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Crossing Ebenezer Creek
She wanted to stay awake, wanted to see what freedom looked like, felt like at midnight, then at the cusp of dawn.
Freedom. Mariah has barely dared to dream of it her entire life. When General Sherman’s march through Georgia during the Civil War passes the plantation where she is enslaved, her life changes instantly. Joining the march for protection, Mariah heads into the unknown, wondering if she can ever feel safe, if she will ever be able to put the brutalities of slavery behind her.
On the march Mariah meets a young man named Caleb, and a new dream takes root—one of a future with a home of her own and a true love by her side. But hope often comes at a cost. As the treacherous march continues toward the churning waters of Ebenezer Creek, Mariah sees that the harsh realities of her and her peoples’ lives will always haunt them.
Freedom. Mariah has barely dared to dream of it her entire life. When General Sherman’s march through Georgia during the Civil War passes the plantation where she is enslaved, her life changes instantly. Joining the march for protection, Mariah heads into the unknown, wondering if she can ever feel safe, if she will ever be able to put the brutalities of slavery behind her.
On the march Mariah meets a young man named Caleb, and a new dream takes root—one of a future with a home of her own and a true love by her side. But hope often comes at a cost. As the treacherous march continues toward the churning waters of Ebenezer Creek, Mariah sees that the harsh realities of her and her peoples’ lives will always haunt them.
230 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2017
45 people are currently reading
2855 people want to read
About the author
Tonya Bolden
79 books186 followersAuthor and publisher Tonya Wilyce Bolden was born on March 1, 1959, in New York City to Georgia Bolden, a homemaker, and Willie Bolden, a garment center shipping manager. Bolden grew up in Harlem in a musical family and loved to read; she attended Public M.E.S. 146, an elementary school in Manhattan, and then graduated from the Chapin School, a private secondary school, in Manhattan in 1976. Bolden attended Princeton University in New Jersey, and, in 1981, obtained her B.A. degree in Slavic languages and literature with a Russian focus. Bolden was also a University Scholar and received the Nicholas Bachko, Jr. Scholarship Prize.
Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter.
In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago.
(source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr...)
Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter.
In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago.
(source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
March 2, 2021
This book was chilling and eye opening.
I did not expect the twists and turns here. And towards the end, things went for a wild turn.
The story was short and to the point. I love books on the Civil War- and it’s not common to find them told from the POV of an African American protagonist.
So that’s why I picked this up. There was also a romance promised.
And I will say that there are some aspects of that romance that play a key role in the plot. But mostly, the history and the people are the larger focus here.
Being freed from slavery, Mariah escapes with her brother and hopes to find a new life for herself and goes out to seek one. She meets Caleb, a freed slave who is in the army, and falls for him.
Tragic history, bonds, and relationships are tested as the journey to Savannah continues.
And the ending, the history? It all matters.
I did not expect the twists and turns here. And towards the end, things went for a wild turn.
The story was short and to the point. I love books on the Civil War- and it’s not common to find them told from the POV of an African American protagonist.
So that’s why I picked this up. There was also a romance promised.
And I will say that there are some aspects of that romance that play a key role in the plot. But mostly, the history and the people are the larger focus here.
Being freed from slavery, Mariah escapes with her brother and hopes to find a new life for herself and goes out to seek one. She meets Caleb, a freed slave who is in the army, and falls for him.
Tragic history, bonds, and relationships are tested as the journey to Savannah continues.
And the ending, the history? It all matters.
June 21, 2019
Beautiful and heartbreaking story of the newly freed slaves who followed along behind Sherman's March, something that I had no idea happened. I only recently learned about Juneteenth, and frankly cannot imagine anything more evil than lying to other human beings in order to keep on keeping them as cattle.
This started out much the same: Mariah and her brother and their makeshift family had kept on working the plantation they all lived on, because they weren't sure if they were really free, and even if they were . . . where could they go? But when Sherman's Army marches through, they fall in with a sympathetic officer and his regiment to head toward what they hope is freedom. But of course, not everyone in the Union army was an abolitionist, and this story highlights a harrowing, and sadly forgotten episode.
This started out much the same: Mariah and her brother and their makeshift family had kept on working the plantation they all lived on, because they weren't sure if they were really free, and even if they were . . . where could they go? But when Sherman's Army marches through, they fall in with a sympathetic officer and his regiment to head toward what they hope is freedom. But of course, not everyone in the Union army was an abolitionist, and this story highlights a harrowing, and sadly forgotten episode.
June 6, 2017
Three and a half stars: A powerful book that exposes readers to the horrors of slavery and a little known tragedy that occurred at Ebenezer Creek.
Mariah has long prayed for the Yankees to come and deliver her to freedom. That day has finally come, and Mariah is ready. She quickly gathers her few possessions and Zeke. She is pleased when a handsome black man named, Caleb, offers her a ride in his wagon. Mariah and Caleb are marching with Sherman's men across the South, delivering other slaves to freedom and looking for a new beginning. As they travel, Mariah realizes how fragile freedom is, and she is hesitant to even dream of the future. Will Mariah realize her dreams of freedom?
What I Liked:
*Crossing Ebenezer Creek is an informative and interesting read that exposes younger readers to the horrors of slavery while shedding light on a little known tragedy that occurred at the end of the Civil War when a group of recently freed slaves was caught in between the armies. I liked learning about this event, and I am curious to know even more.
*I liked the cast of characters. Mariah, a young slave girl, has had a hard life. One of constant abuse, hard work as well as plenty of sorrow. She is overjoyed when the Yankees finally deliver her to freedom. Her story was tragic and heartbreaking, yet she never let her past ruin her. She is courageous, kind and determined. I loved her strength. Caleb, a freed black man, has also seen his fair share of heartache, but he too has a big heart and a gentle soul. Captain Galloway, a true historic figure, was amazing. He was a man who was a gentleman. He treated everyone fairly, with kindness and compassion, and he was not cruel or prejudice. I also loved many of the secondary characters such as the twins and Zeke.
*I enjoyed learning more about Sherman's march. Most people who study the Civil War are familiar with the looting and the destruction in the South in order to bring the Confederacy to its knees, but there is also more to the story such as the deliverance of the slaves and their march with Sherman. *This book focuses on the freed slaves and their journey with Sherman's men. I have to admit, this was all new to me so it was a learning experience.
*The author exposes some of the horrific abuse the slaves endured. It was hard to read, but necessary as we all need to be aware of the horrible things that the African Americans endured as slaves. It is a dark and ugly part of history, but one we need to take note of lest we not forget.
*Even though this book covers some difficult topics, the author refrains from going into gory detail, thus it makes it appropriate for a younger audience. I actually see this more as a read for older middle grade readers and younger teens.
*I gleaned a great deal of information about the events at Ebenezer Creek from the author's note. She includes some terrific information that made me curious to know more.
And The Not So Much:
*While I enjoyed the story, I never felt like I was completely immersed in the story. There was something about the way it was written. It lacked the depth and detail that I love in a good book. For me, the story felt cursory and it brushed over so much. It felt like it was written for a younger audience, especially with the way the chapters were set up. The book wasn't really divided into chapters, it had sections with headings that described the events in that section, which again made me think it was better suited for a younger audience. I wished for more descriptions and connections to the characters.
*I was disappointed in the coverage of the crossing at Ebenezer Creek. It occurs at the very end of the book and it isn't more than a few pages. I wish the author had taken far more time to explore this little known tragedy. She includes more information in her author's notes about the event than in the book. It would have been a far richer read if she had taken the time to incorporate this information into her story, and it would have been far more impactful.
*Overall, I felt a lack of connection with the story because it wasn't well developed. The book comes in at 233 pages. This could have been far better if there had been more detail especially when it came to the tragic events at Ebenezer Creek. Again, I got the feeling that this was better suited for a younger audience.
