Moa is fourteen. The only life he has ever known is toiling on the Frontier sugarcane plantation for endless hot days, fearing the vicious whips of the overseers.
Then one night he learns of an uprising, led by the charismatic Tacky. Moa is to be a cane warrior, and fight for the freedom of all the enslaved people in the nearby plantations. But before they can escape, Moa and his friend Keverton must face their first great task: to kill their overseer, Misser Donaldson.
Time is ticking as the day of the uprising approaches . . . [Adapted from publishers’ description.]
ISBN: 9781617758553 | Black Sheep
Reviews
Alex Wheatle departs from his award-winning contemporary novels for a superb foray into historical fiction . . . Wheatle’s characteristic kennings and coinages . . . heighten this intense, affecting story of courage, bloodshed and commitment to freedom at all costs. — The Guardian (UK)
Alex Wheatle writes from a place of honesty and passion, with the full knowledge and understanding that change can only happen through words and actions. — Steve McQueen, Academy Award-winning film director
Tension-filled and heart-stopping, a work of edgy brilliance that brims with existential fervor . . . Excellent. — Kaieteur News (Guyana)
The importance of this book cannot be overstated. Alex Wheatle takes the truth and creates fiction to illuminate that truth. He too is a warrior — a word warrior. I saw my ancestors in this book, and now I know that Alex and I really are brothers. — Benjamin Zephaniah, author of Gangsta Rap
This is a harrowing young adult novel; still, it is based on true history, and the story needs to be told. The brave freedom fighters of Tacky’s Rebellion should be remembered and honored . . . Recommended. — Historical Novels Review
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