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All Different Kinds of Free
A free woman of color in the 1830s, Margaret Morgan lived a life full of promise. One frigid night in Pennsylvania, that changed forever.
They tore her family apart. They put her in chains. They never expected her to fight back.
In 1837, Margaret Morgan was kidnapped from her home in Pennsylvania and sold into slavery. The state of Pennsylvania charged her kidnapper with the crime, but the conviction was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
It was the first time a major branch of the federal government had made a pro-slavery stand, and the ruling in Prigg v. Pennsylvania sewed the bitter seeds of the states' rights battle that eventually would lead to the Civil War.
Yet, the heart of this story is not a historic Supreme Court ruling. It is the remarkable, unforgettable Margaret Morgan. Her life would never be the same. Her family had been torn apart. Uncaring forces abused her body and her heart. But she refused to give up, refused to stop fighting, refused to allow her soul to be enslaved.
They tore her family apart. They put her in chains. They never expected her to fight back.
In 1837, Margaret Morgan was kidnapped from her home in Pennsylvania and sold into slavery. The state of Pennsylvania charged her kidnapper with the crime, but the conviction was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
It was the first time a major branch of the federal government had made a pro-slavery stand, and the ruling in Prigg v. Pennsylvania sewed the bitter seeds of the states' rights battle that eventually would lead to the Civil War.
Yet, the heart of this story is not a historic Supreme Court ruling. It is the remarkable, unforgettable Margaret Morgan. Her life would never be the same. Her family had been torn apart. Uncaring forces abused her body and her heart. But she refused to give up, refused to stop fighting, refused to allow her soul to be enslaved.
274 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2011
144 people are currently reading
4088 people want to read
About the author
Jessica McCann
4 books209 followersReading and writing historical fiction is my passion, though I'm also drawn to memoirs, contemporary fiction, nonfiction, literary classics -- anything with a compelling story. I only review books I enjoyed reading, hence the abundance of 4- and 5-star ratings!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
October 4, 2021
Pennsylvania, 1837. Margaret Morgan lives outside Philly as a free woman, when a man from her past resurfaces at her cabin and accuses her of being a runaway slave. She is taken back to Maryland with her children.
Sheriff Porter appears at Mrs. Ashmore estate and requests papers of ownership for Margaret. Pennsylvania laws are tough and you can’t just kidnap what you think belongs to you. Thanks to Sheriff’s intervention, Margaret and her children are not taken to auction. Instead, Margaret takes Mrs. Ashmore to court. But the proceedings are quick and consequences are harsh.
On a cold winter day of 1838, Edward Prigg is to face a PA jury for kidnapping Margaret and her children. His conviction leads to the fight at the US Supreme Court – Prigg vs PA. With the Supreme Court overturning Prigg’s kidnapping conviction, and as a result the bounty hunters services are in high demand. The consequences to be looked upon are the ones that led to the states’ rights battle, which eventually led to the Civil War.
It is heart-wrenching to have a family not only separated, but also auctioned like animals. Then the hard days of daily work are as painful. It is painful to read about such injustice, but the story of Margaret Morgan is rightfully brought to light as she refused to give up her freedom and the freedom of her children. And her refusal and fight gave spark to the Civil War.
The heart of this story belongs to Margaret, with the court proceedings being brisk. As Margaret’s story progresses it also gives flashbacks of her past, giving beautiful depth. With unembellished prose full of heart, this skillfully woven novel takes readers on a journey of an extraordinary woman.
Sheriff Porter appears at Mrs. Ashmore estate and requests papers of ownership for Margaret. Pennsylvania laws are tough and you can’t just kidnap what you think belongs to you. Thanks to Sheriff’s intervention, Margaret and her children are not taken to auction. Instead, Margaret takes Mrs. Ashmore to court. But the proceedings are quick and consequences are harsh.
On a cold winter day of 1838, Edward Prigg is to face a PA jury for kidnapping Margaret and her children. His conviction leads to the fight at the US Supreme Court – Prigg vs PA. With the Supreme Court overturning Prigg’s kidnapping conviction, and as a result the bounty hunters services are in high demand. The consequences to be looked upon are the ones that led to the states’ rights battle, which eventually led to the Civil War.
