47

by Walter Mosley

The story you are about to read concerns certain events that occurred in the early days of my life. It all happened over a hundred and seventy years ago. For many of you it might sound like a tall tale because I am no older today than I was back in the year 1832. But this is no whopper I'm telling; it is a story about my boyhood as a slave and my fated encounter with the amazing Tall John from beyond Africa, who could read dreams, fly between galaxies, and make friends with any animal no matter how wild.

In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Walter Mosley weaves historical and speculative fiction into a powerful narrative about the nature of freedom. 47 is a young slave boy living under the watchful eye of a brutal slave master. His life seems doomed until he meets a mysterious runaway slave, Tall John. 47 soon finds himself swept up in an otherworldly battle and a personal struggle for his own liberation.

Deeply compelling, 47 is reminiscent of the literary masterworks of Nancy Farmer, Philip Pullman, and Octavia Butler.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Historical, African American

240 pages, Turtleback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Walter Mosley (b. 1952) is the author of the bestselling mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins, as well as numerous other works, from literary fiction and science fiction to a young adult novel and political monographs. His short fiction has been widely published, and his nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and the Nation, among other publications. Mosley is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, a Grammy, and PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Alvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most original books I've ever read. Combines historical fiction and science fiction. This is the first Walter Mosley book I've ever read, and I must say, he's incredible.

[Sarah Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed much of this story but struggled with sci-fi alongside slavery. Human beings were/are quite capable of recognizing that there is no master of humans without an alien telling us so. Still, I was turning the pages wondering how Mosley would pull all the threads through the narrative.

[♑︎♑︎♑︎ ♑︎♑︎♑︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This YA novel was a unique mix of 1) a realistic story of the despair and horror of plantation slavery, & 2) a fantasy about a benevolent alien who comes to Earth to empower a slave boy with supernatural longevity and wisdom, so that he can save the world. It's kind of like combining 12 Years A Slave with Mary Poppins. And I'm coming to understand that Walter Mosley can write anything at all and I'll love it.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gem

Fantastic!

A proud combo of African-American folklore, history, Time travel, shape-shifting, and intergalactic conflict add unusual elements to this story.

So very well written. Well-crafted characters; sharp dialogue and vivid descriptions.

I loved it

[Kelley]

Dredging the archives of my old YA blog--from back in the day when I was a YA para-librarian. Awesome!


47 is a young slave on a Georgia plantation. When he is 14 years old, he is sent to work in the cotton fields, branded with the number 47, the only name he’s ever known. One day he meets Tall John, another slave boy, escaped from a nearby plantation. “I say that he was colored, but not like any Negro I’d known. His skin was the color of highly polished brass but a little darker, a little like copper too but not quite. His eyes were almond-shaped and large with red-brown pupils” (p.47). Tall John turns out to be more than just an escaped slave boy—he leads 47 on a quest to save not only the slaves on his plantation, but the entire planet. Tall John also teaches 47 about true freedom and provides this oft repeated maxim: “Neither master nor nigger be.”
A blend of historical fiction, magical realism, and science fiction, this book should appeal to a broad audience. I appreciated the gritty and harrowing account of slave life on a 19th c. plantation, but I also found the fantasy elements quite intriguing. If you enjoy fantasy or if you like Octavia Butler or Samuel Delany, this new YA novel will captivate you. Even if you don’t like fantasy, I’ll bet this book will capture you anyway. By page 20, I had tears in my eyes and couldn’t set it down until I’d finished.

[lyns · Rating 4 out of 5]

man, i really liked this book. it was the first book i read since butler's kindred that combined the telling of sci-fi with historical slavery of the US. i read it in one day and felt like it was a bit unfinished, but i enjoyed it along the way immensely. i would totally recommend it to folks that like young adult sci-fi.

[Alexia Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was amazing I absolutely loved it!
It was many things to me, so I will just say "Enchanting, engrossing, magnificent and necessary. A veracious account on more levels than one."