Crossing Ebenezer Creek is a book that exposes younger readers to the horrible tragedy of Ebenezer Creek and the atrocities of slavery. I liked the characters and learning more about the march of the freed slaves. I just wished that this book had more depth and detail. As it is, this is a good book to share with older middle grade readers and younger teens because it is informative and a way to start a discussion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Mariah has long prayed for the Yankees to come and deliver her to freedom. That day has finally come, and Mariah is ready. She quickly gathers her few possessions and Zeke. She is pleased when a handsome black man named, Caleb, offers her a ride in his wagon. Mariah and Caleb are marching with Sherman's men across the South, delivering other slaves to freedom and looking for a new beginning. As they travel, Mariah realizes how fragile freedom is, and she is hesitant to even dream of the future. Will Mariah realize her dreams of freedom?
What I Liked:
*Crossing Ebenezer Creek is an informative and interesting read that exposes younger readers to the horrors of slavery while shedding light on a little known tragedy that occurred at the end of the Civil War when a group of recently freed slaves was caught in between the armies. I liked learning about this event, and I am curious to know even more.
*I liked the cast of characters. Mariah, a young slave girl, has had a hard life. One of constant abuse, hard work as well as plenty of sorrow. She is overjoyed when the Yankees finally deliver her to freedom. Her story was tragic and heartbreaking, yet she never let her past ruin her. She is courageous, kind and determined. I loved her strength. Caleb, a freed black man, has also seen his fair share of heartache, but he too has a big heart and a gentle soul. Captain Galloway, a true historic figure, was amazing. He was a man who was a gentleman. He treated everyone fairly, with kindness and compassion, and he was not cruel or prejudice. I also loved many of the secondary characters such as the twins and Zeke.
*I enjoyed learning more about Sherman's march. Most people who study the Civil War are familiar with the looting and the destruction in the South in order to bring the Confederacy to its knees, but there is also more to the story such as the deliverance of the slaves and their march with Sherman. *This book focuses on the freed slaves and their journey with Sherman's men. I have to admit, this was all new to me so it was a learning experience.
*The author exposes some of the horrific abuse the slaves endured. It was hard to read, but necessary as we all need to be aware of the horrible things that the African Americans endured as slaves. It is a dark and ugly part of history, but one we need to take note of lest we not forget.
*Even though this book covers some difficult topics, the author refrains from going into gory detail, thus it makes it appropriate for a younger audience. I actually see this more as a read for older middle grade readers and younger teens.
*I gleaned a great deal of information about the events at Ebenezer Creek from the author's note. She includes some terrific information that made me curious to know more.
And The Not So Much:
*While I enjoyed the story, I never felt like I was completely immersed in the story. There was something about the way it was written. It lacked the depth and detail that I love in a good book. For me, the story felt cursory and it brushed over so much. It felt like it was written for a younger audience, especially with the way the chapters were set up. The book wasn't really divided into chapters, it had sections with headings that described the events in that section, which again made me think it was better suited for a younger audience. I wished for more descriptions and connections to the characters.
*I was disappointed in the coverage of the crossing at Ebenezer Creek. It occurs at the very end of the book and it isn't more than a few pages. I wish the author had taken far more time to explore this little known tragedy. She includes more information in her author's notes about the event than in the book. It would have been a far richer read if she had taken the time to incorporate this information into her story, and it would have been far more impactful.
*Overall, I felt a lack of connection with the story because it wasn't well developed. The book comes in at 233 pages. This could have been far better if there had been more detail especially when it came to the tragic events at Ebenezer Creek. Again, I got the feeling that this was better suited for a younger audience.
Crossing Ebenezer Creek is a book that exposes younger readers to the horrible tragedy of Ebenezer Creek and the atrocities of slavery. I liked the characters and learning more about the march of the freed slaves. I just wished that this book had more depth and detail. As it is, this is a good book to share with older middle grade readers and younger teens because it is informative and a way to start a discussion.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
November 17, 2019
heartbreaking and beautifully told.
if goodness was like mint...
if goodness was like mint...
October 13, 2017
All Mariah's life she's know what it means to be a slave. She's lost her Papa, Mama, been beaten, punched, pricked, harassed, seen a woman lose her family and her mind, seen people maimed when they broke the rules and knows her little brother is marked for life. Being one of Miss Delia's slaves is like being in hell, but Mariah knows in her heart one day she will be free. Freedom-Freedom means going to New York to school and finding a doctor who can help her brother. Finally, in December 1864 the Yankees make it to Georgia and at last Mariah is free. She joins the ragtag group of ex-slaves following General Sherman's arm. Mariah never realized there were so many different types of Yankees and not all of them want Mariah's people to be free. She also never thought her dream would change when she meets a young man named Caleb, a driver and blacksmith helping the 14th Division.
Wow! This was a depressing novel. I read the author's note first and then dragged my heels to read the actual novel. While I have studied the Civil War extensively, I never knew about Ebenezer Creek. HOW has this incident not made it to the graduate level and HOW could scholars not have written journal articles about this incident recently? Google Scholar shows they have but I had to clarify "Ebenezer Creek" with 1864 to get only 72 hits and most book reviews. I was certainly aware that many Yankees didn't have any interest in freeing the slaves and that most were indifferent at best and some may have been sympathetic for whatever reason. I had never heard of Captain Galloway and certainly never "General Reb" Jefferson Davis in blue. WHAT????? For real???? YES! Shocking YES! Horrific YES! Even so this is a story that needs to be told. #blacklivesmatter
I liked Mariah right away. She's smart, capable, and very brave. She has endured unimaginable horrors, beyond the bounds of "normal" slavery. Her owner was sadistic. Miss Delia and the Judge both come across as having mental health problems. It sounds like Miss Delia lost her sanity when her husband died and became even more cruel and abusive than she had been before. Yet Mariah is a survivor. She is capable of hope and love. I especially loved her relationship with her little brother Zeke. He was so sweet. He reminded me of my nephew with autism "What's that? What's that?" Spinspinspin! I know there was no way a doctor would be able to "fix" Zeke and I think Mariah would learn to accept that in time and always do what she could to help him. They had a special bond.
The other former slaves each had their own wonderful personalities. I especially liked "the Doubles" and how they looked alike but had different interests. Dulcina broke my heart.
Caleb is a little harder to like. He too has known danger and trauma. He's been to the edge and back but it seems like he's gone in the opposite direction. Instead of being calm and zenlike, he's almost unemotional. He has to be to be resilient and most likely someone in his circumstances would have some post-traumatic stress symptoms. His journal entries appear a little cold and impersonal but his narration shows he's warm and caring. He cares too deeply and that is why he can not write what he feels.
Captain Galloway was a surprise. I liked him very much. I had never heard of him before. He sounds like he was a genuine kind soul who sincerely wanted to help the newly freed slaves.
This book is a must-read and a must buy for schools and libraries. Recommended for advanced middle school, high school age and above.
Wow! This was a depressing novel. I read the author's note first and then dragged my heels to read the actual novel. While I have studied the Civil War extensively, I never knew about Ebenezer Creek. HOW has this incident not made it to the graduate level and HOW could scholars not have written journal articles about this incident recently? Google Scholar shows they have but I had to clarify "Ebenezer Creek" with 1864 to get only 72 hits and most book reviews. I was certainly aware that many Yankees didn't have any interest in freeing the slaves and that most were indifferent at best and some may have been sympathetic for whatever reason. I had never heard of Captain Galloway and certainly never "General Reb" Jefferson Davis in blue. WHAT????? For real???? YES! Shocking YES! Horrific YES! Even so this is a story that needs to be told. #blacklivesmatter
I liked Mariah right away. She's smart, capable, and very brave. She has endured unimaginable horrors, beyond the bounds of "normal" slavery. Her owner was sadistic. Miss Delia and the Judge both come across as having mental health problems. It sounds like Miss Delia lost her sanity when her husband died and became even more cruel and abusive than she had been before. Yet Mariah is a survivor. She is capable of hope and love. I especially loved her relationship with her little brother Zeke. He was so sweet. He reminded me of my nephew with autism "What's that? What's that?" Spinspinspin! I know there was no way a doctor would be able to "fix" Zeke and I think Mariah would learn to accept that in time and always do what she could to help him. They had a special bond.
