Book Review: Stolen by Richard Bell

Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astounding Odyssey Home

by Richard Bell (306.362 Bel)

 

I saw Stolen on the New Book Display at the library and thought it sounded fascinating. I am familiar with books about the Underground Railroad in the 1800s, but had never heard of the “Reverse Underground Railroad,” which was traffic between the northern states and southern states which resulted from the kidnapping of free blacks in the north who were forced to march to southern states to be sold as slaves there in the slave market. Many of these children and adults never saw their families again. Using newspaper articles, court documents and first-hand accounts of these events, the author has produced a marvelous story that documents this time in history and the atrocities that occurred to tear apart black families all in the name of greed. Richard Bell uses meticulous research methods to present the story along with historical photographs and maps. I highly recommend this book.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.]

[ official Stolen book page on the official Richard Bell web site ]

 

Recommended by Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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