47 is a fourteen-year-old slave living on Corinthian
Plantation in 1832. A kind woman  has looked after him but he now needs to go
live with the other slaves. This proves to be very difficult since everyone is
on edge and trying to prove his or her worth. His first initiation is a painful
one and it only gets more difficult after the first day.

47 comes
across a mysterious slave named Tall John who shows up on the plantation out of
nowhere. He is very persistent in his pursuit of 47. He tells him that he is
the chosen one that can stop slavery. He soon reveals that he has traveled
through centuries and galaxies to find him, and he has brought his magic bag to
help 47 fight the masters. Tall John gives 47 the courage that he needs to
fight against his master.

This
story starts out as a promising historical fiction novel and moves into a
confusing science fiction story. It was difficult to follow 47’s journey once
Tall John and his magic bag became involved. The reader can buy into the
science fiction aspect or look at Tall John as a form of 47’s conscious. The
author may have been better off choosing a single genre to tell 47’s compelling
journey.

© 2006 Amy Ridley

Amy Ridley
received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Boston University.

Categories: Children