Review Detail

Fifteen year old Genna loves to visit a garden where she throws pennies into a fountain. She dreams for a way her family can get out of their tough Brooklyn neighborhood. In the meantime she studies hard in school, knowing that this will lead to scholarships and a way to better herself. One day she meets Judah at her local library. Judah is different than the other boys in her neighborhood. But he has different dreams, ones that don't involve college.

Then Genna finds herself transported back to 1863 Brooklyn. When she first shows up, she lands into the hands of some slave traders who think she's a runaway slave. Genna learns that this Brooklyn is even tougher than the one she left behind. It will take all her wits just to survive.

This is an engrossing tale of an African American teen who finds that sometimes you need to be careful on what you wish for. Genna is very likable and you can't help but want her to succeed at her dreams and goals of a better life. I did find the beginning a tad bit long but interesting on her accounts on her family life and the discrimination she saw in our time.

My favorite part of the book is in the second section. The scenes where she's transported back to 1863 are graphic and very intense. She struggles with racism and discrimination here too but it's more frightening and terrifying. Even though New York was for the Union, slave traders still roamed the streets. Just because you were 'free' didn't mean much as employers still could hit you and throw you in prison for insulting a 'white'.

One scene in particular showed the racism of the time when the doctor she works with shows her an illustration on why both blacks and women were inferior based on the size of their brains. Genna finds that her street smarts from her time don't help but instead put her life in danger.

There's also some other facts I didn't know. For example about an Irish worker riots that ended up causing mass damage and deaths, especially to African Americans at that time.

The author does a great job showing us a world where inequality and cruelty walked hand and hand. There's a study guide at the end of the story that makes this book a great candidate for book club discussions. I also think this is a great book to read during African American Heritage month.