Customer Reviews

The Freedom Maze

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sophie's a teenager, coping with summer boredom at her invalid grandmother's home, when she finds a magical creature who can send her back in time... to slavery days.

It's a book that feels authentic in its recreation of life on a sugar plantation - the dangers and oppression, the friendship and caring and magic. All the characters feel real, and it isn't written from a romantic "Gone with the Wind" view of the past. In fact, in some ways, this is the anti-Gone-with-the-Wind.

It's also a story of grace under pressure, and while it confronts a lot of difficult themes, it's not a depressing book. At all. In fact, it's a fast and wonderful read. I'd recommend this book to children - and adults - who are interested in adventure stories or historical fiction.

I received this e-book via LibraryThing Early Reviewers program which provides free books in exchange for a review.

Ostensibly a Young Adult book, this novel kept me turning pages right until the end. The author does a superb job integrating the various threads of historical fiction and fantasy within a coming of age tale.

The teenaged protagonist, Sophie, was written authentically as naïve, stubborn, and rebellious. The mother/daughter and other family relationships are well defined. Sophie's character matures substantially after her time travel adventures (or, more accurately, her misadventures). The primary and supporting characters are well-drawn and while some border on being stereotypes, the majority are, for the most part, believable.

Initially, the fantasy aspect of the book seemed jarring to me, but then, there would have to be a way to explain Sophie's ability to time travel to her ancestral plantation home and back again. As the story unfolded, my concerns disappeared as Ms. Sherman does an excellent job encapsulating the fantastical elements within the African healing myths and rituals.

At the back of the book, the author states the novel was written over an 18-year period. I applaud her persistence as it has paid off in a provocative novel that somehow manages to pull the reader in as the story progresses. The exhaustive research shines through and the writing never gets in the way of the storyline.

Any book about slavery is necessarily tragic, but Ms. Sherman is able to write an interesting tale without making it too dark for younger readers. I recommend Freedom Maze for readers of any age.

Once I ventured into The Freedom Maze, I couldn't put it down. I was totally caught up in Sophie's adventures; interested, amused and amazed until the very end.
I very impressed by the historical research and evocative detail, spun with lovely writing into a miraculous lacework of the pre war South.

Honest, strong, and vivid... This story is true to the heart. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who cares about good writing and good stories.