In 1960, thirteen-year-old Sophie slips through a maze into 19th century Louisiana and finds nothing is as she expected.
The Freedom Maze
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
In the summer of 1960, 13-year-old bookish Sophie Fairchild Martineau is dumped at her mother’s childhood Louisiana home, Oak Cottage, where Sophie’s grandmother has taken to her bed, sighing for the Good Old Days before the War of Northern Aggression. In the stifling humidity, Sophie vents her silent resentment by clearing an overgrown maze, part of the once proud Fairchild plantation. After she wishes impulsively for a grand adventure, she is transported to Oak Cottage in 1860. Here, the story takes a startling turn as Sophie is mistaken for a slave by her ancestors. The vivid characters come to life through Sophie’s nuanced observations, and the tension heightens as her compassionate understanding of her fellow slaves deepens. Sophie’s shift back to her own time is abrupt, but the juxtaposition of the skillfully drawn settings allows readers to draw conclusions about racial equality, human dignity, and the innate drive to control one’s own life. This multilayered story combines fantasy, clever literary allusions, and societal observations into a unique coming-of-age story. --Lynn Rutan
Review
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2011
"Multilayered, compassionate and thought-provoking, a timely read on the sesquicentennial of America’s Civil War."
—Kirkus Reviews (*starred review*)
"Sherman has created a finely honed work of art, a novel that deals eloquently with complex and intersecting issues of race, womanhood, class and age. In transporting the reader so fully into another time, The Freedom Maze becomes timeless."
—Alaya Dawn Johnson, author of Moonshine
"A seamless blending of wondrous American myth with harsh American reality, as befits young Sophie's coming-of-age. I think younger readers and adults alike will be completely riveted by her magical journey into her own family's double-edged past."
—N. K. Jemisin, author of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
"Beautifully imagined and told with satisfyingly matter-of-fact detail: pot liquor and spoon bread, whips and Spanish Moss, corset covers and vévés and bitter, healing herbs. The Freedom Maze is deep, meaningful fun."
—Nisi Shawl, author of Filter House
"Exposes a wide sweep through a narrow aperture, where the arbitrary nature of race and ownership, kindred and love, are illuminated in the harsh seeking glare of an adolescent's coming of age."
—Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing
"This book puts the lie to those today making loose political statements about happy, comfortable slave families of that brutal era while telling a strong story that will not let the young reader stop turning pages to see how things will work out for Sophie and her fellow slaves, especially the cook Africa, and house slaves Antigua and Canada. I was mesmerized."
—Jane Yolen, author of The Devil's Arithmetic
"A riveting, fearless, and masterful novel. I loved Sophie completely."
—Nancy Werlin, author of Extraordinary
"A subtle and haunting book that examines what it means to be who we are."
—Holly Black, co-author of The Spiderwick Chronicles
"Vividly realized and saturated with feeling."
—Elizabeth Knox, author of DreamHunter
"Elegantly unravels many myths of the antebellum South, highlighting the resistance of the enslaved, and showing how even the kind hearted are corrupted by their exploitation of their fellow human beings."
—Justine Larbalestier, author of Liar
"A story that says what no story has quite said before, and says it perfectly."
—Sarah Smith, author of the Agatha-winning The Other Side of Dark
"A dramatic yet sensitively-written coming-of-age story that succeeds both as classic fantasy and issue-oriented children's literature."
—Chris Moriarty
"Vivid and compelling, The Freedom Maze will transport you completely to another time."
—Sarah Beth Durst
"Multilayered, compassionate and thought-provoking, a timely read on the sesquicentennial of America’s Civil War."
—Kirkus Reviews (*starred review*)
"Sherman has created a finely honed work of art, a novel that deals eloquently with complex and intersecting issues of race, womanhood, class and age. In transporting the reader so fully into another time, The Freedom Maze becomes timeless."
—Alaya Dawn Johnson, author of Moonshine
"A seamless blending of wondrous American myth with harsh American reality, as befits young Sophie's coming-of-age. I think younger readers and adults alike will be completely riveted by her magical journey into her own family's double-edged past."
