developed and believable. The main character, Venture, is a (possibly autistic) boy with a tortured past that left him mentally unsound until he is taken into a Weeksville home and given unconditional love and acceptance. Even the "bad guys" are memorable and realistic.
I like the author's writing style and his descriptions of baseball, horse carts and general life in the 1860s, although some of the character's conversations seemed a little stilted (freed slaves wouldn't sound as educated). Overall I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to the next book in his Slavery and Beyond series.
I received a complimentary copy of A Wave From Mama in exchange for writing a review.
The fictional characters of Ezra and Moses Brown, Junius Morel, Ester Washington and several others are well developed and believable. The main character, Venture, is a (possibly autistic) boy with a tortured past that left him mentally unsound until he is taken into a Weeksville home and given unconditional love and acceptance. Even the "bad guys" are memorable and realistic.
I like the author's writing style and his descriptions of baseball, horse carts and general life in the 1860s, although some of the character's conversations seemed a little stilted (freed slaves wouldn't sound as educated). Overall I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to the next book in his Slavery and Beyond series.
I received a complimentary copy of A Wave From Mama in exchange for writing a review.
September 25, 2016
The author contacted me and asked for an honest review as I had read his first book. I am happy to say I found 'A Wave From Mama' very enjoyable. The minute I delved into this book I found it hard to put down. This historical fiction is a very solid and engaging story line centered around the life of Venture Simmons and the arrival of the newly freed blacks to Weeksville. Venture's past and those of his new community unfolds as we learn how each character must confront their past and future and safely survive in their newly found township. It is the mid-1800's and the black community of Weeksville must walk the middle line so as to not bring unwanted attention from the Irish who loathe them while in the midst of the Draft Riots. Allen's descriptive narrative is fashioned around historical facts of a Brooklyn in transition, the building of the Brooklyn bridge, and the struggles of the newly freed blacks all brought together and well depicted. The story line is neatly tied and woven between the Irish gangs wanting to control the streets, and policemen caught between corruption and honesty alongside the Draft Riots. The story line kept me glued to each page eagerly wanting to learn Venture's outcome and whether he would resolve his troubled past. I was very pleased with this book and would definitely recommend it to my friends.
August 29, 2016
Another great read from A. Robert Allen
After reading Failed Moments, Allen's first book, which I loved, I was anxious for more from this extremely talented author! Mr. Allen certainly delivered with his latest release, A Wave From Mama the second book in The Slavery and Beyond Series. Mr. Allen's flair for writing brings the characters to life. His historical research is on point and is worked into the story without feeling like your reading a history textbook. I find myself getting lost in the story as if I've been transported back in time. While reading this book the characters brought out a range of emotions. At times I was even brought to tears! With each turn of a page I became more and more involved emotionally in the lives of the characters. I didn't want to put this book down and carried it with me everywhere. Every spare moment I had was spent reading and anticipating what was going to happen next! I didn't want it to end! If you are a historical fiction lover as I am this series is for you. Even though it is fiction many of the people and places were real. It takes quite a talent in my opinion to be able to weave the two together so effortlessly!
I will be anxiously awaiting the next book from this extremely talented author!
After reading Failed Moments, Allen's first book, which I loved, I was anxious for more from this extremely talented author! Mr. Allen certainly delivered with his latest release, A Wave From Mama the second book in The Slavery and Beyond Series. Mr. Allen's flair for writing brings the characters to life. His historical research is on point and is worked into the story without feeling like your reading a history textbook. I find myself getting lost in the story as if I've been transported back in time. While reading this book the characters brought out a range of emotions. At times I was even brought to tears! With each turn of a page I became more and more involved emotionally in the lives of the characters. I didn't want to put this book down and carried it with me everywhere. Every spare moment I had was spent reading and anticipating what was going to happen next! I didn't want it to end! If you are a historical fiction lover as I am this series is for you. Even though it is fiction many of the people and places were real. It takes quite a talent in my opinion to be able to weave the two together so effortlessly!
I will be anxiously awaiting the next book from this extremely talented author!
September 16, 2016
This novel is the reason why I truly enjoy historical fiction!!!! Mr. Allen takes historical events and create characters that are so real, the reader travels with them. He teaches you about events that you may not have been thought about ( i.e. the relationships between free Blacks and Irish immigrants, the history of Brooklyn, the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, etc.) and piques your curiosity to want to learn more. I find myself wanting to do more research to learn more about this time period in American history. In this case, New York in the mid to late 1800's. I find myself falling in love with the characters as well.
Here are the few that stands out:
Venture: Scared so badly as a child due to horrific events and experiences, yet so resilient
Esther: Venture "adoptive" mother - takes him in and shows him unconditional love
Moses: Always being viewed as "stupid" by others but has the most common sense of all the characters
John Singleton: The officer that show that you cannot judge a book by its' cover
The list can go on and on, but I do not want to give any spoilers!!! Just know that Mr . Allen uses impeccable historical knowledge and very creative, down to earth, wonderful storytelling to express history.
Here are the few that stands out:
Venture: Scared so badly as a child due to horrific events and experiences, yet so resilient
Esther: Venture "adoptive" mother - takes him in and shows him unconditional love
Moses: Always being viewed as "stupid" by others but has the most common sense of all the characters
John Singleton: The officer that show that you cannot judge a book by its' cover
The list can go on and on, but I do not want to give any spoilers!!! Just know that Mr . Allen uses impeccable historical knowledge and very creative, down to earth, wonderful storytelling to express history.
September 3, 2016
This is the second book I've read from this author and I like this one as much as or better than his first one, Failed Moments, which dealt with reincarnation and redemption. This story begins after the Draft Riots in New York in the early 1860's. After the riots the blacks moved to Weeksville (Brooklyn) where they could own property and vote, the Irish lived in Irishtown/Vinegar Hill (also Brooklyn) where the Whiskey Kings ruled and the police tried to keep the peace within their own set of semi-corrupt rules.
The main character, Venture Simmons, is a traumatized black adolescent with extraordinary physical skills and a head and heart full of hate. His dream is to be part of building the Brooklyn Bridge.
When he tries to help his brother, Horace, he creates a situation which not only disrupts his dream but also puts him on the radar of an Irish gang member. The final solution is provided by a Irish police officer who learns to work within the police rules of the time and still keep his principles.
I like Historical Fiction and the author provides a brief history lesson at the end of the book. This is a good one.
The main character, Venture Simmons, is a traumatized black adolescent with extraordinary physical skills and a head and heart full of hate. His dream is to be part of building the Brooklyn Bridge.
When he tries to help his brother, Horace, he creates a situation which not only disrupts his dream but also puts him on the radar of an Irish gang member. The final solution is provided by a Irish police officer who learns to work within the police rules of the time and still keep his principles.
I like Historical Fiction and the author provides a brief history lesson at the end of the book. This is a good one.
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