Battle Of The Round House by Tananarive Due

 Set in 1871, this book follows a Black family as they head for a settlement they've been told about.

First of all, I have to tell you, this is the second book I've read by Due, and I had high expectations of it based on the previous experience (The Reformatory).

Expectations met and surpassed.

I love this author so much. Every word she writes is so real. It doesn't matter if it's interpersonal or supernatural, every detail she writes rings 100% true.

This is one of those Amazon Originals, that was offered free on Kindle and Audible for Prime users, and honestly, her name is the reason I decided to download the set.

This is a short book, maybe 2 hours listening time, but you feel like you know these characters in no time flat. Lucy, our 10yo protagonist, has a special ability...at least, she's pretty sure she does.

Unfortunately, Black settlers had an extra element of difficulty during the westward expansion, as one might guess. But Lucy's uncle has written and shared that he's in a nice little settlement, keeping to itself, and keeping safe, and Lucy and her family are on their way to join him.

As it happens, I'm reading Prairie Fires (Caroline Fraser) at the same time, and just read Dragon Teeth (Michael Crichton) a bit back, so I've seen a few points of view lately on this specific matter, and it's really interesting to see how they mesh. I'd just read the part of PF where she mentions Dr. Tann, the Black doctor who Laura Ingalls was so surprised to see (a few years after this story takes place, if I recall correctly), and this struck a cord.

Anyway, Due is amazing as always, this story was incredible, and she has a new book, Mazywood, coming out in September. 

I will be preordering.