Review of The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden
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Review of The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden" by Londyn Skye.]
The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden by Londyn Skye, is a heartbreaking, historically rooted novel. The story carries pain, grief, loss, helplessness, betrayal, trauma, and resilience. The pain inflicted on enslaved Black people is one that will always resonate with me. I will never understand why it happened or how anyone came up with such a gruesome idea. Can you picture a world where everything is moving swiftly as usual; you are enjoying your traditions with your friends, only to have people suddenly invade your home, snatch you from your parents, kill your parents, and then sell you as a commodity in the market to serve as work dogs? This is a watered-down image I have of slavery.
The book follows Lily, a biracial daughter born from a traumatic master-slave relationship between Levi and Maya. Maya and her daughter were taking down the laundry when she saw Levi charging towards them. She looked around until the realization hit her that the target of those strides she had witnessed countless times was her daughter, Lily. She prayed, pleaded, and fought for her daughter until she was beaten and motionless. Lily was then sold to Jesse Adams, who had three sons. Lily learned to play the piano through the lessons Jesse's wife, Elizabeth Adams, taught to children in her home on the weekends. Each day, she would sneakily play the piano when her masters were out of the house until one day, she was caught. What happens next? Was she brutally punished as per the usual treatment of slaves? Read The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden by Londyn Skye to find out.
The idea of the enslavement of Black people is definitely not new, but the way this book was written felt like a whole new creation. It felt like a book that was experienced instead of just read. I was so glad to find out there is a plan to produce the TV adaptation. This book has an excellent portrayal of emotions. I don't know if it was the adjective used when trying to relay emotional scenes, but I could feel every cry, every plea, and every emotion intended to be felt. The desperate cry of Maya, Lily's mother, when she was fighting Levi, her owner and Lily's father, to stop him from selling their daughter remains painted in my heart. The immediate heartbreak when she realized her daughter was the next to be sold after witnessing other kids getting snatched from their parents is something I still feel even after reading the book. The book was thorough and detailed, representing a very sensitive time in history. It also contained slave codes referenced from the District of Columbia Slave Code Manual of 1860. The book's content may be disturbing for those who are not used to topics on slavery, racism, trauma, mistreatment, and so on, so be cautious when reading. The editing was exceptionally done. I do not have any negative aspects to criticize, and I rate the book five out of five stars.
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The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden by Londyn Skye, is a heartbreaking, historically rooted novel. The story carries pain, grief, loss, helplessness, betrayal, trauma, and resilience. The pain inflicted on enslaved Black people is one that will always resonate with me. I will never understand why it happened or how anyone came up with such a gruesome idea. Can you picture a world where everything is moving swiftly as usual; you are enjoying your traditions with your friends, only to have people suddenly invade your home, snatch you from your parents, kill your parents, and then sell you as a commodity in the market to serve as work dogs? This is a watered-down image I have of slavery.
The book follows Lily, a biracial daughter born from a traumatic master-slave relationship between Levi and Maya. Maya and her daughter were taking down the laundry when she saw Levi charging towards them. She looked around until the realization hit her that the target of those strides she had witnessed countless times was her daughter, Lily. She prayed, pleaded, and fought for her daughter until she was beaten and motionless. Lily was then sold to Jesse Adams, who had three sons. Lily learned to play the piano through the lessons Jesse's wife, Elizabeth Adams, taught to children in her home on the weekends. Each day, she would sneakily play the piano when her masters were out of the house until one day, she was caught. What happens next? Was she brutally punished as per the usual treatment of slaves? Read The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden by Londyn Skye to find out.
The idea of the enslavement of Black people is definitely not new, but the way this book was written felt like a whole new creation. It felt like a book that was experienced instead of just read. I was so glad to find out there is a plan to produce the TV adaptation. This book has an excellent portrayal of emotions. I don't know if it was the adjective used when trying to relay emotional scenes, but I could feel every cry, every plea, and every emotion intended to be felt. The desperate cry of Maya, Lily's mother, when she was fighting Levi, her owner and Lily's father, to stop him from selling their daughter remains painted in my heart. The immediate heartbreak when she realized her daughter was the next to be sold after witnessing other kids getting snatched from their parents is something I still feel even after reading the book. The book was thorough and detailed, representing a very sensitive time in history. It also contained slave codes referenced from the District of Columbia Slave Code Manual of 1860. The book's content may be disturbing for those who are not used to topics on slavery, racism, trauma, mistreatment, and so on, so be cautious when reading. The editing was exceptionally done. I do not have any negative aspects to criticize, and I rate the book five out of five stars.
******
The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Unlikely Righteousness by Tina Kowalski
