Fascinating - and unsettling - piece of history

Even if you're not usually a fan of historical fiction, there's a good chance you'll be captivated by Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  The book tells about Beverly, Harriet, Maddy, and Eston, the children of Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings.  In some ways, the children got special treatment, but - and this is huge - they were still slaves, and even though everyone at their home at Monticello knew who their father was, they were never supposed to mention it.  Told through the eyes of some of the sons, the story includes the determination of Sally to see her children set free when they turn 21, the horrors of slavery, and the contradictions of Jefferson - how could he have written the Constitution - "all men are created equal" - and still own slaves?  Powerful, spellbinding, and heart-breaking.

An important part of history

A person can be chained both physically and spiritually, as eloquently described in Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson.  Isabel is a 13-year-old slave during the time of the American Revolution.  She and her little sister Ruth are sold to a merciless couple, the Locktons, in New York.  The Locktons are fierce Loyalists, which means they support the British.  A young rebel (that's someone who was on the American side of the war) encourages Isabel to be a spy, because "They'll say things in front of you they won't say in front of the white servants.  'Cause you don't count." After hearing of a plot to kill George Washington, Isabel tells the rebels, but doesn't get her desired reward - a chance at freedom.  The details of day-to-day life, slavery, attitudes, and the war of 1776 were both heart-breaking and mesmerizing.  Look for the sequel, Forge, scheduled to be released in October 2010.