What readers think of River Sing Me Home, plus links to write your own review.

This is a very good book, but it is not a great book. There is far too much introspection and examination of feelings that is interspersed with far too little plot action, although what action there is is riveting and left me glued to the page.

Written by Eleanor Shearer, this historical novel takes place in 1834-1835 on various islands in the Caribbean, beginning with Barbados, moving on to British Guiana, and finally Trinidad. Rachel, who is a slave on a sugar cane plantation on Barbados, is the mother of 11 children, five of whom are still alive, but all of whom have been sold away. When the slaves receive word that England has freed them, they are overjoyed; however, their jubilation is short-lived because the master has informed them that they are now "apprenticed" to him for six more years. They are free, but they can't leave. So Rachel runs. This is the story of her quest not only for freedom, but also to find her lost children: Mary Grace, Micah, Thomas Augustus, Cherry Jane, and Mercy. Because this is a novel, Rachel does find all five of her now grown children on her emotional, harrowing, and courageous journey, but each of their fates is different—from joyful to heartbreaking to tragic.

Unfortunately, the successful search for the children seems too fantastical for belief, and it is drawn out far too long with all the introspection. Still, the writing is beautiful—even lyrical in parts, and Shearer brings to life important history, including the Demerara Rebellion of 1823.

But it is the complex, multifaceted concept of freedom and how each character has his or her own idea of what that means that turns this novel into literature. Again, it's a very good book but just not a great one.

This is a story of a slave in Barbados called Rachel. Great Britain has declared slaves free but plantations owner decided the would be apprentices for another 6 years. Rachel has had her children taken from her and she runs on a mission to finds them all. Her journey takes her from Barbados to the Cayman Islands to Trinidad. Such perseverance, joy, sorrow and written in a lovely style.

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer is a masterfully descriptive novel detailing the epic adventure of a runaway enslaved woman reconnecting with the ones she loves the most. The author has a powerful way of using words to place you into the scene of each chapter as it unfolds. You can feel the wind on your cheeks, hear each sound of the street or forest around you as the hair stands up on your arms due to her incredibly detailed and powerful descriptions. She layers the details in such a way, keeping them each relevant and never pedantic, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the story. Though the character development does fall a bit flat, the descriptive imagery permits the reader to be along for the journey, each step of the way.

This book was wonderful! It was much more of an adventure than I expected. The main character, Rachel, travels about in search of her children and encounters so many interesting situations along the way. Rachel's love for her children shines throughout the novel and carries the reader through it to each of her destinations in her search.

Rachel is a runaway slave in Barbados in the 19th century. The slaves have been told that they are free as the King ends slavery but now their plantation owner informs them that they must stay on to work as his apprentices...Rachel decided to flee. The main purpose is not for "freedom" per se but to find her children who were taken from her over the years.

At times a difficult story to read but Rachel is fierce and nothing will stop her from finding her five children. The people she meets, the travels she takes and what she finds along the way are all with that same mission of finding all of them.

A slow paced story with many twists & turns. And a piece of history I knew nothing about.

This novel is about seeking, and sometimes finding that which is sought. It highlights the courage that leads humans to reach toward freedom and peace from the midst of dire circumstances. Rachel's love for her children leads her on a perilous journey to be reunited with them. These three themes made the characters come alive, and the novel intriguing.

3.75 stars Thanks to BookBrowse and Berkley Books for the ARC and allowing me to read and review. Publishes January 31, 2023

Mary Grace, Micah, Thomas Augustus, Cherry Jane and Mercy. These are the names that have Rachel laying awake at night yearning. These are the five living children that were taken away from Rachel over the years as her Master sold them away.

Rachel was a slave in Barbados in the 1800s. The Emancipation Act of 1834 freed the slaves, but on her plantation slaves had to apprentice for six more years before they could gain their freedom. So Rachel ran. She was determined to find her missing children.

This story tells of her travels and which children she found. From Barbados to Trinidad she walked and sailed, determined. Without her children freedom meant nothing. Each child now an adult with a life of their own. Who would travel with her, who would turn their back on her and who was lost forever?

This is a debut book. Shearer did a good job of putting her story across. Enough was given to vest you in the story, to allow you to dream with the protagonist, and to understand the circumstance of the adult children. The trip that Rachel was on was almost a character in itself. Shearer tells you at the end that the story was in part built off her own families situation and their misgivings, which only adds another dimension to the novel.

I loved the story and characters of this book. This book is based on the practice of separating slave children from their parents and one mother's desire to find out what happen to her own. This was a quick read and although difficult, provides important information to more fully understand the brutal history of slavery.

Spoiler
If you can set aside the unlikelihood of a woman with very limited resources being able to easily island hop across the Caribbean and in relatively short time find all her missing children after many years, this is a great book. I found this piece of the story unrealistic, so deducted 1 star.