Good Lord Bird, The: A Novel

From the bestselling author of The Color of Water and Song Yet Sung comes the tragically funny satire of a young boy who joins John Brown’s antislavery crusade – and who must pass as a girl to survive. Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When the legendary abolitionist John Brown arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry’s master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town – with Brown, who believes he’s a girl. As he adjusts to his new life, Henry – whom the eccentric Brown nicknames ‘Onion’ and sees as his goodluck charm – conceals his true identity to stay alive. Little Onion is forced to rely on his ingenuity to survive escalating violence between Brown with his ragtag army and the slaveholders, who are not always the devils they seem to be. He strikes out on his own, but not for long, as Brown returns and sweeps Onion into his historic, tragic raid on Harpers Ferry, which will be one of the great catalysts for the Civil War. A riveting story recounted in the voice of an old man looking back on his childhood, The Good Lord Bird will make you laugh and think. It’s a rousing adventure, told with McBride’s meticulous eye for character and detail. It’s also a moving exploration of one of the most colorful and forgotten characters in American history. Praise for The Color of Water ‘Complex and moving . . . suffused with issues of race, religion and identity . . . The two stories, son’s and mother’s, beautifully juxtaposed, strike a graceful note.’ The New York Times Book Review ‘As lively as a novel, a well-written, thoughtful contribution to the literature on race.’ The Washington Post Book World ‘A delight, a goading and an inspiration, worth your time and a few tears.’ The Denver Post ‘Told with humor and clear-eyed grace, McBride’s memoir is not only a terrific story, it’s a subtle contribution to the current debates on race and ethnicity.’ The Nation Praise for James McBride’s novels ‘Hypnotizing . . . One lyrical sentence somersaults into another . . . . McBride keeps the suspense high as he raises troubling questions about slavery’s legacy, the price of freedom and what it means to be human.’ People ( four stars, Critic’s Choice) ‘Gripping, affecting, and beautifully paced, Song Yet Sung illuminates, in the most dramatic fashion, a deeply troubled, vastly complicated moment in American history.’ O- The Oprah Magazine ‘Great-hearted, hopeful, and deeply imaginative.’ Elle —- ISBN: 9781594486340