Buffalo Soldier

What does it mean to be free?

This book contains the true horrors of the American Civil War, racism and discrimination, however, it shows compassion and moreover, freedom. Some may be cowards, some may die, but not Charley. For her, army life is harder, much harder for she must keep her identity a secret. They can never find out she is a woman! I found this book confusing initially, however, very interesting as it is written from a young slave's point of view. Buffalo Soldier presents us with a different way of thinking as we are able to learn and understand how racism became such a big part of the earlier population. Buffalo Soldier presents things how they are and does not sugar coat anything and can be very brutally realistic at times, explaining the harsh treatment of black people. I feel I have learnt things from this book, and

understood things better.

I would recommend this book to someone who would enjoy an interesting, often brutal, mind

opening read with the opportunity to learn more in depth about the discrimination of black people during that time, racism and the Civil War.

Definitely worth the read, however, definitely a 12+

12 Years a Slave

A heart wrenching , brutal story about an innocent man being kidnapped for the benefits of slavery, 12 years a slave is a moving, excellent book.

Drugged and captured wrongly by two men who offered him a job opportunity, Northup was lured into the slave trade. His free papers removed from his innocent hands, being torn away from his family and home town, Northup tells the story of a brutal, excruciatingly painful 12 years in captivity.

Having only memories of his family, he urges to stay alive and get home. Being stripped of identification documents and chained like a dog, Northup was left bare of any belongings. Experiencing violent whippings and then being transported via sea, Northup was eventually sold in Bayou to a plantation owner. It's here he spends his 12 years in captivity.

Hiding all of his talents , Northup was only seen as an everyday man, but a black man. A free man born with the wrong colour skin. Using extreme detail , Northup expresses himself using his only talent he can make visible and one that cant be taken away, writing in his diary. Expressing his feelings on paper, later turned into a book, Solomon Northup shows his story, a story of a black man dragged into slavery, extremely well. I would recommend this book to anyone. Although it contains complex language and maintains an old style of writing, 12 years a slave is a magnificent book.

Lucy Oakley