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just as bad as Runner by Carl Deuker, but in completely the opposite way--this novel aims high...but falls flat. Title refers to the number branded on a young slave, unnamed, who becomes a messiah for the enslaved and takes on a supernatural being. After an initial back-story that feels more educational than real (47's mom was slaveowner's wife's favorite slave--the slaveowner hates 47 but has promised to take care of him--real stuff, shunted off to the side), the protagonist meets a runaway slave named Tall John who has escaped to tell 47 of his destiny...to save the world fighting an alien creature. Yup, at this point the novel turns Sci-fi, and things fall apart. The novel just isn't Harry Potter; the Sci-fi element is undercooked and the plot begins to meander. In the end, the reader has no investment in the battle or, for that matter, any idea who or what the antagonist really is (a being named Wall is trying to get a hold of Tall John's Sun Ship to mine green ore; I swear the writing of the rest of the novel (the non-Sci-fi part) is much better). One really appreciates J.K. Rowling's ability to fully realize a completely new world, make it descriptive, realistic, and wondrous. Here the plot lands with a thud; it's as if there's a really good novel about these potentially interesting characters and the era of slavery trapped inside a Sci-fi plot, just to give the novel a forward motion (which doesn't really work). It would have been much more successful sticking with the characters of the time and their interactions. (For something that does pull off a period drama and fantasy/sci-fi, check out the TV show Carnivale).

At least this novel aims high, however, unlike Deuker's, which I read the same week. There are definitely points in which the writing turns didactic, but overall, had the plot taken a different turn, this could have been a good historical fiction character study.

[CH _Kenya Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

47 by Walter Dean Meyer's is a gripping tale about a young slave boy whose known only as 47. He has an abusive master that keeps a close watchful eye on him making escape almost impossible. Until 47 meets a run away slave called Tall John who is as mysterious as his name. Tall John read dreams, fly between galaxies and make friends with any kind of animal. As the two becomes fast friends 47 gets wrapped up in Tall John's mysterious otherworldly activities and begins a personal pursuit of his own liberation. Walter Dean Meyers has always been one of my favorite authors, especially for middle school students. With his first attempt at a book for young adults he manages to write a compelling story that could in bee used in the 7th or 8th grades with much teacher guidance. This is a must read for anyone looking for a narrative that manages to tell the historical events as they actually occurred.

[Jody Bachelder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been a really good historical fiction book about a young slave (he doesn't have a name, just a number "47") who meets a runaway slave and stands up to his master. Then reality gets bent a bit, and we find out that the runaway slave is actually an alien from outer space who has special powers that he uses to help 47 escape. This type of genre is magical realism, and I have to admit it's just not my thing. Give me full-on fantasy or straight fiction, but please don't mix the two. Mosley does a wonderful job of capturing the fear and degradation that slaves felt, and I would have been happy if he had stuck with that. This was my first eBook -- I read this on a Nook and loved the experience!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I especially liked about this book was the positioning of the central character as both a person experiencing slavery and as someone who is part of a broader context and experience. Mosley weaves discussions about the meaning of freedom and humanity into a narrative that centers on a young boy's struggle for freedom from slavery but includes another story with aliens and saving the universe... The alien and his world brought me back, a bit, to the trippy aliens in another of Mosley's sci-fi stories, Blue Light, but I thought it worked. The speculative fiction element allowed the story to be bigger and more thoughtful than it might otherwise have been.

[Cecelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really not sure what to make of this book. It is listed as a juvenile fiction book, but I definitely think it is more suitable for a young adult audience. There is some very graphic content. The book is about slavery, and what it truly means to be free. But, it is also a fantasy novel. I was actually really liking the story, until it got really deep into the fantasy stuff. The fantasy stuff is just confusing and weird. No other way to put it, just plain weird. However, I would recommend this book. It presents a very realistic look at life as a slave.

[Shanae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply magnificent. Brilliant writing. Exceptional storytelling. This is perfect.

