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Song Yet Sung: A Novel by James McBride - 4.5* - My Review

Set near the coast in Maryland in the 1850s, Liz is an escaped slave. She is captured by a gang led by a woman out to sell them South for financial gain. During her time as a captive by the gang, she meets an elderly woman who teacher her a code, which slaves use to communicate with each other. She escapes again and must flee from both the gang and a slave catcher hired by her owner. She comes to the aid of a boy in the woods, the son of Woolman, a huge man who lives in the marshes. He leaves her a bundle of supplies in gratitude. Liz becomes known as “the Dreamer.” She experiences visions of the future, where there are no masters or slaves, and blacks are free but still oppressed. The storyline follows Liz’s journey toward the Gospel Train (Underground Railroad) and the people she meets along the way.

Ther novel contains a wide variety of characters – enslaved blacks, free blacks, poor whites, slave catchers, a kindly widow, farmers, and watermen. Each primary character is drawn with a complex and nuanced personality. The descriptions provide a vivid sense of place. There is plenty of drama in this novel, with episodes of violence, sadness, and compassion. It is well-written and a worthy entry into the canon of slave narratives, exposing the dehumanizing effect on everyone who touched it and (through Liz’s visions) the lingering impact on our current society.

PBT Comments: This is on our list for voting for the PBT Top 100 Fiction. It is definitely a worthy candidate.

One of my all-time favorite books. I think I've read it three times. Just love McBride's writing!

This was one of my favorites too!

Also one of my favorites and what drew my attention to James McBride.

I debated if I would include this on my top 15 or Deacon King Kong. It was a hard choice.

So glad to see the love for this book. I am glad I moved it up the list when I saw it on the candidates for Top 100.

Me too!

Meaning glad to see the love.

I have this on my short list of books to read for the challenge-thanks for the review.