—N. K. Jemisin, author of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
"Beautifully imagined and told with satisfyingly matter-of-fact detail: pot liquor and spoon bread, whips and Spanish Moss, corset covers and vévés and bitter, healing herbs. The Freedom Maze is deep, meaningful fun."
—Nisi Shawl, author of Filter House
"Exposes a wide sweep through a narrow aperture, where the arbitrary nature of race and ownership, kindred and love, are illuminated in the harsh seeking glare of an adolescent's coming of age."
—Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing
"This book puts the lie to those today making loose political statements about happy, comfortable slave families of that brutal era while telling a strong story that will not let the young reader stop turning pages to see how things will work out for Sophie and her fellow slaves, especially the cook Africa, and house slaves Antigua and Canada. I was mesmerized."
—Jane Yolen, author of The Devil's Arithmetic
"A riveting, fearless, and masterful novel. I loved Sophie completely."
—Nancy Werlin, author of Extraordinary
"A subtle and haunting book that examines what it means to be who we are."
—Holly Black, co-author of The Spiderwick Chronicles
"Vividly realized and saturated with feeling."
—Elizabeth Knox, author of DreamHunter
"Elegantly unravels many myths of the antebellum South, highlighting the resistance of the enslaved, and showing how even the kind hearted are corrupted by their exploitation of their fellow human beings."
—Justine Larbalestier, author of Liar
"A story that says what no story has quite said before, and says it perfectly."
—Sarah Smith, author of the Agatha-winning The Other Side of Dark
"A dramatic yet sensitively-written coming-of-age story that succeeds both as classic fantasy and issue-oriented children's literature."
—Chris Moriarty
"Vivid and compelling, The Freedom Maze will transport you completely to another time."
—Sarah Beth Durst
Product Details
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Hapa Girl
Format:Hardcover
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 naďve, 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.
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 naďve, 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.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Library Lady Hylary - Excellent combination of history and fantasy.
April 4, 2012
Format:Hardcover
In 1960 New Orleans, thirteen-year-old Sophie Martineau is struggling to cope with her parents' recent divorce. Her father has moved to New York City, and her former best friend is no longer allowed to socialize with the child of a single mother. To make matters worse, Sophie's mother has decided to send her to Oak Cottage, an old plantation outside of New Orleans, to stay with her grandmother and aunt for the summer. Bored and lonely, Sophie makes a wish to be someone else, and is inadvertently transported back in time to 1860. Having spent several weeks in the sun exploring the bayou of Oak Cottage, Sophie's tanned skin causes her to be mistaken for a slave, and she is immediately put to work in Oak River House, the luxurious home of her ancestors, the Fairchilds. Sophie is used to the racial segregation in the south of 1960, but nothing prepares her for the cruelty and discrimination she experiences as a slave in a pre-Civil War plantation.
Inspired by real life slave narratives and memoirs, veteran author Delia Sherman's The Freedom Maze proves to be a well-written and intriguing novel that is both entertaining and educational. Although the story involves time travel to the 19th century, it begins in the past, over fifty years ago, at the dawn of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Sophie is a complex character, as is her mother, a recently divorced, bitter woman who warns Sophie against associating with "negroes," especially men. As was likely the case with many children during this period of time, Sophie is unsure of exactly why she is supposed to be afraid of African Americans, but takes her mother's word for it, trying hard to be a proper southern lady. Sherman does an excellent job of conveying Sophie's frustration, both with her parents' divorce and her "exile" at the Oak River plantation. The story gets even more layered, however, after Sophie travels back to 1860. The many plantation slaves become to focus of Sophie's new life, as do the ancestors she is forced to serve after they assume she is the light-skinned offspring of a relative and his servant. The author's description of life on the plantation, from vocabulary to daily tasks, is very well done, and gives The Freedom Maze enough historical accuracy to have a strong place in the classroom. Overall, an exceptional novel that can easily be enjoyed by tweens, teens and adults, particularly those with an interest in American history.
