Across The Wide River

Freedom. Some take it for granted. Others consider it worth dying for.

Lowry Rankin knows all too well the cost of freedom; after all, his family’s red brick home is the first stop on the Underground Railroad north of the Ohio River.
He’s seen friends beaten for the color of their skin. He’s watched simple farmers make a difference. He’s even risked his own life transporting escaped slaves to the next "station". But will Lowry be able to conquer his greatest fear when he’s called to speak out?

My thoughts...

Lowry's family assists runaway slaves in getting their freedom. Lowry, age 13, transports slaves from his house to the next station, this happens during the night and takes several hours by horse. He usually returns just before dawn, piles into bed and sleeps for an hour then gets up to do chores and go to school. Lowry complains about having to do this but each time he sees the fear in the eyes of the slave he knows he must help this person get to Canada. His family believes his calling is to be an abolitionist minister, Lowry doesn't think so but does attend seminary briefly.

This book wasn't what I expected, it was slow and there wasn't much to hold my interest, it was a chore to read. However, I did finish it and wasn't impressed with the ending either. I don't feel that Reed expressed enough emotion in the characters or the story. Lowry was a complainer, he was boring. Overall, I was very disappointed and give it 2 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Kregel Tours in exchange for an honest review.