"Sometimes a man has to risk everything to do what's right. Doing it is what makes him a man."
Thirteen-year-old Michael knows he is lucky. Few slaves in 1805 Charleston are where they want to be. But Michael works on the docks and ships in Charleston Harbor, close to the seas he longs to sail. Life seems good. But when Michael's protective mistress dies, everything changes, and Michael's friend Jim encourages him to run away. Michael is torn. Should he risk everything for a chance at freedom in some unknown place? Or should he stay -- is staying safe worth staying a slave?
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
A reasonable adventure:
This book about the slave trade will intrigue the young reader. My daughter read this for her 5th grade FCAT studies and I was impressed with her reaction to the story. Invariably children find readinga chore. However, this is one book that she read quite speedily. The story revolves around a young boy who decides to break out of slavery. The reader can ascertain much in the way of social and ethical challenges from this particular genre.
Kept my son fascinated for two days:
My son is 12, and not usually an eager reader, but Seaward Born really kept him reading. He said "it was real!" and he loved that the main character not only chose his own destiny -- he chose his own name! Definitely worth checking out.
Moving and exciting story of boy's escape from slavery:
I read this book with my two grandchildren, ages 8 and ten, and they were fascinated by the story -- and so was I. Author Wait knows her period and her characters, and brings to life the story of a boy who is torn between what he knows and loves, and what the consequences of inaction will be. My grandchildren loved the unhesitating details of what it must have been like to hide in a barrel for days in a ship's hold ... and the chapter on Michael's memories of what his mother had told him of her Middle... more info
Exciting adventure story!:
I didn't know too much about life in 1806 or slavery, but I really enjoyed reading Michael's story! He had to decide if he wanted to risk his life to try to be free. He had narrow escapes. I really liked the parts where he was escaping, and where he decided to change his name to Noah. I really liked this book!
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