[3MuhammadY. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about slaves and how they worked in early America. Main characters in this book are slave number 47, Tall John(12), Big mama Flore, Mud Albert,slave number 84, White master Tobias, Mr Steward. All slaves are working in Corinthian plantation in Georgia. Number 47 is the main character in this story who is 14 years old and is son of a slave woman who also worked at the plantation but died few years ago. Big mama Flore raised 47 and loved him like his own son. Tall John is a run away slave from another plantation and came to Corinthian and became 47s friend.
When Tall John comes to Corinthian plantation he meets with 47 and becomes friend of him. He convinces Tobias who is owner of the plantation that he has came from faraway where his masters farm got burned down so he is looking for a new plantation to work on. Tall John was some kind of mysterious guy for all of the plantation. His ideas were revolutionary. He convinced 47 that no one in this world is slave to any body. He planted a seed of freedom into 47s minds which grew into a big tree. One day, 47, Tall John and another girl slave 84 ran away form plantation.
Audience of the story is people who read the story. This book is really good to create sense of freedom in someones mind. By reading this book we can understand what freedom is like and how people of earlier times struggled to be free.

[Kewpie · Rating 4 out of 5]

47 is a plantation field slave, forbidden to have a name of his own -- he is simply assigned a number. He lives a life of downtrodden misery until the mysterious Tall John arrives at the plantation. He refuses to think of himself as a slave and claims that freedom comes from within. This is not a typical historic account of slavery. Tall John has a mysterious background and odd magical gadgets he carries in a carpet bag. This is a very unusual hybrid of history and science fiction. Read-alikes: No idea -- this book isn't even like other Walter Mosely books. It seems unique. It reminded me somewhat of a movie from the 80's called "The Brother from Another Planet" I'd recommend this book as a cross-over between science fiction and history. Perhaps someone who likes one but not the other could be persuaded to read this book. This is one of the most original and strange books I have ever read. It was also fun to read.

[Angela Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walter Mosley's depiction of slavery and a human capacity for both freedom and brutality is portrayed vividly in 47. Mosley's ability to illustrate the interconnectedness of life raises questions about the capacity of the mind to transcend conditions of a current reality in order to move towards a future that stands in stark contrast to that which is often perceived as normative. Mosley's articulation of plantation life in 1832 contradicts a belief that the lynching of blacks in mass numbers was not a common practice prior to 1865. In addition Mosley challenges readers to consider the significance associated with naming. For freedom loving people, a critical reading of 47 is a reminder that moral courage is a requisite if we are to live into our purpose.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping, bone-tingling, spellbinding story about a boy who rises out of slavery with the help of his magical, mysterious new friend. As the story progresses, he slowly tears himself away from predjudices, as well. This incredible tale is part fantasy, part historical fiction, and 100% worth reading!!!!

[Melissa Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the weirdest books I have read in a long long time, and I really enjoyed this book because of that. My only complaint is that the ending was extremely abrupt and on the whole this story felt rushed. That aside though the concept, characters, and sci-fi/fantasy elements were spot on so I do recommend this book. This wasn't an easy read but it left an impact.

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onvan : 47 - Nevisande : Walter Mosley - ISBN : 316016357 - ISBN13 : 9780316016353 - Dar 240 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2005

[Jennifer Crain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a total surprise read for me. The combination of historical fiction and science fiction was an interesting way to tell the very gritty story of slavery and freedom. Definitely worth a read.

[Aims · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely sure how I feel about this book.

[Michelle Hendricks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, how to begin. This is my fourth Mosley book. They always feel like a bit of a runaway freight train that sucks you onto the tracks.

This was his first YA book and you know how I love that! It’s also about slavery in the South in the 1830’s and a young boy named 47 (his slave #). It’s also about an alien, N’clect, who left his planet 3,000 years prior because a machine made of glass named, Queziastril, answered N’clect’s question (each citizen only gets one) and showed him 47’s image. 47 is the way to stop the Calash from destroying N’clect’s planet and Earth (and maybe the whole universe).

