May/June 2021 Kids Indie Next List

“Rita Williams-Garcia immerses the reader in pre-Civil War life in Louisiana, making it impossible to ignore all the different ways that white people of all social classes exerted their power over enslaved people. Williams-Garcia explores the ties between France, the United States and Haiti, the complex position of descendants of both the enslaved and the slave owners and the ways that white people justified their atrocities. The author's note and other back matter go into detail about the research and writing process and add more layers to the narrative. A book that will stay with you long after you finish the final page.”
— Cecilia Cackley, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC