What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shadow of E. Z.'s Fear
When his widowed mother decides to move E. Z. Perkins and his younger brother to the new Mississippi Territory in 1809, the boys are thrown into a dangerous new world. Their new home lies somewhere along the bloodiest road in American history—the Natchez Trace. Filled with cutthroat bandits, angry Indian warriors, and monstrous creatures, the road has earned the name “The Devil’s Backbone.” Bandits target E. Z. from the moment he begins the journey as he discovers one of their secrets. Throughout the chase, survival depends upon E. Z. learning which of his fears are real and which are imagined.
256 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2021
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Tony L. Turnbow
5 books4 followersTony L. Turnbow will release Jefferson's Spy: The Secret Life of Meriwether Lewis on January 24, 2026. The nonfiction will be book one in a two-volume series about the mysterious death of the famed explorer.
Turnbow is the author of the nonfiction Hardened to Hickory: The Missing Chapter in Andrew Jackson's Life and the young adult historical fiction series Fighting Devil's Backbone. He has studied the history of the Natchez Trace for more than 40 years.
He practices law in Franklin, Tennessee. With a Bachelor of Arts and a concentration in southern U.S. history from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Law, he has continued to use his training to explore unpublished primary sources about the Natchez Trace. He authored "The Natchez Trace in the War of 1812" in The Journal of Mississippi History, and he has published articles in the Tennessee Historical Quarterly and the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation journal "We Proceeded On." He also wrote a full-length play, "Inquest on the Natchez Trace," about the mysterious death of explorer Meriwether Lewis.
Mr. Turnbow represented the Natchez Trace Parkway Association on the Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, and he was the recipient of the Tennessee Society U.S. Daughters of 1812 "Spirit of 1812" award.
He enjoys telling the stories of the old Natchez Trace.
Turnbow is the author of the nonfiction Hardened to Hickory: The Missing Chapter in Andrew Jackson's Life and the young adult historical fiction series Fighting Devil's Backbone. He has studied the history of the Natchez Trace for more than 40 years.
He practices law in Franklin, Tennessee. With a Bachelor of Arts and a concentration in southern U.S. history from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Law, he has continued to use his training to explore unpublished primary sources about the Natchez Trace. He authored "The Natchez Trace in the War of 1812" in The Journal of Mississippi History, and he has published articles in the Tennessee Historical Quarterly and the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation journal "We Proceeded On." He also wrote a full-length play, "Inquest on the Natchez Trace," about the mysterious death of explorer Meriwether Lewis.
Mr. Turnbow represented the Natchez Trace Parkway Association on the Tennessee War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission, and he was the recipient of the Tennessee Society U.S. Daughters of 1812 "Spirit of 1812" award.
He enjoys telling the stories of the old Natchez Trace.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 8, 2021
It is 1809, and teenager Ezekiel, known as E.Z. (pronounced “easy”) Perkins, his widowed mother Sarah, and younger brother David leave their home in Pennsylvania, following Mr. Perkins’s death, to build a new life in the Mississippi Territory. However, before they embark in Nashville, TN, an old boatman warns them about “The Devil’s Backbone,” the local name for the Natchez Trace which runs from Nashville, through Indian Territory, to Mississippi. The trail is rumored to be filled with cutthroat bandits, angry Indian warriors, and monstrous creatures. From the moment they start their journey, bandits target E. Z. because he discovers one of their secrets.
Will the bandits get what they want? Do the Perkinses and their traveling companions encounter any Indian warriors? And what happens when they leave the Trace? Author Tony L. Turnbow also wrote the non-fiction book Hardened to Hickory: The Missing Chapter in Andrew Jackson’s Life, and has studied the history of the Old Natchez Trace for more than thirty years. The Shadow of E. Z.’s Fear is Book 1 of the “Fighting Devil’s Backbone” series. Tony told me, “I am writing a young adult historical fiction series with the goal of encouraging young people to take a greater interest in learning history.”
A historical coming of age tale, this adventure story teaches young people about the daily struggles for survival that those early Americans endured and helps them to appreciate the way things were in 1809. Throughout the trip, the Perkins family’s survival depends upon young E. Z.’s learning which of his fears are real and which are imaginary. Be forewarned. In some series, each book ends with a satisfactory conclusion and merely sets the stage for the next volume. In other series, the reader is left hanging by a thread over a cliff. “Fighting Devil’s Backbone” is the latter. Book 2 is E. Z. and the Chikasha Warrior.
Will the bandits get what they want? Do the Perkinses and their traveling companions encounter any Indian warriors? And what happens when they leave the Trace? Author Tony L. Turnbow also wrote the non-fiction book Hardened to Hickory: The Missing Chapter in Andrew Jackson’s Life, and has studied the history of the Old Natchez Trace for more than thirty years. The Shadow of E. Z.’s Fear is Book 1 of the “Fighting Devil’s Backbone” series. Tony told me, “I am writing a young adult historical fiction series with the goal of encouraging young people to take a greater interest in learning history.”
A historical coming of age tale, this adventure story teaches young people about the daily struggles for survival that those early Americans endured and helps them to appreciate the way things were in 1809. Throughout the trip, the Perkins family’s survival depends upon young E. Z.’s learning which of his fears are real and which are imaginary. Be forewarned. In some series, each book ends with a satisfactory conclusion and merely sets the stage for the next volume. In other series, the reader is left hanging by a thread over a cliff. “Fighting Devil’s Backbone” is the latter. Book 2 is E. Z. and the Chikasha Warrior.
October 9, 2021
The Shadow of E. Z.'s Fear (Fighting Devil's Backbone, was a really good book! And great original story. If you like historical fiction and adventure tales, then you’d like this. I totally recommend this book for middle schoolers and high schoolers. But I think it’s great for all ages too! Also being from Tennessee it was really cool to hear about what it was like in the early 1800s.
It’s set a little over 2 decades after the revolutionary war took place, and follows a teenager and his family looking for a new home. Also do not judge a book by its cover, it’s called The Devil’s Backbone because that was a nickname for the Natchez trace trail back then.
The book had me on the edge of my seat at times, and It ended with me totally wanting to read the second one!
It’s set a little over 2 decades after the revolutionary war took place, and follows a teenager and his family looking for a new home. Also do not judge a book by its cover, it’s called The Devil’s Backbone because that was a nickname for the Natchez trace trail back then.
The book had me on the edge of my seat at times, and It ended with me totally wanting to read the second one!
Read
May 4, 2021This historical fiction book is the first of three books in the Fighting Devil's Backbone series.
Even though the book is targeted to younger readers folks of any age who love history and adventure will enjoy The Shadow of E.Z.'s Fear.
Mr. Turnbow's knowledge of the old Natchez Trace is evident throughout the book.
I give it a "thumbs up".
Even though the book is targeted to younger readers folks of any age who love history and adventure will enjoy The Shadow of E.Z.'s Fear.
Mr. Turnbow's knowledge of the old Natchez Trace is evident throughout the book.
I give it a "thumbs up".
December 26, 2022
Aimed for young readers, but I greatly enjoyed the story. It takes place near where I live and is written by a local author.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews