How Far We've Come

by Joyce Efia Harmer

A groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed debut novel of friendship and freedom that crosses continents and centuries, in a timeslip story exploring the legacy of slavery, selected as The Times Children's Book of the Week.

Sometime, me love to dream that me is a human, a proper one, like them white folks is.

Enslaved on a plantation in Barbados, Obah dreams of freedom. As talk of rebellion bubbles up around her in the Big House, she imagines escape. Meeting a strange boy who’s not quite of this world, she decides to put her trust in him. But Jacob is from the twenty-first century. Desperate to give Obah a better life, he takes her back with him. At first it seems like dreams really do come true – until the cracks begin to show and Obah sees that freedom comes at an unimaginable cost . . .

Hopeful and devastating, this powerful novel about equality, how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go, introduces an extraordinary new literary voice.

Praise for How Far We've Come:

‘A powerful exploration of racism, solidarity, friendship, freedom and hope’ Laura Bates

‘One of the most impressive young adult debuts of the year. This gripping novel takes a nuanced look at the legacy of slavery, injustice and inequality in today's world’ Observer  
 
‘Both hopeful and heartbreaking, this gripping book turns a searchlight on the changing faces of injustice through time’ Guardian
 
‘A brilliant idea and a powerful debut’ The Times, Children’s Book of the Week
 
‘A seriously impressive debut. Read it now’ Irish Times

‘A powerful, ambitious, unforgettable read about freedom, rebellion, love and hope’ Liz Hyder
 
‘A gut punch of a debut, this book is both vital reading and a call to arms’ Laura Wood

‘Compassionate, brave, authentic, educational. Everyone should read it’ Abiola Bello

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2023

Reviews

[Ela :) · Rating 1 out of 5]

If me reads one more sentence written like this, me will lose me shit.

[Priss · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5. The book is quite intense and visual - I think this is what makes the book quite strong, as it doesn't gloss over what happened during the times of slavery, but describes it quite visually. For example, the scene where Mimbah lost her vision made quite an impression on me. I also like the concept of the story - Obah travelling towards the future and from there, gaining a better drive to make life better for her and her self-found family back in the past. However, I found the language a bit distracting - I got used to it after a while, but it took me some time to get into the story because of it. I also thought that Oba was the only character that was really well developed - the others were mostly there to support the story, but we got very little background on all of them. This was also visible in the relationship that Obah had with Jacob, they seemed to be in love but it was completely unclear to me how they came to be in love and what they were both basing it on. I think having a bit more background and flesh to these side-characters might have added a whole lot to the book.
All in all, I thought the book was better than I expected, but for the topic, I'm not sure if I'd rather recommend other books or films.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

How Far We've Come has a powerful plot, simultaneously set in the disparate worlds of 1834 Barbados, narrated by a black female protagonist (Obah), and 21st Century England, through the eyes of a white teenage boy (Jacob). It uses the same timeslip device as Octavia Butler does in Kindred, but in a more skillful and compelling way, and presents the opportunity to reflect on how far we have, (or haven’t) progressed since the 19th Century.

Obah’s voice seems authentic and well-developed, and provides a gripping and important perspective from which to consider this painful part of history. It is initially intriguing to see how Obah reacts to the completely foreign 21st Century landscape with: electricity, running water, drones and relative equality, but I felt myself wanting to return to the past to find out more about how the Barbados story would unfold, predicting the downfall of the barbaric white plantation owners in a variety of humiliating and gruesome ways.

Juxtaposing the two worlds helps emphasise how we have moved forward towards an improved sense of humanity, whilst allowing us to consider how the attitudes of the past still linger in the fabric of our modern world. Although it is laden with heavy-handed ‘white guilt’, it highlights the way our modern culture is built on inequality and exploitation, and reminds us we still have a lot of work to do. This is an important YA debut novel. Thank you to LoveReading for the copy, in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen Burrows · Rating 3 out of 5]

How Far We've Come is a compelling YA novel exploring the legacy of slavery.

Comparisons to Kindred were always going to be inevitable with a time-travel concept like this, and I was intrigued to see how Harmer approached it from a YA perspective. I found Obah's voice instantly engaging, and the world and characters of 1834 Barbados are vividly drawn.

Sadly the story loses its way when Obah enters the 21st century. Jacob and his family don't feel like fully-realised characters, and the exploration of white guilt is a little heavy-handed. There was a definite sense that the Barbados plot was the one that really mattered, and the 21 century interlude was only there to make a (valid, but obvious) point.

How Far We've Come is a brave debut from a promising new YA voice.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

[Payal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's so hard to rate a book like this one that talks of the unspeakable things that humans did. I have complicated feelings about the book: on the one hand, I thought this could be the science-fiction novel Kindred (Octavia Butler) wasn't, but in the end it didn’t exactly deliver. On the other hand, I wasn't terribly convinced by the plotting in some places. The unrequited-ish InstaCrush between Obah and Jacob never rang true; nor did I have any patience for the amount of white guilt that finds space.

Obah is a great protagonist, and she stays true to herself. Ultimately, though, while I loved what happened, I wan't too convinced that it did or could have, particularly the big timing-related coincidence at the end. Anyhow, I won't spoil it for anyone!

(Review copy from Amazon)

[Rachel Churcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more YA reviews, visit my blog – Unsupervised in a Bookstore .

Obah is a slave on a Barbados plantation in 1834. Jacob is a descendant of a slave-owning family, determined to atone for the crimes of his ancestors. When Jacob finds a way to time travel to Obah's plantation, he seizes his chance to give her a life of freedom in present-day Somerset. But Jacob has underestimated Obah's experiences on the plantation and the culture shock she encounters in twenty-first century England, and Obah has discovers that the two teenagers are more closely connected than she realised.

It's an interesting premise for a story. Obah is a perfect protagonist to take on the injustices of life on the plantation, and to recognise the problems of present-day society from her unique viewpoint. She's intelligent and determined, but she knows how to keep herself safe and obey the rules that govern her life, both in Barbados and in the UK.

The supporting characters, and Obah's relationships with them, give the book its page-turning pace. In Barbados she works in the kitchens, and directly for the wife of the owner. Her mother escaped from the plantation when Obah was young, and Obah has built her own family among the slaves. With them, she finds warmth and community while she navigates constant danger from the owner and his overseer, and the whims of the owner's wife and daughter. The author doesn't romanticise life on the plantation, and the reader is not spared the horrific experiences Obah and her found family share. There is no gratuitous detail, but the matter-of-fact reactions of the slaves to their punishments and hardships is more heartbreaking than any over-dramatised anger or confrontation. The unending injustice and cruelty is harrowing to read.

In England, Obah slowly learns to trust Jacob and his mother and sister. It takes time for her to understand that she is not expected to work or take care of them, and to understand the expectations of modern-day society on her. She sees injustices that they, as a wealthy white family, do not, and it is this that drives the twenty-first century sections of the story.

There are all sorts of issues with writing a novel like this. Avoiding the White Saviour trope, and the obvious difficulties both characters will experience as they are displaced from their homes, feels extremely important to making this story work in 2023. Both characters learn about themselves, their societies, and their prejudices, and come to see the power Obah has over her life, if she can work out how to use it. I'm not completely convinced that the author has fully avoided all the issues with the setup, but the story structure is neat and the characters engaging. It definitely gives the reader plenty to think about.

How Far We've Come is published in paperback today! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC copy.

[Becca ♡ PrettyLittleMemoirs · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Actual Rating: 3.5 stars*

Obah can only dream of freedom, of a life that is her own. Enslaved on a Barbados plantation—a large property or piece of land dependent on the labor of enslaved people—she knows nothing of privilege and peace. Only, when there are talks of a rebellion in what they call the Big House, she begins to imagine what that liberty might look like.

In doing so, Obah meets Jacob. He seems strange, out of sorts, as if he’s not from her world. Even so, she puts her faith in him, despite concern of where that might lead. Sure enough, Jacob isn’t from her time at all. He’s from the twenty-first century—and he wants to take her back with him to give her a better life. To Obah, this is otherworldly, a dream come to life. But things aren’t always as they seem, and soon enough things start to fracture, and Obah realises that freedom isn’t as straight-forward as her escape has seemed. Sure, the future is different and better, but those wounds are still there and cannot be ignored and erased. And despite Jacob’s best wishes of bringing her to his time for a better life, time itself isn’t ours to bend—but what does that mean for Obah?

