The Situation: Born into slavery, young Annis is taught how to survive by her mother, as she works in the house of the man who is her father. Occasionally, she is able to hear parts of the lessons that are taught to the master's twin girls - Annis' half-sisters - which include Alighieri's Inferno. After her master sells her and it is time for Annis to make her own journey, she becomes a different kind of guide downward, navigating the difficult journey from the Carolinas, all the way down to New Orleans. It is a difficult trek full of more than just rough terrain and turbulent rivers.
The Problem: As Annis gazes back into her history, to her mother and grandmother, what she often finds is not necessarily relief, answers, or even comfort. And while the long journey to New Orleans is hard, surviving at her new home of the sugar plantation proves to be even tougher. Being owned by a miserly and stingy woman is difficult enough, and when harvest season comes, things only get worse. And despite often being disappointed and frustrated with the world she seeks beyond this one, the one full of myth, history, and spirits, Annis continues to both seek and defy it in the search for real, true freedom.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel with Annis as the first-person narrator. With many references and callbacks to Alighieri's Inferno, Annis becomes the reader's guide not only on the journey to Louisiana, but also through her time at both plantations. It is the stories of her mother and warrior grandmother that will help move Annis forward, even as she learns of the hardships and betrayals they had to endure, only to become slaves themselves. It is a search for freedom and joy that moves through grief and despair, with the long journey through the southern U.S. feeling like a real descent to a darker place.
My Verdict: No matter how it is approached, the subject of slavery is going to be a tough one to tackle, most likely for both the author and the reader. There is no shying away from the horrors Annis has to endure as a slave on a rice plantation, forced to daily face the reality that her father is her master, and her half-sisters know a life of luxury and education that she may never get to enjoy. Add in the grueling journey south, and the harsh reality of the sugar plantation, and what Ward offers is the kind of portrayal many may want to avoid, but becomes worth exploring due to the language and characters. Ward's work has been critically acclaimed for a reason, and it is easy to see why her writing has endured.
Favorite Moment: After arriving in New Orleans, Annis learns of a group of slaves that managed to live free in the swamps. It is a story full of hope and tragedy, giving more depth to Annis' new home, rather than making it a new location with same (or worse) problems.
Favorite Character: Mary does not speak, but she works hard at the sugar plantation, and she contains more depth and layers for those that know to look.
Recommended Reading: I recommend The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.
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