The other former slaves each had their own wonderful personalities. I especially liked "the Doubles" and how they looked alike but had different interests. Dulcina broke my heart.
Caleb is a little harder to like. He too has known danger and trauma. He's been to the edge and back but it seems like he's gone in the opposite direction. Instead of being calm and zenlike, he's almost unemotional. He has to be to be resilient and most likely someone in his circumstances would have some post-traumatic stress symptoms. His journal entries appear a little cold and impersonal but his narration shows he's warm and caring. He cares too deeply and that is why he can not write what he feels.
Captain Galloway was a surprise. I liked him very much. I had never heard of him before. He sounds like he was a genuine kind soul who sincerely wanted to help the newly freed slaves.
This book is a must-read and a must buy for schools and libraries. Recommended for advanced middle school, high school age and above.
June 24, 2018
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
I debated whether or not I was going to write a full review for Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden or just include it in one of my shorter musings posts. It's a hard book to discuss because there is a lot the reader just needs to experience. In the end, I decided to write a full review simply because it was one of those books that kept me thinking for days after I finished it.
Mariah is a slave who longs for freedom. When a contingent from Sherman's army shows up at the plantation she is on to procure food and supplies, she jumps at the chance to leave with them. Caleb was born free and works for the army driving a cart and helping with supplies. He offers Mariah and her brother a ride in his wagon. There are many former slaves who have joined Sherman's march to the sea as it makes its way south. Mariah and her fellows from her plantation find their place among them, offering the skills they need. Caleb helps them adjust an gives them as much help as he can. He finds himself continuously drawn to Mariah, her brother, and the people she is close with. Mariah and Caleb hesitantly begin to have hopes for the future despite the tragic harshness of both their pasts. But things are not perfect with the Union Army either, and there are many, even those in power, who don't want the former slaves with them.
The book shifts between the perspectives of Mariah and Caleb. Both are in their mid to late teens, but they read older as the lives they are living are fully adult lives. Both are characters you can't help but grow attached to as they tentatively explore the possibilities of a future where the Union has won and slavery is no more. It is tentative because they still deal daily with the how white people view them as lesser. Aside from the Captain running the contingent Caleb works with, many of the officers do not treat the former slaves well and they allow their subordinates to do what they wish. Mariah is solely responsible for her younger brother and also helps take care of an older woman from her plantation who is quickly deteriorating. Both Caleb and Mariah are allowed to be whole people. I loved how Bolden showed the vastness of their anger, fear, resentment, and bitterness toward all that had happened to them.
The plot covers the march from shortly after the burning of Atlanta to the crossing of Ebenezer Creek. (That crossing is a historical incident I didn't know about prior to the release of the book so I would say the book is worth reading just for that.) The reader gets a clear view of the Union army from the perspective of a former slave and it is interesting. The book is short (around 200 pages) and it was difficult for me to put down. Yet I wasn't riveted by the plot so much as Mariah and Caleb themselves.
Crossing Ebenezer Creek is not an easy book to read nor is it a happy one. If you do know why Ebenezer Creek is important then you know why. Bolden also doesn't shy away from the dangers the women on the march faced, both from their former lives and from the soldiers on the march. The way this is referenced may go over many heads, but it is there. My library has it shelved in the J shelves, but it is definitely one of those books that straddles the MG/YA line. If it were me, I would probably shelve it as Teen, but it would well work for a middle school library.
I debated whether or not I was going to write a full review for Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden or just include it in one of my shorter musings posts. It's a hard book to discuss because there is a lot the reader just needs to experience. In the end, I decided to write a full review simply because it was one of those books that kept me thinking for days after I finished it.
Mariah is a slave who longs for freedom. When a contingent from Sherman's army shows up at the plantation she is on to procure food and supplies, she jumps at the chance to leave with them. Caleb was born free and works for the army driving a cart and helping with supplies. He offers Mariah and her brother a ride in his wagon. There are many former slaves who have joined Sherman's march to the sea as it makes its way south. Mariah and her fellows from her plantation find their place among them, offering the skills they need. Caleb helps them adjust an gives them as much help as he can. He finds himself continuously drawn to Mariah, her brother, and the people she is close with. Mariah and Caleb hesitantly begin to have hopes for the future despite the tragic harshness of both their pasts. But things are not perfect with the Union Army either, and there are many, even those in power, who don't want the former slaves with them.
The book shifts between the perspectives of Mariah and Caleb. Both are in their mid to late teens, but they read older as the lives they are living are fully adult lives. Both are characters you can't help but grow attached to as they tentatively explore the possibilities of a future where the Union has won and slavery is no more. It is tentative because they still deal daily with the how white people view them as lesser. Aside from the Captain running the contingent Caleb works with, many of the officers do not treat the former slaves well and they allow their subordinates to do what they wish. Mariah is solely responsible for her younger brother and also helps take care of an older woman from her plantation who is quickly deteriorating. Both Caleb and Mariah are allowed to be whole people. I loved how Bolden showed the vastness of their anger, fear, resentment, and bitterness toward all that had happened to them.
The plot covers the march from shortly after the burning of Atlanta to the crossing of Ebenezer Creek. (That crossing is a historical incident I didn't know about prior to the release of the book so I would say the book is worth reading just for that.) The reader gets a clear view of the Union army from the perspective of a former slave and it is interesting. The book is short (around 200 pages) and it was difficult for me to put down. Yet I wasn't riveted by the plot so much as Mariah and Caleb themselves.
Crossing Ebenezer Creek is not an easy book to read nor is it a happy one. If you do know why Ebenezer Creek is important then you know why. Bolden also doesn't shy away from the dangers the women on the march faced, both from their former lives and from the soldiers on the march. The way this is referenced may go over many heads, but it is there. My library has it shelved in the J shelves, but it is definitely one of those books that straddles the MG/YA line. If it were me, I would probably shelve it as Teen, but it would well work for a middle school library.
June 29, 2017
Mariah and her younger brother Zeke have just been liberated by the Yankees traveling as part of Sherman’s march. She meets Caleb, a black man who is given respect and rank in the army, and she begins to learn what freedom could mean.
This was an incredible story made even better by the historical facts that were included. You could tell that Bolden researched slave narratives and events. There was a great balance of real occurrences and narrative interpretation.
There are mentions of rape (very vaguely referred to) and some graphic descriptions of how slaves were tortured or killed, so this book would probably lend itself better to upper middle school and high school classes.
I was given an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
This was an incredible story made even better by the historical facts that were included. You could tell that Bolden researched slave narratives and events. There was a great balance of real occurrences and narrative interpretation.
There are mentions of rape (very vaguely referred to) and some graphic descriptions of how slaves were tortured or killed, so this book would probably lend itself better to upper middle school and high school classes.
I was given an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.
July 24, 2017
Oof, you guys. This book. Based on historical events, this is a bleak recounting of the end of slavery and the atrocities committed against African-Americans, even by Yankees supposedly "saving" them. It's a sad slow-burn of a romance tempered by a lot of descriptions of just how horrific slavery was. Hand this to teens who are curious about what slavery was really like, teens who can take heartbreaking scenes of violence and who want to know the truth.
A hard, important book.
A hard, important book.
November 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written and I really enjoyed the arc of Mariah and Caleb’s relationship. It moved a bit slow but it was worth the wait. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, action, and love stories.
May 31, 2017
This review was originally posted on my blog, Just a Few Chapters More!
Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden is based on a tragic, true event that took place near the end of the American Civil War, an event that I never knew about (despite spending years in school being taught U.S. history). It begins as the main character, Mariah, and a number of other slaves (including her brother Zeke) flee alongside a group of Union soldiers after they ransack the plantation where she was enslaved. As the story unfolds, Mariah meets Caleb, a free man responsible for driving a wagon for the Union soldiers. Their relationship matches pace with the story, allowing it to develop at a realistic pace amongst the chaos as the troops march south.
This narrative focuses on the plight of the newly freed Blacks, many of which are dealing with both physical and emotional trauma from their past life. Reading the harrowing accounts of abusive treatment suffered by these people, I felt every word Bolden wrote. Bolden's contrast between the evils of slavery and the boundless hope of freedom seems effortless (but I expect the writing process was anything but). It's obvious a great amount of effort went into researching and writing this book, and I'd say it paid off as I was hooked from the very beginning.
