She wanted to stay awake, wanted to see what freedom looked like, felt like at midnight, then at the cusp of dawn.
Freedom. Mariah has barely dared to dream of it her entire life. When General Sherman’s march through Georgia during the Civil War passes the plantation where she is enslaved, her life changes instantly. Joining the march for protection, Mariah heads into the unknown, wondering if she can ever feel safe, if she will ever be able to put the brutalities of slavery behind her.
On the march Mariah meets a young man named Caleb, and a new dream takes root—one of a future with a home of her own and a true love by her side. But hope often comes at a cost. As the treacherous march continues toward the churning waters of Ebenezer Creek, Mariah sees that the harsh realities of her and her peoples’ lives will always haunt them.
When I first saw this book, I didn't know what to expect. I don't tend to gravitate toward historical fiction but this was an amazing book. This is the story of freed slaves traveling with union soldiers through the south. We learn of the trials and tribulations of these newly freed slaves and watch love bloom. But most importantly, we continue to learn that there's more to the Civil War than we're taught in school. Not all union soldiers were good men who wanted to help. Some of them hated freeing slaves. Some of those union soldier though the slaves traveling with them were a burden.
This book isn't very long. I honestly can't say more without a ton of spoilers. But PLEASE read this book even if you're not a fan of historical fiction. When you read this book, keep in mind that this book is based on a real event that happened at Ebenezer Creek. You'll never think about the Civil War the same way.
If you're interested in learning about other unknown events that took place during the Civil War, you should listed to the Uncivil Podcast. I can't recommend if enough!
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