REVIEW - All We Were Promised ebook

 All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore (ebook)

OVERVIEW

This book is one that I have no words that will come easily. I always thought  (note the past tense) for some reason that once enslaved people crossed the Mason-Dixon line they were free. Wrong! 

The novel covers about a year during the years of 1837-1838 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city is in turmoil with rioting attacks by southern sympathizers, White people in general, and enslavers against free Blacks, whites who supported abolition, and anyone who got in their way. Yes, there were enslavers in Philadelphia even though Pennsylvania was a "free state". There were loopholes in the law that allowed enslavers to travel to Philadelphia with enslaved people for up to six months every year. Horrifying!!

This novel is about free Black people, escaped enslaved people, and enslaved people trying to make a life in a city that was not welcoming to Blacks, period. The southern boundary of Pennsylvania was shared with Maryland and ensured that enslaved people from Maryland could quickly and easily make it to "freedom" in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the bounty hunters for enslaved people were also close and could find and remove enslaved people as well as free Blacks back to the South without fear of repercussions. Again, horrifying!

I loved how this novel showed the power of Black people working together to make things better for each other without relying on White people. Yes, the story wasn't perfect, but it was beautiful!

OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars

Writing: 5.0 stars

The writing was very strong, informative, and descriptive. The author wrote well about the horrors of the American enslaved people without gratuitous violence, but enough to get the horror across. The dehumanization, abuse, and lack of body autonomy against the enslaved were disgusting, but needed to fully understand what the enslaved people endured. 

This was a very well-researched novel by a former lawyer and journalist who took a deep dive into this horrible period in American history. What a very strong debut novel!

Character development: 5.0 stars

There are three main female characters - Nell, Charlotte, and Evie. Nell is a free-born Black whose family has lived in Philadelphia since before the U.S. Revolution. Charlotte is an escaped enslaved person who is from Maryland and has lived in Philadelphia for about four years. Finally, Evie is an enslaved woman who is in Philadelphia while her enslaver visiting family. 

The secondary characters are Kate, Evie's enslaver; Charlotte's father, and Nelle's family and neighbors who live in a wealthy Black neighborhood. 

The tertiary characters are Philadelphia and the other characters. both Black and white, which makes this story feel real and true. 

Storyline:  5.0 stars 

This historical novel is all about the relationship between Nell, Charlotte, and Evie. Two chance meetings begin the story and bring it all together. 

The main location was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Memorable/Informative:  5.0 stars

I must say that this novel was very informative, but at times difficult to read. So much of American history that I had been taught in elementary school is proving to be inaccurate and downright lies. This is disappointing on so many levels. 

I had no idea about so much about what I read about Philadelphia. Allowing enslavers to bring enslaved people to Philadelphia - it was so absurd! Bounty hunters came into a sovereign state and kidnapped formerly enslaved people and free Blacks to bring them to enslavement. 

I also didn't know about the resentment and anger that the white community felt towards the Black community "taking their jobs". This sounds so familiar to the anti-immigrant rhetoric spewed by the xenophobic groups today. We have learned nothing from history at all. 

Book cover: 4.5 stars

Just lovely! 

Book title: 4.5 stars 

Very nice!

HIGHEST recommendation

EBOOK DETAILS

NetGalley ARC (ebook)

All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore 

352 pages 

Ballantine Books

Release date of 04/02/2024

INFORMATIONAL LINKS

Ashton Lattimore

My Goodreads review

Ballantine Books

NetGalley

Happy reading 📚! 

Dorothea 💜