Comment

A very interesting plot and characters, but overall it was a little to angst-y and long for me. Three young African American women in Philadelphia in 1837: Nell, a free-born Philadelphian of means involved in Abolitionist causes; Charlotte, an escaped slave who posses as her father's housemaid whil he passes as white; and Evie, an enslaved girl who is brought North to assist her mistress, from whom Charlotte escaped 4 years ago. As the three communicate clandestinely and try to coordinate Evie's escape, the city prepares for and the Abolitionist Convention scheduled to celebrate the creation of the opening of Philadelphia Hall, built to support the abolition of slavery. At times, there are too many side plots involving Nell's engagement, Charlotte's relationship with Evie and with her father, and Evie's efforts to thwart her mistresses marriage, etc, that do advance the overall plot but at the expense of the reader keeping track of it all. Worthwhile read, but could have used some streamlining in the editing process.