This is not a story where freedom is the end of the slaves' worries. Even after being freed, the newly freed Blacks must deal with the hardships of the trek south, fight demons from their past, and deal with people who might be fighting for their freedom but don't necessarily think they belong on equal footing. And when they reach Ebenezer Creek, a wide tributary roughly 20 miles from Savannah, Georgia...well, it's not all sunshine and rainbows.
Overall, I thought this book was well-written and an interesting read, definitely worth reading if you get the chance! It's authors like Tonya Bolden and books like Crossing Ebenezer Creek that will help shine a light on events so often kept in the shadows and help knit a divide in our country that is centuries in the making.
***I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the book's publisher via NetGalley. Receiving a free copy of a book in no way affects the honesty of my reviews!
Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden is based on a tragic, true event that took place near the end of the American Civil War, an event that I never knew about (despite spending years in school being taught U.S. history). It begins as the main character, Mariah, and a number of other slaves (including her brother Zeke) flee alongside a group of Union soldiers after they ransack the plantation where she was enslaved. As the story unfolds, Mariah meets Caleb, a free man responsible for driving a wagon for the Union soldiers. Their relationship matches pace with the story, allowing it to develop at a realistic pace amongst the chaos as the troops march south.
This narrative focuses on the plight of the newly freed Blacks, many of which are dealing with both physical and emotional trauma from their past life. Reading the harrowing accounts of abusive treatment suffered by these people, I felt every word Bolden wrote. Bolden's contrast between the evils of slavery and the boundless hope of freedom seems effortless (but I expect the writing process was anything but). It's obvious a great amount of effort went into researching and writing this book, and I'd say it paid off as I was hooked from the very beginning.
This is not a story where freedom is the end of the slaves' worries. Even after being freed, the newly freed Blacks must deal with the hardships of the trek south, fight demons from their past, and deal with people who might be fighting for their freedom but don't necessarily think they belong on equal footing. And when they reach Ebenezer Creek, a wide tributary roughly 20 miles from Savannah, Georgia...well, it's not all sunshine and rainbows.
Overall, I thought this book was well-written and an interesting read, definitely worth reading if you get the chance! It's authors like Tonya Bolden and books like Crossing Ebenezer Creek that will help shine a light on events so often kept in the shadows and help knit a divide in our country that is centuries in the making.
***I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the book's publisher via NetGalley. Receiving a free copy of a book in no way affects the honesty of my reviews!
July 25, 2018
For readers who ❤️ historical fiction as much as I do. My heart aches again as atrocities new to me were revealed about how slaves were treated and still lived every day in fear even though they had escaped slavery. This story takes place towards the end of the Civil War as Sherman’s army marched through the south decimating communities and plantations. Along the way they freed slaves and welcomed the freed negro to march with them through the south on their way to “new tomorrow’s”. Unfortunately, some in Sherman’s outfit, although Union, harbored ugly sentiment towards the black man. I never heard of the purposeful drownings of the black man on the march at Ebenezer Creek in Georgia. I never knew that there were killing stones where white women would take light skinned babies from their negro mothers and throw the babies down on the stone so as to wash away the crimes committed by their husbands. The story takes place over the course of the march where the stories of African men and women are revealed. The violence and hatred as described by the characters has been unmatched here by any other story save for Copper Sun. The characters have a lot of depth and despite the horrific nature of the time period, love finds a way to bloom. Great quote and something I think we are still seeking today. “Looking for a place where goodness is like mint.” Mint grows wild and spreads out unless contained to a specific area of a garden.
August 6, 2017
Let me preface by saying that this is not a happy read...but it is an important read.
I won't say that this review contains spoilers, because you are told exactly how it ends on the first page.
Growing up in GA, not very far from where the story begins, we were told about Atlanta burning and Sherman's march to Savannah. We were not told that the freed colors marched with the Union troops...or that incidences like Ebeneezer Creek and Buckhead Creek occurred.
But now I know, and I urge everyone to look a little more closely at their local history.
I won't say that this review contains spoilers, because you are told exactly how it ends on the first page.
Growing up in GA, not very far from where the story begins, we were told about Atlanta burning and Sherman's march to Savannah. We were not told that the freed colors marched with the Union troops...or that incidences like Ebeneezer Creek and Buckhead Creek occurred.
But now I know, and I urge everyone to look a little more closely at their local history.
July 12, 2017
Richie’s Picks: CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK by Tonya Bolden, Bloomsbury, May 2017. 240p., ISBN: 978-1- 59990-319-4
“The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gift you gave
To the dark and the endless skies my love
To the dark and the endless skies
-- Ewan MacColl (1957)
“He was drawn to her, like a river to the sea, the minute he saw her emerge from the root cellar.”
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK is the tragic love story of Caleb and Mariah, a pair of young black Americans coming of age during the Civil War.
When the story begins, in November 1864, Union forces serving under General Sherman are arriving at the plantation owned by Callie Chaney. We meet Caleb, a young black man driving a wagon for the Union army and Mariah, who is one of the slaves owned by Miss Callie.
Callie Chaney owns Mariah.
I urge you to stop for a minute, look at some random person on the street, and really think about what it would be like to own or be owned by them, to be their servant and laborer 24/7, and to have to submit to any demand that he or she makes.
The Union soldiers arriving at Miss Callie’s “liberate” a bunch of livestock and valuables, and emancipate the slaves. Most depart with the soldiers to join thousands of others following Sherman’s forces across the South, dreaming of what they are going to do with their new-found freedoms. Mariah and her developmentally-disabled little brother Zeke are among those who leave and begin dreaming.
Caleb is smitten from the moment he lays eyes on her. As Mariah gradually gets to know the kind, talented, and hard-working Caleb, she comes to rely on his material and emotional support. There are a few intense days in their growing friendship when Jonah, a former slave who grew up with Mariah, jealously notes Caleb’s attentiveness and tries to stake claim to her. This compels Mariah to acknowledge that she has real feelings for Caleb and say no to Jonah.
It is during this time that we learn Caleb has grown up a free black in the South. And while Mariah wonders about the differences in their backgrounds, slave versus free, Caleb educates her (and readers) by explaining how being black and free was like walking a tightrope. White men constantly demanded to see your papers, and if you were caught without them you’d be up on an auction block getting sold off in the blink of an eye.
It’s easy to see how this relates to current-day America where any Hispanic-looking American can be stopped by ICE for no reason and, if they cannot immediately produce papers, be locked up and thrown out of the country. It also reminds me of how many Americans are still subject to being beaten, jailed, or even killed for the crime of driving while black.
Fortunately, Mariah and Caleb are under the protection the kind-hearted and morally straight Captain Galloway. Unfortunately, as we gradually learn, there are racists among the Union soldiers.
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK features exceptional storytelling and character development. It’s the most heart-wrenching story I’ve read in years. The final chapters slammed me as if I were being cracked in the head with a two-by-four, and I followed up by reading about the little-known historical event on which the story was based.
Two percent of the entire American population died in the Civil War that was fought over the future of slavery in America. From the perspective of a kid learning about slavery and the Civil War, it might seem like ancient history. But it isn’t, and America isn’t yet “over it.”
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK is a tale that you need to read.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gift you gave
To the dark and the endless skies my love
To the dark and the endless skies
-- Ewan MacColl (1957)
“He was drawn to her, like a river to the sea, the minute he saw her emerge from the root cellar.”
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK is the tragic love story of Caleb and Mariah, a pair of young black Americans coming of age during the Civil War.
When the story begins, in November 1864, Union forces serving under General Sherman are arriving at the plantation owned by Callie Chaney. We meet Caleb, a young black man driving a wagon for the Union army and Mariah, who is one of the slaves owned by Miss Callie.
Callie Chaney owns Mariah.
I urge you to stop for a minute, look at some random person on the street, and really think about what it would be like to own or be owned by them, to be their servant and laborer 24/7, and to have to submit to any demand that he or she makes.
