River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer has been praised for its evocative prose and compelling narrative about a mother's quest for her children post-slavery. Critics appreciate the historical depth and emotional weight, but some find the pacing uneven. Overall, it's a poignant and thought-provoking read bringing to light important themes of resilience and redemption.

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer will captivate readers who cherish historical fiction infused with emotional depth and resilience. Fans of Toni Morrison's Beloved and Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad will find this novel's portrayal of post-slavery quests for freedom and identity compelling.

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer follows Rachel, an enslaved woman in the Caribbean, who escapes her plantation after the Slavery Abolition Act to find her stolen children. Her journey takes her through Barbados, British Guiana, and Trinidad, encountering challenges and forming bonds along the way as she searches for her fragmented family. The book features depictions of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and miscarriage.

Emotional / Melancholic / Hopeful / Inspirational

**Rachel**  
The protagonist, a determined mother journeying across the Caribbean to find her stolen children, speaking in Caribbean creole and characterized by her nurturing and protective nature.

**Mary Grace**  
Rachel’s daughter, who is a skilled seamstress and travels with her mother in search of her siblings, communicating mainly through gestures and facial expressions.

**Nobody**  
A secondary character and gifted storyteller who is a fugitive from slavery, helping Rachel on her journey with knowledge of waterways while seeking his own sense of liberation.

**Mama B**  
A guiding figure to Rachel whose nurturing philosophy emphasizes interconnectedness and leaves a lasting impact on the protagonist's worldview.

**Micah**  
Rachel's oldest son who was killed after being accused of leading a rebellion; he remains a significant figure in the narrative through memories and his legacy.

**Thomas Augustus**  
Rachel's son living independently in a liberation village, whose initial skepticism highlights the different ways people perceive freedom.

**Cherry Jane**  
Rachel’s daughter who uses her light skin to pass as a mixed-race woman in order to navigate societal structures, demonstrating another path to survival.

**Mercy**  
The last child Rachel seeks, a tall, short-haired woman who faces her own traumas while her bond with her mother underscores the theme of legacy and future.

Eleanor Shearer

Adult

Novel

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Barbados, August 1834”

Prologue-Part 1

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Part 2: “British Guiana, January 1835”

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Part 3: “Trinidad, August 1835”

Part 3-Author’s Note

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River Sing Me Home

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