Unbound: A Novel in Verse by Ann E. Burg Scholastic Press, 2016 Unbound was a book I just happened to stumble upon as we were weeding the Fiction section of our library. It immediately intrigued me because it was a verse novel, one of my favorite genres. As I read the summary inside the book’s jacket, I was struck by the fact that I had no idea what the Great Dismal Swamp was or the fact that it had been used as a hiding place by runaway slaves. Seeing as how this book combines two of my favorite genres, historical fiction and verse novels, I immediately had to read it. What I found was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time that had a lasting emotional impact. The story follows Grace, a young slave girl who is called to work in “The Big House,” leaving her family behind to work in the fields. Grace is blue-eyed and light-skinned, which is an implied reason she is called to work for the Master and the Missus. Grace, of course, struggles with leaving her family. She is a young girl, living in a new house, with extremely high expectations and many more rules than she is accustomed to. What Grace sees living in “The Big House” and her interactions with the Master and Missus, begin to motivate her to run away. She begins to question the fairness of the way she and other slaves are treated, and sees the cruelty that lies in the hearts of her owners. Then, one evening, Grace overhears the Missus make plans to sell her family on the auction block. In order to save them all, Grace runs away from “The Big House” to her family’s cabin. They make their escape that night, heading toward the Great Dismal Swamp. The characters and events in this story are so engaging and unforgettable. The history behind their escape is just as interesting as the story itself, and the author provides historical information as well as acknowledgements for her sources at the end of the book. This is by far one of my favorite books to booktalk with students. I can’t keep it on the shelves when I do! It is a fantastic story, full of wonderful free verse, engaging characters, and a plot that moves quickly and holds interest. I cannot recommend this book enough!
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AuthorMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own.
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