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Overview
In 1839, visitors from miles around come to Kentucky to tour Mammoth Cave. But sixteen-year-old Charlotte, the maid at Mammoth Cave Hotel, doesn't understand its appeal. As a slave, she is already trapped, and she doesn't see the point in risking being trapped underground as well. Still, she's curious when Stephen Bishop, another slave who is the cave's expert guide and chief explorer, makes some big discoveries underground, and she's interested in Stephen himself, with his quick mind and kind ways. Then Charlotte makes a discovery of her own: runaway slaves sometimes come to the hotel seeking refuge. As she helps them, she wonders if she should run away. Stephen, on the other hand, feels that he belongs with the cave and that he is free enough when he is underground. When an opportunity presents itself, Charlotte must decide whether she should stay with Stephen or risk everything for her own chance at freedom.
In this compelling novel, two young people explore what sorts of freedom they can find, even as slaves.
Editorials
Bruno Navasky
Ferris manages to strike a good balance between history and her imagination. Her prose is vivid, the characters strong, the narrative well constructed, and readers who are interested in further historical research will be rewarded with a satisfying real-life coda to the story. Ultimately, Ferris neatly sidesteps more somber themes in favor of her strong suit, romance; this is a love story more than a slave narrative, a history or even a geology of the caves of Kentucky.—The New York Times
Publishers Weekly
Ferris (Across the Grain) often centers her novels around change and choice, both of which come into play in this historical novel based on two real-life slaves who meet in 1839 Kentucky. With his lenient master, Stephen Bishop firmly believes that the freedom he feels exploring and guiding white folks through Mammoth Cave's intricate passageways is enough for him. But the arrival of 16-year-old Charlotte, the narrator, shakes that belief to the core. Bought to be a maid at the Mammoth Cave Hotel, Charlotte shares with Stephen both her misgivings about the cave, which has only one exit ("That made me even more sure I wasn't going in there. I was already one kind of trapped. I didn't want to be any other kind") and her mistrust of any master who can sell her away from people she loves. Before long, Stephen's comfortable world no longer seems so perfect. Like the arduous journeys of the runaway slaves who Charlotte and Stephen help, Ferris's story moves slowly at times, picking its way through the daily struggles the slaves face even under relatively benign conditions. Some of the most exciting moments come when Ferris takes readers underground into huge Mammoth Cave to reveal bits and pieces about its topography and lore. Interspersed, too, are the stories of "runners" (runaway slaves) who remind Charlotte (and the audience) that the flight North is at best harrowing. Careful groundwork sets up both a love story and a daring adventure, which dramatically collide in a well-executed climax. Ages 12-up. (Nov.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationChildren's Literature -
This story about slavery, the Underground Railroad, and the struggle to be free follows the main character Charlotte a maid at the Mammoth Cave Hotel. Sold at 16 to her third master, Charlotte travels alone to Kentucky where she joins the staff of the Mammoth Cave Hotel. Soon Charlotte learns that the hotel is not only a stop for white folks wanting to visit the cave, but is also a stop on the secret Underground Railroad. Faced with her new discovery, Charlotte must choose between her desire to escape to the free north and the man she loves. Though the story is fictional, the characters are the actual employees from the Mammoth Cave Hotel in 1840s Kentucky. This book can be used in classroom discussions about life for blacks before emancipation and the Underground Railroad. With its detailed descriptions about the geological aspects of Mammoth Cave, this book can also be used as part of geological discussions. This book provides educators with the opportunity to combine geology, history, and literature in one lesson. Reviewer: Jamie HainSchool Library Journal
Gr 6-8
In Kentucky, in 1839, Stephen and Charlotte, both slaves, work at Mammoth Cave and its hotel. Charlotte narrates this introspective piece that dwells on the theme of what it means to be free. The two young people become involved in the Underground Railroad, eventually helping a young woman and her infant escape through the cave, emerging near the Ohio River. Charlotte is torn between her desire for freedom, to be gained by running away, and her desire to remain with Stephen, who is dedicated to the study and exploration of the cave. Students interested in the Underground Railroad, or who enjoy novels that take place "inside the head" of the main character will appreciate this evocative read. An author's note explains that although the people in the novel were real, Ferris has imagined their personalities and their involvement in the Underground Railroad. There is no evidence that Mammoth Cave was a part of that network. An accessible bit of historical fiction.
—Robin HenryCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.