Have I lost you?! Well the funny thing is, the book starts about a boy called, Babychile, by Big Mama Flore who is raising and protecting him on the Corinthian Plantation. Eventually Big Mama can’t protect him any longer and he’s thrown out with the field working slaves and branded. Well now our alien friend, now called Tall John’ shows up and befriends and saves 47 through a series of events and by using some of his special powers and tools. Whew!

So.

Yeah, it started out as a YA book about slavery. And then it got the Mosley treatment. And I read the whole thing. Not sure who I’d recommend it to. But yes, I’ll read another Mosley book sometime somewhere. :)

[Garett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working in the fields was tough because the slaves didn’t get to choose what to do as a job. Also, working in the fields was the worst because it was so hard to pick cotton and it could be painful too. In the historical fiction book 47 by Walter Mosley, the theme of the book is that everyone should be treated fairly, no matter what color skin they have.
I think this is true because on page 204 when they got free they said, “free to do what we wanted to do. Freedom - what every slave dreamed about from morning to night and from night to morning every day of their lives.” At one point in the story, 47’s hands were bleeding because he needed to work in the fields and he was cutting his hands on the cotton stuff that they needed to pick.

47 is a good book because it said a lot about slavery and had a lot of good details to help explain it. There was also a lot of action happening throughout the book and it was fun to read.

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure what to say about 47. It is a very good book, but as I read it, I kept expecting it to be better. I am a huge Walter Mosley fan, so maybe my expectations were too high. I wanted a young adult novel dealing with slavery to knock my socks off or leave me speechless. I think Mr. Mosley did a great job describing the propaganda/brainwashing that was so prevalent in the south and an even greater job of explaining how evil that kind of thinking was. I found the characters interesting but kind of one dimensional. The science fiction aspect was an original twist that may attract readers who normally avoid historical fiction. I will read the sequel, if there is one, to see if the second book is more powerful.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed a number of other books by Walter Mosley, and this one is another great read. The title refers to a boy who lives on a plantation where the slaves have numbers instead of names, and his is 47. But that is just where the story starts, and it goes in some fantastic directions from there. It's classified as Young Adult fiction, but I guess I must be young at heart (or mind?) because I loved it.

The combination of spiritual/sci-fi/fantasy elements and brutal historical fiction works for me, and if that kind of story works for you, too, then I highly recommend this book.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that it was a good book and it really explained slavery in a fictional way that I could understand it easier. It nicely tells you the horrible things that African Americans had to go through. I really enjoyed the end when the main character and the other slaves on the plantation burn it down and run free. How the author writes it is very interesting. this book is made for adults or kids anyone who is interested in learning what slaves went through.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Appreciated this book's charms, but couldn't shake the feeling that the mythology reminded me of the Operating Thetan levels of Scientology.

[Don Kathke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Mosley book!

Another side to Walter Mosley. Fiction; but filled with truth and lessons. Was it coincidence that I read this book in February. Maybe not!

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep in my mind an even more radical thought had began to form. I realized that I was free even though I was clamped in chains and locked away. I was free because I had made a decision to run away if I could. Most of the slaves on the Corinthian Plantation would never actually try to run away. They knew that they'd probably get caught and whipped or worse. And I could see that the real chains that the slave wore were the color of his skin and the defeat in his mind. Neither master nor nigger be, Tall John had said from the first moments we met. There in the worst aspect of my slavery I came to fully understand those words' meaning.
I felt the thrill of freedom in my heart.

[Erin Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! It combines a classic novel about slavery with sci-fi, future, fantasy stuff, which I have never even heard of before. It's such an interesting concept, and it was pulled off incredibly well. I don't even know how to explain the book, let alone put into words why I enjoyed it so much. I definitely recommend it.

My only complaint: I listened to the audiobook from Listening Library and the narrator, Ossie Davis, has a very crunchy, hoarse voice, so it took me a little bit to get used to it. Once I got it though, everything was great!