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Published May 2017
240 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Information
In this powerful exploration of a little-known tragedy, perfect for fans of Ruta Sepetys, readers will never forget the souls of Ebenezer Creek.
When Mariah and her young brother Zeke are suddenly freed from slavery, they join Sherman's march through Georgia. Mariah wants to believe that the brutalities of slavery are behind them, but even as hope glimmers, there are many hardships yet to come. When she meets a free black named Caleb, Mariah dreams in a way she never dared ... of a future worth living and the possibility of true love. But even hope comes at a cost, and as the difficult march continues toward the churning waters of Ebenezer Creek, Mariah's dreams are as vulnerable as ever.
"Starred Review. A poetic, raw, and extraordinary imagining of a little-known, shameful chapter in American history." - Kirkus
"Starred Review. With keen insight, Bolden mines a lesser-known historical event and brings the human cost vividly to life ... Bolden's trenchant, powerful novel is a strong testament to the many lost lives that certainly did - and still do - matter." - Booklist
"Starred Review. Bolden (Capital Days) bravely concludes this concise, moving story with a historically accurate and horrifying ending. Ages 13–up." - Publishers Weekly
"Starred Review. The well-executed premise, a compelling love story, and unique historical details will appeal to fans of Ruta Sepetys's Salt to the Sea ... This moving and engrossing portrayal of a little-known historical tragedy belongs on all YA shelves." - School Library Journal
"Breathtaking. ... Bolden fleshes out a small, harrowing historical betrayal, weaving an unforgettable story and capturing both the frailty and resilience of hope." - The Horn Book Magazine
"Bolden's powerful story pulls the reader into the hearts and minds of Mariah and Caleb, pursuing a life together in the midst of the turmoil and anguish of slavery and the Civil War." - Joyce Hansen, Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author of Which Way Freedom
"I learned more from this one novel - about love, the true meaning of family, tenacity, loss, history and hope - than from any book I've read in a long while. Generations will know this story." - Sharon G. Flake, Coretta Scott King winner; author of The Skin I'm In and Unstoppable Octabia May
This information about Crossing Ebenezer Creek was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Tonya Bolden is a critically acclaimed award-winning author/co-author/editor of more than two dozen books for young people. They include Finding Family which received two starred reviews and was a Kirkus Reviews and Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year; Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl, a Coretta Scott King honor book and James Madison Book Award winner; MLK: Journey of a King, winner of a National Council of Teachers of English Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children; Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln and the Dawn of Liberty, an ALSC Notable Children's Book, CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, and winner of the NCSS Carter G. Woodson Middle Level Book Award. Tonya also received the Children's Book Guild of Washington, DC's Nonfiction Award. A Princeton University magna cum laude baccalaureate with a master's degree from Columbia University, Tonya lives in New York City. '
Visit Tony at www.tonyaboldenbooks.com
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