The Union soldiers arriving at Miss Callie’s “liberate” a bunch of livestock and valuables, and emancipate the slaves. Most depart with the soldiers to join thousands of others following Sherman’s forces across the South, dreaming of what they are going to do with their new-found freedoms. Mariah and her developmentally-disabled little brother Zeke are among those who leave and begin dreaming.
Caleb is smitten from the moment he lays eyes on her. As Mariah gradually gets to know the kind, talented, and hard-working Caleb, she comes to rely on his material and emotional support. There are a few intense days in their growing friendship when Jonah, a former slave who grew up with Mariah, jealously notes Caleb’s attentiveness and tries to stake claim to her. This compels Mariah to acknowledge that she has real feelings for Caleb and say no to Jonah.
It is during this time that we learn Caleb has grown up a free black in the South. And while Mariah wonders about the differences in their backgrounds, slave versus free, Caleb educates her (and readers) by explaining how being black and free was like walking a tightrope. White men constantly demanded to see your papers, and if you were caught without them you’d be up on an auction block getting sold off in the blink of an eye.
It’s easy to see how this relates to current-day America where any Hispanic-looking American can be stopped by ICE for no reason and, if they cannot immediately produce papers, be locked up and thrown out of the country. It also reminds me of how many Americans are still subject to being beaten, jailed, or even killed for the crime of driving while black.
Fortunately, Mariah and Caleb are under the protection the kind-hearted and morally straight Captain Galloway. Unfortunately, as we gradually learn, there are racists among the Union soldiers.
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK features exceptional storytelling and character development. It’s the most heart-wrenching story I’ve read in years. The final chapters slammed me as if I were being cracked in the head with a two-by-four, and I followed up by reading about the little-known historical event on which the story was based.
Two percent of the entire American population died in the Civil War that was fought over the future of slavery in America. From the perspective of a kid learning about slavery and the Civil War, it might seem like ancient history. But it isn’t, and America isn’t yet “over it.”
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK is a tale that you need to read.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
July 10, 2018
When the Yankees pass through her plantation on Sherman's march through Georgia, Mariah grabs her brother, Zeke, and an older woman, Dulcina, and accepts the soldiers' offer of a ride to freedom. Life on the plantation has been hard for Mariah and the other slaves, but Mariah has high hopes for better times ahead. Mariah gets to know Caleb, a handsome blacksmith who was born free and is working for the army, and they start to dream of a future together. Not all of the Yankees are thrilled to be freeing the slaves and traveling with them, however, and when they reach Ebenezer Creek, Mariah realizes that being free doesn't necessarily mean that she will achieve her dream of a better life.
There were many things to like about this book. The characters were well fleshed out, and as the reader, I became invested in their lives early on. I admired the way the author slowly let the reader see what the slaves' lives had been like, in case there was any doubt that they had made the right decision to flee. My one complaint is that the author spent the entire novel building up to the crossing of Ebenezer Creek but then only spent a couple of pages on the actual crossing. The ending felt rushed and anti-climactic. There was more information in the author's note, but I wanted that built into the story. I was left feeling disappointed and wanting more.
Recommended for gr. 6-9.
There were many things to like about this book. The characters were well fleshed out, and as the reader, I became invested in their lives early on. I admired the way the author slowly let the reader see what the slaves' lives had been like, in case there was any doubt that they had made the right decision to flee. My one complaint is that the author spent the entire novel building up to the crossing of Ebenezer Creek but then only spent a couple of pages on the actual crossing. The ending felt rushed and anti-climactic. There was more information in the author's note, but I wanted that built into the story. I was left feeling disappointed and wanting more.
Recommended for gr. 6-9.
January 31, 2018
Middle grade appropriate story, historical fiction, of a Sad tale of at the end of the US Civil War. 4 months before the true end of the war, the Union army raided farms for food and informed Slaves of their freedom, and they could then march with Sherman’s army.
Fictional tale of Mariah, a newly freed slave, and Caleb, a freeborn man helping the Union army (couldn’t be black and a soldier in this army).
Wished the story was a little longer and more time was spent on the climatic scene at Ebenezer Creek (the book is named “Crossing....”), though a note was put in by the author about how we don’t know how specifically, so much death occurred by the Union betrayal. Seemed like a big build up and the reader needed more time to come down and read about during and after the creek.
Fictional tale of Mariah, a newly freed slave, and Caleb, a freeborn man helping the Union army (couldn’t be black and a soldier in this army).
Wished the story was a little longer and more time was spent on the climatic scene at Ebenezer Creek (the book is named “Crossing....”), though a note was put in by the author about how we don’t know how specifically, so much death occurred by the Union betrayal. Seemed like a big build up and the reader needed more time to come down and read about during and after the creek.
March 27, 2021
Short, fast, unforgettable. Mariah barely has time to dream of freedom before her dreams are cruelly cut short at Ebenezer Creek.
An honest, hard look at how newly freed African Americans were treated by the Yankees during Sherman's March to the Sea. Yet for all its bleakness, this story also portrays the pride and power of Black folk.
An honest, hard look at how newly freed African Americans were treated by the Yankees during Sherman's March to the Sea. Yet for all its bleakness, this story also portrays the pride and power of Black folk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2021
Like all of Tonya Bolden's books, I learn so much about American history. I love how she weaves historical facts into her fictional stories with characters and story lines. It's a fantastic way to study history without getting overwhelmed by facts. I didn't know that this story is based on what actually happened during Sherman's march. The history of our country -- especially around racial discrimination -- is appalling. If you want to learn more about the history of black lives and the struggles and prejudice and utter oppression of an entire race, then read more books by black authors who address the history of America. Powerful stuff.
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February 9, 2018It was a good book that showed what it was like for some African Americans during the time of the civil war. It helps us to understand and learn more about what they experienced.
January 29, 2018
A poignant and well told story about a little known moment in history.
March 8, 2019
So the April book for the Senior Owlets Teen/Tween book club this year is Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden. I saw it in a catalog at work about 6 months ago or so and thought it would be an interesting read for the kids - something different that they likely would not pick up themselves. It has proven to be both educational and entertaining (in a somewhat depressing form - though that is to be expected with the subject matter).
Mariah is a slave in Georgia during the US Civil War. Freedom comes in the form of the 14th Army Corps, under the overall command of General Sherman and the direct command of General Jefferson C. Davis. Freed from the plantation Mariah, her brother Zeke, and several other former slaves follow the army headed for Savannah, seeking safety with the Yankees as they march away from their old lives to what they hope will be a glorious new start. But the northern army is not what they expect, and the acceptance they thought they’d find is severely lacking. But for Mariah there is a bright spot too, in the form of Caleb, and like the others she begins to dream of a future. Until Ebenezer Creek.
History told in narrative form, author Tonya Bolden spins the tale of a story few have likely ever heard. It is not a happy story, but it is one that needs to be told. I am glad I’ve had the chance to read this story, and the chance to share it with the book club. I’m anxious to see what they make of it. This is a story I would encourage teachers to look at for their classrooms, to help us ensure that history never repeats itself and that those who suffered are never forgotten.
Mariah is a slave in Georgia during the US Civil War. Freedom comes in the form of the 14th Army Corps, under the overall command of General Sherman and the direct command of General Jefferson C. Davis. Freed from the plantation Mariah, her brother Zeke, and several other former slaves follow the army headed for Savannah, seeking safety with the Yankees as they march away from their old lives to what they hope will be a glorious new start. But the northern army is not what they expect, and the acceptance they thought they’d find is severely lacking. But for Mariah there is a bright spot too, in the form of Caleb, and like the others she begins to dream of a future. Until Ebenezer Creek.
History told in narrative form, author Tonya Bolden spins the tale of a story few have likely ever heard. It is not a happy story, but it is one that needs to be told. I am glad I’ve had the chance to read this story, and the chance to share it with the book club. I’m anxious to see what they make of it. This is a story I would encourage teachers to look at for their classrooms, to help us ensure that history never repeats itself and that those who suffered are never forgotten.
May 14, 2017
Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden.
