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What a confusing book. Its length is typical of middle-grade (175 pages), and protagonist Lucy behaves like a typical twelve-year-old. The problem: Lucy is actually sixteen. She's caught in a love triangle and will have to choose between her suitors (and marry one of them) fairly soon, and yes, her dithering composes a large portion of the story.

Modern ideologies, especially the stereotypical Independent Woman Ahead of Her Time, creep into this historical novel rather often. The moralizing is heavy-handed even for middle-grade fiction but really doesn't work as young adult. I know, this isn't a young adult novel: for proof, see the cover. And the word count. And the existence of a subtitle. (And the back cover, which says reading level 5.0.)

I don't understand why the book was written this way, why Lucy is sixteen-going-on-twelve. Why the main secondary character Cass is a nineteen-year-old, escaped slave who is pregnant for the third time with a child of the white master who rapes her. Why so much of the book involves Lucy complaining about things like the weather and having to remind herself that Cass's life is worse than hers.

All that said, there are seeds of a good story here. An effort was made toward nineteenth-century diction. The devout faith of the Quakers--the cultural faith of all the characters--is an appreciated, historically accurate touch. Doubling the length (but not the dithering), aging the character behaviors appropriately, and deepening characterization past types might have made it worthwhile. As it is, too many things feel groundless or rushed. 2.5 stars. ( )

Summary
This book is about a 16 year old girl and her journey with the Underground Railroad, through a series of journal entries written by the 16 year old Lucinda Spencer. This is a truly outstanding book to read. Ayres has done some major research to include persons that were actually involved with the Underground Railroad. This book, greatly based on the written journals, takes you and transforms you into this young and scared little girl, puts you into her shoes, makes you live her life as she was living it.
Personal Experience
This book pulls you into the lives of Lucinda and the people in her life. Reminds me of the struggles some of my friends have today.
Extension Ideas
A really good way to show what African-Americans went through is these really bad and horrific times. May not be a good reading for some children, especially younger children, but extremely a very educational book to read. I have recommended my 9 year old daughter to venture into this book. ( )