Overall, How Far We’ve Come was a gut-punch of emotion, full to the brim of poignant words and striking after-thoughts once the last page was turned. Joyce does an incredible job of creating distinctive voices and invoking major feelings with her words. Obah was so vivid in my mind. I loved how her character developed over the pages, and how big her heart was. I wasn’t all that sure of Jacob, who ended up growing on me, but his family weren’t favourites for me. I felt quite disconnected from the present-day timeline, enthralled more by the Barbados one where we were rooted as readers, and found the characters of Obah’s time my favourite to read about. Some of the twists were hard to believe or easy to guess, but it was nevertheless powerful—this book is sure to make such a large impact on people. I really think readers will love Obah, just as I did, and root for her belief in future happiness and emancipation from what she had to do to survive, and who she could be when it was over. A very great read indeed.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting with the concept that time traveling would not be an equal opportunity for all, this book leads into a poignant examination of colonial history and the repercussions that are felt in the present day. Along with giving a no-holds barred account of slavery in the Caribbean and the liberties that could be made beyond the free range of behaviors the hideous institution already employed because of the distance, this story also examines how thins beyond technology would be seen through the eyes of someone who had lived in that system.

This book also explores the concept of responsibility and autonomy. This book could have easily been a white savoir tale. It could have come off as having a character who tried to gain personal absolution for the guilt they felt for an ancestor's acts. It could have been a tale in which a experience came back to a self-motivated noble gesture triggering a victory over oppression. "How Far We've Come" goes beyond that to show that decisions and consequences are necessary. It shows that there can be mistakes and honest attempts at ally ship in many forms. It shows how important it is to listen to people when it comes to what they feel is right in the moment.

The multiple levels of found family are also welcomed. There is a thread of small happinesses and not taking for granted the little blessings and kindnesses. it also points out how not being a perfect ally doesn't make you a worse person. But what I felt it boiled down to was that existence is bravery in itself. To stand up for your light, and for the light of others denied their brilliance, is always worth it. and that all actions have ripples. the only question is how much does the sea change with each, and how heavy is the drop?

This audiobook was narrated by the author. I much commend her for having a performance as brilliant as her words.

[Prerna Shambhavee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading 'How Far We've Come' by Joyce Efia Harmer, and I'm still reeling from the experience. This debut novel is a masterpiece that will leave you breathless, hopeful, and heartbroken all at once.

The story follows Obah, an enslaved girl on a plantation in Barbados, who dreams of freedom and a better life. When she meets Jacob, a mysterious boy from the 21st century, she takes a chance on him and is transported to a world beyond her wildest dreams. But as she navigates this new reality, she realizes that freedom comes with a steep price.

The author's writing is evocative, powerful, and unflinching. She tackles the legacy of slavery, racism, and inequality with nuance and sensitivity, never shying away from the harsh realities of the past and present. The characters are multidimensional and relatable, with Obah's voice shining through as a beacon of hope and resilience.

What struck me most about this novel is its ability to balance hope and devastation. Harmer shows us the progress we've made, but also the long way we still have to go. The book is a call to arms, a reminder that freedom and equality are still worth fighting for.

The praise for this book is well-deserved. It's a groundbreaking and critically-acclaimed debut that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. If you're looking for a story that will challenge your perspectives, break your heart, and fill you with hope, then 'How Far We've Come' is a must-read. Trust me, you won't regret it.

[Jamie Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite frankly an amazing book. A unique idea, of a time traveller who gets to compare two different times to see if things have really got better over hundreds of years or not. I would like to think so. I have to say that I was put off a little at first because in the author's note at the beginning, Mrs Harmer states that there is a side to British History that isn't told in schools. I think great strides have been made in teaching about brilliant black voices from the past over the last 15/20 years. It would be fascinating to go forward another 200 years from today to see what the world and social justice are like. The characters are beautifully formed and Obah's sense of discomfort, longing and fear are well described. I like how, through her experiences, she gradually becomes a force to be reckoned with, compared to the relatively and understandably meek person we meet at the beginning. Some of the circumstances and situations are truly eye-opening and sometimes discomforting to read about - how could life really have been like that for some people? However, there is definitely a positive sense of hope and belief running through the author's note and the story itself. Hopefully, it does inspire some young people to take up the torch and fight for injustice in the future, as there is still more to do and we owe to all those, like Obah who started the fight so many years ago.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Thank you to the publisher for my copy as part of commemorating Black History Month. I truly respect what this book tried to do and it did achieve its aims for the most part - in a reverse Kindred fashion, it uses it’s out of time character to show how little had changed and how we still have a long way to go as Black people living life under the weight of white supremacy and colonialism in the UK. I like that this is a YA book that wholly acknowledges England’s part in the slave trade, that part is often glossed over when history is taught in British schools. I guess that at times this story seemed to lack direction a little? The pacing was definitely off at times and it felt a little white saviour-y in places? Overall though, a solid effort.