Mariah and her little brother Zeke are freed from slavery and the life they have only known. Mariah for years yearned to be free from her Master and when suddenly freed, joins Sherman’s army on their march through Georgia. Mariah meets a free black, Caleb and begins a friendship with a possibility of a new free life together. This story is based on a real life event which is not known to many, until now.
Ms. Bolden draws the reader into this true event. The reader quickly gets drawn into the character Mariah’s journey on the march and her struggles to her new found freedom on the road. The friendship between Caleb and Mariah builds throughout the story. Teen readers will be drawn into the budding romance of Caleb and Mariah. Ms. Bolden writes in such a way that the readers can start to feel like they are along for the journey throughout Georgia. The ending is shocking but done tastefully.
This read makes the civil war feel a little more personable and might spark additional study of this event and the personal effect of the civil war on the persons of this time period. This book would be a great discussion on how the war touched both sides of the war and the impact upon the free black and slaves. Hand this book to fans of historical fiction or readers who enjoyed Laurie Halse Anderson’s Seeds of America series.
Note: I was given an electronic copy via Net Galley and the publisher, Bloomsbury USA Childrens for an honest review.
Mariah and her little brother Zeke are freed from slavery and the life they have only known. Mariah for years yearned to be free from her Master and when suddenly freed, joins Sherman’s army on their march through Georgia. Mariah meets a free black, Caleb and begins a friendship with a possibility of a new free life together. This story is based on a real life event which is not known to many, until now.
Ms. Bolden draws the reader into this true event. The reader quickly gets drawn into the character Mariah’s journey on the march and her struggles to her new found freedom on the road. The friendship between Caleb and Mariah builds throughout the story. Teen readers will be drawn into the budding romance of Caleb and Mariah. Ms. Bolden writes in such a way that the readers can start to feel like they are along for the journey throughout Georgia. The ending is shocking but done tastefully.
This read makes the civil war feel a little more personable and might spark additional study of this event and the personal effect of the civil war on the persons of this time period. This book would be a great discussion on how the war touched both sides of the war and the impact upon the free black and slaves. Hand this book to fans of historical fiction or readers who enjoyed Laurie Halse Anderson’s Seeds of America series.
Note: I was given an electronic copy via Net Galley and the publisher, Bloomsbury USA Childrens for an honest review.
September 15, 2018
This YA historical fiction novel follows Mariah in the chaos that ensued after the start of Sherman's March to the Sea, and details a treacherous massacre by Union soldiers at Ebenezer Creek. There's an urgency in remembering our history, where we came from and how we got here, and Mariah's refrain "colored lives don't matter" still speaks truth to power in our country. I shouldn't be surprised that I never learned of this event in my history classes, but I'll never stop asking why so much emphasis was put on the triumphs of white men, and not the horror of events like this one.
May 12, 2017
The real events behind this story are tragic, not widely known, and demand (and deserve) to be heard. I'm not sure that I feel that this book did the event justice, that there was so much more that could have been provided. One of the biggest reasons I feel that way is the actual writing of the book, it felt rough and rushed, which made the book fall flat. Full review is posted on my website.
June 7, 2017
Based on a true story, Crossing Ebenezer Creek was the civil war book that I have been looking for and dreaming about all my life. The main audience for this book is middle grade, or ages 11-14, but I think anyone interested in the topic and up for a little first love horror tragedy, then you should dive right in.
This is an individual telling from the point of view of a group of slaves freed by Yankee soldiers. After being freed from their cruel master, they join the march on, eventually to Savannah, GA. Mariah and her brother Zeke, both slaves, jump in with hot Caleb, also a black man but a free one, driving a wagon for the Union. This makes for a grim backdrop for a love story but the author pulls it off, and for the next couple weeks Mariah and Caleb heartbreakingly begin to dream about what it would be like for them, together, after this is all over.
There were many times during this story that I honestly had tears in my eyes. What they endured!! The descriptions of what the treatment of slaves was like, however brief, were still breathtaking, and not in the Grand Canyon kind of way. To know that people treated other people the way they were treated, that their lives were actually owned by someone else, it is still so saddening even when knowing it beforehand. Her story was sad and violent and I am 100% sure very common.
Since I had no idea what had happened at Ebenezer Creek, I went in not knowing and was blindsided by the end. There was so much foreshadowing in the story though, there was no way you couldn’t guess something ominous was coming eventually. In the end it was hot Caleb that I thought about as I lay away after finishing the book. The amount of suffering in this book is tremendous.
The two main characters, almost star-crossed lovers, force you to instantly fall in love with both of them. As a reader I found myself hopeful for them in this crazy and contradictory times in their lives. So happy to be freed from slavery but knowing that the enemy is hot on their tail, not knowing if that could all come to an end in any instant. These characters had never had any hope before, and here they are wait for it to be taken away, like some cruel joke where the rug is jerked out from underneath you.
Honestly the only thing that I didn’t like about the book is that the characters had accents, and the author wrote in the accent, even when the character was thinking. Sometimes I had to sound things out in order to know what they were talking about. Some may find that a deal breaker but it wasn’t for me, because those places weren’t abundant.
This book is what I personally call a “gateway” book, one that has you asking Cortana things that you don’t know about and then looking up other books that are related and adding them to your groaning TBR.
I hope that kids will read this story in school, first love and a horror story, history and a tragedy, all rolled into one great yarn. 4/5 stars.
*I was given this book for free in exchange for a honest and fair review.* Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity!
This is an individual telling from the point of view of a group of slaves freed by Yankee soldiers. After being freed from their cruel master, they join the march on, eventually to Savannah, GA. Mariah and her brother Zeke, both slaves, jump in with hot Caleb, also a black man but a free one, driving a wagon for the Union. This makes for a grim backdrop for a love story but the author pulls it off, and for the next couple weeks Mariah and Caleb heartbreakingly begin to dream about what it would be like for them, together, after this is all over.
There were many times during this story that I honestly had tears in my eyes. What they endured!! The descriptions of what the treatment of slaves was like, however brief, were still breathtaking, and not in the Grand Canyon kind of way. To know that people treated other people the way they were treated, that their lives were actually owned by someone else, it is still so saddening even when knowing it beforehand. Her story was sad and violent and I am 100% sure very common.
Since I had no idea what had happened at Ebenezer Creek, I went in not knowing and was blindsided by the end. There was so much foreshadowing in the story though, there was no way you couldn’t guess something ominous was coming eventually. In the end it was hot Caleb that I thought about as I lay away after finishing the book. The amount of suffering in this book is tremendous.
The two main characters, almost star-crossed lovers, force you to instantly fall in love with both of them. As a reader I found myself hopeful for them in this crazy and contradictory times in their lives. So happy to be freed from slavery but knowing that the enemy is hot on their tail, not knowing if that could all come to an end in any instant. These characters had never had any hope before, and here they are wait for it to be taken away, like some cruel joke where the rug is jerked out from underneath you.
Honestly the only thing that I didn’t like about the book is that the characters had accents, and the author wrote in the accent, even when the character was thinking. Sometimes I had to sound things out in order to know what they were talking about. Some may find that a deal breaker but it wasn’t for me, because those places weren’t abundant.
This book is what I personally call a “gateway” book, one that has you asking Cortana things that you don’t know about and then looking up other books that are related and adding them to your groaning TBR.
I hope that kids will read this story in school, first love and a horror story, history and a tragedy, all rolled into one great yarn. 4/5 stars.
*I was given this book for free in exchange for a honest and fair review.* Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity!
