This book is based on the true story of a brave freed African American slave who pretended to go back into slavery to spied for the North.  Mary Bowser was born to slave parents in Richmond, Virginia.  Her father, Lewis was owned by a different slave owner than her mother but they got to spend Sundays and Christmas time together.

Thanks to Mary’s mother, Minerva  and the daughter, Bess of their owner, Mary learned how to read and write.  For Besse’s 37th birthday, all the slaves in the house prepared for a big dinner party.  Nobody showed up however and after dinner was laid out on the table, Bess asked all the slaves to join them for dinner.  It was very unheard of, not to mention uncomfortable .  Bess however, had a big announcement.  She bought them all from her mother and planned to set them all free.

Some of the freed slaves stayed and worked for Bess to save up wages for their freedom, including Mary’s mother.  Bess was unable to persuade Lewis’s owner to sell him to her and Minerva wouldn’t leave without him.  However, Bess had big plans for Mary.  She found a school in the north that educated black girls and she brought her there.  Mary was given a pretty generous allowance by Bess and a rooming house to stay in.

While Mary was away her mother died.  However, Mary stayed and finished school, knowing  it was what her mother wanted for her.  Mary also got involved in the underground railroad with a new friend’s family.  Once she finished school she wanted to do more for the freedom movement and as war was nearing, she saw her chance.  She went back to Richmond and pretend to be a slave to spy.

I really liked the characters in the book, they were well thought out and I did care for some of them.  It appears that this is Ms. Leveen’s first novel and it was a very good first attempt.  However, parts of it became a bit boring for me and I felt myself slogging through.  It was the characters that kept me turning the pages, to find out what happened to them.  Don’t get me wrong, parts of the book were very enjoyable.  I am glad I stuck with it.  Ms. Leveen certainly shows promise and I would be very interested in reading her next book.

3/5

I received the eBook form of this book for my honest review. 

Thanks to Mary Sasso of William Morrow/Harper Collins, I am giving away one copy of The Secrets of Mary Bowser.

This giveaway is for Canada and the U.S. and ends on June 3, 2012.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

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