I am a big fan of both historical fiction and time travel, so this book was right up my alley. I thought the author did an outstanding job of describing the plantation and life as a slave in 1860. The reader is truly transported into this tumultuous period of time, something that I think would be very valuable for tween or teen readers who are learning about the Civil War or slavery. The author's passion for this era, as well as slave narratives and memoirs, is very evident throughout the novel, and adds that much more to the already exceptional story.
Like my reviews? Check out my profile for a link to my blog for more recommendations!
Inspired by real life slave narratives and memoirs, veteran author Delia Sherman's The Freedom Maze proves to be a well-written and intriguing novel that is both entertaining and educational. Although the story involves time travel to the 19th century, it begins in the past, over fifty years ago, at the dawn of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Sophie is a complex character, as is her mother, a recently divorced, bitter woman who warns Sophie against associating with "negroes," especially men. As was likely the case with many children during this period of time, Sophie is unsure of exactly why she is supposed to be afraid of African Americans, but takes her mother's word for it, trying hard to be a proper southern lady. Sherman does an excellent job of conveying Sophie's frustration, both with her parents' divorce and her "exile" at the Oak River plantation. The story gets even more layered, however, after Sophie travels back to 1860. The many plantation slaves become to focus of Sophie's new life, as do the ancestors she is forced to serve after they assume she is the light-skinned offspring of a relative and his servant. The author's description of life on the plantation, from vocabulary to daily tasks, is very well done, and gives The Freedom Maze enough historical accuracy to have a strong place in the classroom. Overall, an exceptional novel that can easily be enjoyed by tweens, teens and adults, particularly those with an interest in American history.
I am a big fan of both historical fiction and time travel, so this book was right up my alley. I thought the author did an outstanding job of describing the plantation and life as a slave in 1860. The reader is truly transported into this tumultuous period of time, something that I think would be very valuable for tween or teen readers who are learning about the Civil War or slavery. The author's passion for this era, as well as slave narratives and memoirs, is very evident throughout the novel, and adds that much more to the already exceptional story.
Like my reviews? Check out my profile for a link to my blog for more recommendations!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
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.
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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Striking historical fantasy with a powerful outlook on slavery, Civil...
The Freedom Maze is one of those beautifully crafted, almost underhanded coming of age stories where it's impossible to observe the changes in one you see every day, until suddenly... Read more
Published 1 month ago by H. Frederick
4.0 out of 5 stars
A rich and imaginative historical adventure
Sherman is a terrific storyteller, with a great ear for voice, dialog and adventure, and I was captivated from the start with Sophie and her "hooraw's nest" of hair. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sharon McGill
5.0 out of 5 stars
A triumph
"The Freedom Maze" is a triumph. I read it with my 11-year-old daughter, and it was both, I think, the best book I read last year, and her favorite standalone novel of all time. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Benjamin Rosenbaum
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prometheus Winner
This novel is the (co) winner of the Best Libertarian Science Fiction Novel of 2011.
It really isn't science fiction, but it is a good examination of racism in the 1960s... Read more
It really isn't science fiction, but it is a good examination of racism in the 1960s... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Fred Coulter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Sherman has written a gem of a book. It's a perfectly nuanced and well researched historical fiction book, but the research is never obtrusive. Read more
Published 9 months ago by City Witch
3.0 out of 5 stars
Southern Girl's Coming-of-Age Set Across Two Time Periods
THE FREEDOM MAZE is an odd and intriguing book, blending two historical periods with mystical elements. Read more
Published 10 months ago by S. Su
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful for all ages!
This book is absolutely wonderful. Fascinating and engrossing, it tells the story of Sophie, who gets transported from the 1960s deep South to the 1880s where her tan leads her to... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Susan Franzblau
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting time travel adventure! Wonderful writing!
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. Read more
Published 16 months ago by guy
5.0 out of 5 stars
a must-read for anyone who cares about good writing, good stories
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.
Published 18 months ago by Beth Bernobich