December 15, 2017
Although it took me a little while to get used to the shift in perspective from Mariah's to Caleb's, once I settled down with this story, I was hooked and raced through it to see what was going to happen. Set during the winding down portion of the Civil War as General Sherman's army punished the South, this book highlights a little-known part of history. As the Union soldiers destroyed railroads and dwellings and plundered the land and the possessions of Southerners for their own survival--and benefit, at times--they also brought news of freedom to the slaves hoping for liberation. Not certain where to go, some struck out on their own, but many followed the Union soldiers. Mariah and several of the men and women with whom she grew up on the Chaney plantation, decides to follow the soldiers. Caleb is a free person of color who works for Captain Galloway. Despite his determination not to get involved romantically with anyone, he comes to care deeply for Mariah as she shares what her life was like on the plantation. Despite all the odds against them, they dare to dream of a good life in Savannah, where the army is heading. But Mariah and many of the others with her are betrayed when General Jefferson Davis--not the president of the Confederacy but the Union general--orders the removal of a pontoon bridge over Ebenezer Creek when the Confederates are threatening, leaving behind the former slaves who either drown while trying to swim to safety or are massacred by the troops. Bolden has included details about everyday life and life on that march that will make readers feel as though they are traveling alongside those men and women. She even describes some of the meals they prepared and the utensils they used to cook as well as some of the toys fashioned to distract youngsters. The story she tells is heartbreaking in part because it is based on historical events, but also because true freedom was just so close until they reached Ebenezer Creek. While another reviewer mentioned not being invested in Mariah's and Caleb's story, that was not the case for me. Even while many of the book's events are shadowed by the certainty of impending doom, I still kept hoping for a happy ending because I liked the main characters, who surely deserved happiness, if anyone does. Readers who know only a little bit about the Civil War will have their eyes opened to the fact that not all of those on the Union side were necessarily in support of abolishing slavery or treating blacks properly.
March 26, 2017
Tonya Bolden’s latest is a simple and devastating novel based on an atrocity that took place near the end of the American Civil War, as General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Union Army closed in on the city of Savannah, Georgia. Newly freed slaves joined the Union soldiers on their march, men, women, and children who viewed the US Army as protection from Confederate forces eager to to return them to slavery.
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK begins as Mariah flees along with her younger brother Zeke when Union soldiers arrive at their former owner’s plantation after the fall of Atlanta. Amid the chaos of the harrowing trip south, she and other newly freed Blacks help the soldiers as best they can, preparing food, treating the wounded, anything they can do to assist the Army and further their own dreams of freedom. Caleb is driving a wagon for the Army, and he is immediately drawn to Mariah. Although he was raised a free man, Caleb is fleeing demons of his own, memories he keeps shielded by his calm and methodical ways.
Bolden focuses on the community of former slaves on the march, rather than the Union Army or its military goal. Many of the freed Blacks are living with horrific memories of physical torture and psychological abuse they experienced at the hands of slave owners. Bolden describes their accounts of whippings and amputations and other abuse in spare and haunting language. Twin sisters tell how they were sold away from their family as small children and recall how their mother helped them memorize their family members’ names and where they were from before they were taken away, hoping that one day they might be reunited.
Over the days of their journey, Caleb and Mariah allow themselves the beginnings of hope that they may find happiness together. After all, they travel with Captain Galloway whose every action toward the former slaves is protective and cordial. They realize that not all in the Union Army feel the same. One of the most feared is General Reb, real name Jefferson Davis, the same as the president of the Confederacy, who hates them and takes every opportunity to terrorize the freed slaves in the caravan.
Finally all that seems to stand between these marchers and their future hopes is Ebenezer Creek about 20 miles from Savannah, a wide tributary whose waters run deep. Caleb, Mariah, Zeke, and all the others wait for the Union Army members to cross their hastily built bridge and listen to fire from approaching Confederate forces coming closer and closer.
I was born and raised in Georgia and consider myself well versed in its history, but the story of Ebenezer Creek is one I’d never read before. Tonya Bolden has done extraordinary research using historical sources that detail a shameful incident at the close of the Civil War. Books like CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK, however painful they may be to read, help us better understand our nation’s complex history, one in which blue Union uniforms may mask shades of gray.
I received a free Advance Reader's Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cross-posted at http://thelibrarianslair.blogspot.com...
CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK begins as Mariah flees along with her younger brother Zeke when Union soldiers arrive at their former owner’s plantation after the fall of Atlanta. Amid the chaos of the harrowing trip south, she and other newly freed Blacks help the soldiers as best they can, preparing food, treating the wounded, anything they can do to assist the Army and further their own dreams of freedom. Caleb is driving a wagon for the Army, and he is immediately drawn to Mariah. Although he was raised a free man, Caleb is fleeing demons of his own, memories he keeps shielded by his calm and methodical ways.
Bolden focuses on the community of former slaves on the march, rather than the Union Army or its military goal. Many of the freed Blacks are living with horrific memories of physical torture and psychological abuse they experienced at the hands of slave owners. Bolden describes their accounts of whippings and amputations and other abuse in spare and haunting language. Twin sisters tell how they were sold away from their family as small children and recall how their mother helped them memorize their family members’ names and where they were from before they were taken away, hoping that one day they might be reunited.
Over the days of their journey, Caleb and Mariah allow themselves the beginnings of hope that they may find happiness together. After all, they travel with Captain Galloway whose every action toward the former slaves is protective and cordial. They realize that not all in the Union Army feel the same. One of the most feared is General Reb, real name Jefferson Davis, the same as the president of the Confederacy, who hates them and takes every opportunity to terrorize the freed slaves in the caravan.
Finally all that seems to stand between these marchers and their future hopes is Ebenezer Creek about 20 miles from Savannah, a wide tributary whose waters run deep. Caleb, Mariah, Zeke, and all the others wait for the Union Army members to cross their hastily built bridge and listen to fire from approaching Confederate forces coming closer and closer.
I was born and raised in Georgia and consider myself well versed in its history, but the story of Ebenezer Creek is one I’d never read before. Tonya Bolden has done extraordinary research using historical sources that detail a shameful incident at the close of the Civil War. Books like CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK, however painful they may be to read, help us better understand our nation’s complex history, one in which blue Union uniforms may mask shades of gray.
I received a free Advance Reader's Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cross-posted at http://thelibrarianslair.blogspot.com...
May 6, 2021
In a southeast Georgia swamp, when a driving rain drenches an early December day, bald cypresses seem to screech, tupelos to shriek, Ebenezer Creek to moan.
In 1864, Sherman's forces are making their way through Georgia. Along with the troops, march hundreds of formerly enslaved people. Mariah and her brother Zeke are among them, moving toward what Mariah hopes is a bright future. Caleb is a young Black man traveling with the Union troops and he befriends Mariah and looks out for her and Zeke. Soon this friendship deepens into something more. But the march is full of dangers from all sides. Will Mariah, Caleb, and Zeke make it to the promised land of freedom?
This book tore me up. I hadn't read about the experiences of those who had been freed from slavery traveling with Sherman's troops before. And I knew nothing of the Ebenezer Creek Massacre before reading this book. The characters' experiences on the march, as well as their stories of slavery were devastating to read about (even more so when you think of the real people these things happened to). It was so difficult watching them get their hopes up (for how the Union forces would treat them, for what freedom would mean, for finding family members they had been separated from) and watching them be dashed time and time again. Even though this story only takes place over a few days, there is a lifetime worth of pain, joy, love, and hope contained in these 200 pages.
The only thing that I found a bit frustrating about this book is the author's writing style. This is probably a "me, not you" thing. The purple prose and incomplete sentences just do not work for me for the most part. There were a few paragraphs that were really beautiful, but other scenes where I found it a bit difficult to tell what was going on.
Overall, though, this is an important book and I do recommend it to those who are looking for books about the experiences of enslaved and formerly enslaved people during the US Civil War. The book is difficult to read, definitely, but it brings to light the stories that have not always made it into our history books.
CW: child abuse, death of prominent characters, deceased parents, gore, guns, kidnapping, mental illness, murder, prostitution, racist language, sexual assault (hinted at), slavery, torture, war
In 1864, Sherman's forces are making their way through Georgia. Along with the troops, march hundreds of formerly enslaved people. Mariah and her brother Zeke are among them, moving toward what Mariah hopes is a bright future. Caleb is a young Black man traveling with the Union troops and he befriends Mariah and looks out for her and Zeke. Soon this friendship deepens into something more. But the march is full of dangers from all sides. Will Mariah, Caleb, and Zeke make it to the promised land of freedom?
