A Matter of Souls

Reviewed by: Jan Hamilton - Long Creek Center, South Portland., Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 9, 2014

Review

Eight short stories set in the South relive the experiences of the Africa American journey in our country. From Slavery through segregation, reconstruction, education reform, and civil rights these stories shed light on the reality of what it meant to be black in a hostile environment.

Night searching is realistic and horrifying as it depicts the type of violence that occurred in the near past. The only response possible is deep sorrow when reading most of these stories but they need to be shared. High school teachers may want to include these stories when discussion our turbulent American History. Readers of historical fiction should be handed this slim book and it would make a great book club selection for YA / adult.

Overall Book Score: very good