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A case of it's me, not you (to some extent).

Over time, I've read and watched a lot of slavery narratives and admittedly, even though I haven't read one in a hot minute, I am still oversaturated on them.

What makes this unique is that I haven't seen many YA books tackling this subject. And I'm glad it did it while being realistic and upfront about what slavery was really like -- even for teenagers at this age.

I've never read a YA book written in patwah either. Which was really nice to read and see.

This is a historical fiction, time travel mash up. It felt like a YA version of Kindred to be honest, with a more digestible level of concepts and history.

I liked the ending. I do think some parts of the storyline intrigued me more than others.

[Isobel Ramsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful novel about an enslaved girl on a Barbados plantation in the 1830s who is able to travel to the future. There she meets the descendants of the British family who owned the plantation. She also experiences what it's like to be free - but at the same time is made aware of the racism in modern day Britain. The son of the family wants to help her and they travel back to the 1830s together where she incites a rebellion against the plantation owners. I enjoyed this novel and have since learned that there was in fact a slave rebellion in Barbados in 1816. There is a lot to discuss around the history of slavery in British colonies and how this painful memory is taught and dealt with in modern Britain.

[Amy Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredibly powerful and moving book - it will definitely stay with me for a long time. Set in Barbados in 1834 and following the main character Obah, which is told through the eyes of Jacob.
Full of emotions that have you on your rollercoaster throughout filled with love, heartbreak, and tears, that has you captivated from the beginning and explains and tells the stories of the barbaric actions of white plantation slave owners and the horrors that black people had to endure.

[Miss Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished listening to this book and I’ve been blown away by it. It is so beautifully written and read. It has opened my mind to what it may have been like to live as a slave. It has caused me to question the way we treat other people and animals and how power imbalances cause sadness and repression and should be always kept in check. This book grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go and I already miss Abu now it is finished. The book reminded me a little of Philip Pullman’s Northern lights but grittier, more real and better. It will make a long lasting impression on my life.

[Bryan Elsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gathers force

I wasn’t sure about the time travel element which seemed a little simplistic. But as the book goes on, Ms Efia Harmers’s argument becomes complex and rich. I am an old man but I think a young adult audience would see her meaning and intent clearly. I enjoyed the book very much, and was swept up in the last few chapters, read in one sitting with a knot in my stomach. Buy this for your young teenager.

[Emily Blunden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 3/4 really. It is a powerful YA novel, revealing the brutal realities of life as a slave on a plantation, with an innovative narrative approach to linking this history with current events in contemporary England. This is a thoughtful read, but with a strong plot and good sense of pace.

Suitable for age 14 upwards, as there is clear reference to attempted rape.

[grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was really good and i think it’s important to read it, it’s honestly amazing for a debut novel and i’m so impressed. The ending was good but i don’t know. i feel it was rushed? i’m not sure i’m just not fully satisfied with the ending and i cannot figure out why

[Molly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I feel bad rating this one so harshly, as the idea is good and the history is important. I get that the writing style is meant to be authentic, but for me it was clunky and awkward to read. The story didn’t work for me and I didn’t gel with any of the characters unfortunately.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read all year. A must read.

[Naciye Bilici · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book, creates an interesting experience and maybe some more understanding of history.

[Shirin T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and deeply moving story, beautifully written. Joyce Efia Harmer brilliantly explores themes of friendship, courage, freedom and justice, all the while infusing a sense of hope.

Although in reality we cannot change the devastating accounts of humanity's past, this book inspires compassion and courage to change our collective future. A book that should be read by all.

[Fav · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it interesting but this young adult novel explores racism and how it will always be a thing in the world and looks at the inequality in our world and it focuses on freedom,slavery,rebellion and have hope for change. I really enjoyed this novel.