This book tore me up. I hadn't read about the experiences of those who had been freed from slavery traveling with Sherman's troops before. And I knew nothing of the Ebenezer Creek Massacre before reading this book. The characters' experiences on the march, as well as their stories of slavery were devastating to read about (even more so when you think of the real people these things happened to). It was so difficult watching them get their hopes up (for how the Union forces would treat them, for what freedom would mean, for finding family members they had been separated from) and watching them be dashed time and time again. Even though this story only takes place over a few days, there is a lifetime worth of pain, joy, love, and hope contained in these 200 pages.
The only thing that I found a bit frustrating about this book is the author's writing style. This is probably a "me, not you" thing. The purple prose and incomplete sentences just do not work for me for the most part. There were a few paragraphs that were really beautiful, but other scenes where I found it a bit difficult to tell what was going on.
Overall, though, this is an important book and I do recommend it to those who are looking for books about the experiences of enslaved and formerly enslaved people during the US Civil War. The book is difficult to read, definitely, but it brings to light the stories that have not always made it into our history books.
CW: child abuse, death of prominent characters, deceased parents, gore, guns, kidnapping, mental illness, murder, prostitution, racist language, sexual assault (hinted at), slavery, torture, war
May 7, 2017
This novel looks at a piece of history that many people don’t know about. Mariah and her brother Zeke have been freed from slavery in Georgia as part of Sherman’s march. As she starts to realize that she may not have to return to the brutality she has lived in all of her life, Mariah begins to see new options for both her future and that of her brother. She is given a ride in a wagon by a young man Caleb who was raised in freedom. The two slowly begin to form a relationship with one another, born on their shared hope for the future and it being spent together. Still, there are soldiers and generals on the march who do not appreciate that the freed people are taking supplies from the military scavenging. Dangers continue to surround all of them as they make their steady way towards freedom.
Bolden writes in a poetic prose in this novel. She shares both the hope of freedom and the evils of slavery in the book. The horrors of slavery are offered with a frankness that allows them to fully be realized, each person having experienced their own personal hell. She makes sure to keep the tension high with the Rebels raiding the camps, pressures from within the northern forces, and the dangers of the march itself.
The relationship of Mariah and Caleb matches the pace of the march, steady and filled with bumps and revelations as well. It is a lovely lengthy courtship, given the space to blossom in a natural way that feels like the reader is falling in love along with them. The long journey gives them that time, even as the foreshadowing and dangers allow the reader to know they are not safe at all.
An important book on a little-known episode during the Civil War, this book is intensely personal and a dangerous mix of romance and horror. Appropriate for ages 14-17.
Bolden writes in a poetic prose in this novel. She shares both the hope of freedom and the evils of slavery in the book. The horrors of slavery are offered with a frankness that allows them to fully be realized, each person having experienced their own personal hell. She makes sure to keep the tension high with the Rebels raiding the camps, pressures from within the northern forces, and the dangers of the march itself.
The relationship of Mariah and Caleb matches the pace of the march, steady and filled with bumps and revelations as well. It is a lovely lengthy courtship, given the space to blossom in a natural way that feels like the reader is falling in love along with them. The long journey gives them that time, even as the foreshadowing and dangers allow the reader to know they are not safe at all.
An important book on a little-known episode during the Civil War, this book is intensely personal and a dangerous mix of romance and horror. Appropriate for ages 14-17.
March 19, 2020
Freedom is all Mariah has dreamed about since she could remember. When General Sherman's march comes through her plantation her dream starts to become a reality. Mariah looks to the future and hopes for the best but can she leave her past of slavery behind. As she continues her journey Mariah becomes familiar with her reality. It's not the future she anticipated and many hardships continue to come her way. All Mariah can do is try her best and stand for what she truly believes.
I love the way Bolden wrote this story. It brings the past to life in a way that makes youth want to read. The show don't tell in her writing creates depth in her story and paints the picture in your mind of each description. The story is told through multiple perspectives which made the story more interesting but it at some parts it was confusing on exactly who was talking. Giving a more clear description on that would help readers understand exactly where the story was being told from. Slavery is one topic that is brought up many times throughout the story. This is not as much of an issue in our world today but it happens in other ways like child labor. The way I see slavery is that it made humans feel like property and made them feel as if they were just something to be bought on the market. This segregated people and made some feel less than others. Slavery was so common back then that those who grew up in a home with slaves didn't know no any better. Fortunately for us today we do not deal with things like that although we do deal with different things of our day. I truly think that those who want to learn about the past will really enjoy this book especially those who may not enjoy history as much. This book keeps you drawn in and wanting to continue to read and know what comes next.
I love the way Bolden wrote this story. It brings the past to life in a way that makes youth want to read. The show don't tell in her writing creates depth in her story and paints the picture in your mind of each description. The story is told through multiple perspectives which made the story more interesting but it at some parts it was confusing on exactly who was talking. Giving a more clear description on that would help readers understand exactly where the story was being told from. Slavery is one topic that is brought up many times throughout the story. This is not as much of an issue in our world today but it happens in other ways like child labor. The way I see slavery is that it made humans feel like property and made them feel as if they were just something to be bought on the market. This segregated people and made some feel less than others. Slavery was so common back then that those who grew up in a home with slaves didn't know no any better. Fortunately for us today we do not deal with things like that although we do deal with different things of our day. I truly think that those who want to learn about the past will really enjoy this book especially those who may not enjoy history as much. This book keeps you drawn in and wanting to continue to read and know what comes next.
November 27, 2017
5/5 for Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden (@tonyaboldenbook on Twitter). Must read for all middle and high school students. I am thankful to @sljournal for adding this to their Best of 2017 list and bringing it to my attention.
_*_*_*_*_*
Mariah has been enslaved her entire life. When the Union soldiers come through Georgia during the Civil War, she is freed, but what does that mean? Her history is pockmarked with impossible sorrows -- her mother and father murdered in slavery for small crimes they didn't even commit, being preyed upon by the slave driver on their farm and caring for her brother whose mind is broken. With nowhere else to go, she and her little brother Zeke join the Union army, marching and camping alongside soldiers and other freed black people. In that group she meets Caleb, a black person like herself, but born free. Caleb's life holds impossibly sad secrets, as well, however. Caleb and Mariah begin to dream of a future together, but they still face danger from the Confederate army and from the racist members of the Union army, some of whom believe "colored lives don't matter." Will Mariah cross Ebenezer Creek and make it to freedom in Savannah?
_*_*_*_*_*
I knew nothing of the horrific incident at Ebenezer Creek and the Wikipedia article is tiny. I am so thankful for Tonya Bolden's extremely informative book that gives full life to this incident. Readers will likely be shocked by the experience of enslaved black people -- Bolden doesn't hold back at all in mentioning beatings, sexual assault, rape and other cruelties. On top of all this, the book is beautifully written and a quick, compelling read. I recommend this book for grades 7 and up.
_*_*_*_*_*
Mariah has been enslaved her entire life. When the Union soldiers come through Georgia during the Civil War, she is freed, but what does that mean? Her history is pockmarked with impossible sorrows -- her mother and father murdered in slavery for small crimes they didn't even commit, being preyed upon by the slave driver on their farm and caring for her brother whose mind is broken. With nowhere else to go, she and her little brother Zeke join the Union army, marching and camping alongside soldiers and other freed black people. In that group she meets Caleb, a black person like herself, but born free. Caleb's life holds impossibly sad secrets, as well, however. Caleb and Mariah begin to dream of a future together, but they still face danger from the Confederate army and from the racist members of the Union army, some of whom believe "colored lives don't matter." Will Mariah cross Ebenezer Creek and make it to freedom in Savannah?
_*_*_*_*_*
I knew nothing of the horrific incident at Ebenezer Creek and the Wikipedia article is tiny. I am so thankful for Tonya Bolden's extremely informative book that gives full life to this incident. Readers will likely be shocked by the experience of enslaved black people -- Bolden doesn't hold back at all in mentioning beatings, sexual assault, rape and other cruelties. On top of all this, the book is beautifully written and a quick, compelling read. I recommend this book for grades 7 and up.
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