It is heart-wrenching to have a family not only separated, but also auctioned like animals. Then the hard days of daily work are as painful. It is painful to read about such injustice, but the story of Margaret Morgan is rightfully brought to light as she refused to give up her freedom and the freedom of her children. And her refusal and fight gave spark to the Civil War.
The heart of this story belongs to Margaret, with the court proceedings being brisk. As Margaret’s story progresses it also gives flashbacks of her past, giving beautiful depth. With unembellished prose full of heart, this skillfully woven novel takes readers on a journey of an extraordinary woman.
August 20, 2013
Few books make me want to reach into history and grab events by the neck and throttle them. Few books make me cry so much my dog gets frantic to comfort me as I read. All Different Kinds of Free did both. Jessica McCann builds an emotionally engaging, heartbreaking story out of a fundamentally unfair situation in American history. A free Black woman, Margaret Morgan, and her three children are kidnapped in 1837 from their home in Pennsylvania and sold into slavery. The bits of information about this tragedy are preserved in the record not out of a sense of outrage about the fate of this woman, but because her kidnapping violated a Pennsylvania law and raised issues of states’ rights. Eventually the Supreme Court decided that the Constitution protects the property rights of slave owners and no state can pass laws impeding those rights, thus fanning the growing split between North and South that led to the Civil War.
In all this wrestling over “rights,” none of the trials addressed the issue of releasing these previously free citizens and history forgot about Margaret and her three children. Jessica McCann has rectified this injustice. She will break your heart in the process—she’s that good at bringing Margaret’s story to life. However, part of this novel’s sophisticated success arises from McCann’s refusal to portray even such a clear injustice in simplistic terms. Selfishness and cruelty intermix with redemption and forgiveness. The woman who is primarily responsible for Margaret’s kidnapping, for example, grows in our understanding so that she is partially redeemed in the reader’s mind. How can that be, you wonder? Through skillful, deep characterization and subtly built moral gradations in human beings within all walks of life.
Another way that McCann modulates and softens her story telling is through her lyrical descriptions. The descriptions are integrated to reflect mood and emotional content so they never feel like bits you want to skip over. For example, when the young lawyer who will defend Pennsylvania’s case before the Supreme Court rides into DC, he looks about with interest on his first visit to the nation’s capital. Evening is falling and most people have headed home for the night. “This exodus had brought a hush to the scene, a bit enchanting and a bit eerie at once. Elegant maple saplings lined the road, casting skeleton-like shadows upon the ground as the sun dimmed and the lanterns glimmered.” The rawness of our nation is emphasized by the saplings—our unfinished state is both literal and figurative in the newly built capital that has yet to face its defining challenge in the Civil War. Will we stay true to our founding principles of liberty or not? These skeletal shadows throw a deathly aura on the scene. The natural sunlight is dimming and the artificial light of cynical manipulation is growing brighter. This atmospheric setting is furthered in a contrast: the coach stops to allow a free-roaming goat to go unharmed across the road right next to a high-walled, wooden pen of slaves held for auction. You can feel the foreboding of the young lawyer and his mentor as they ride through this scene. That’s excellent writing: communicating your characters’ inner states through the physical details of their world. The reader is spell bound.
The grim realities of slavery and the difficulty of reading about them are intermingled with moments of joy and tenderness. McCann knows how to pace this story. You will sob—bring your tissues—but you’ll also feel better at the end of the book than before you began it. You’ll still want to reach into history and throttle a few folks, but then, as a nation, we shed blood to redeem the Margarets from their bondage and we continue to fight to achieve racial equality as a nation. I think this book’s overall emotional impact will remind you why the fight is worth your focus and energy. Why hope is worth holding onto, even when none seems anywhere around. I highly recommend this book.
In all this wrestling over “rights,” none of the trials addressed the issue of releasing these previously free citizens and history forgot about Margaret and her three children. Jessica McCann has rectified this injustice. She will break your heart in the process—she’s that good at bringing Margaret’s story to life. However, part of this novel’s sophisticated success arises from McCann’s refusal to portray even such a clear injustice in simplistic terms. Selfishness and cruelty intermix with redemption and forgiveness. The woman who is primarily responsible for Margaret’s kidnapping, for example, grows in our understanding so that she is partially redeemed in the reader’s mind. How can that be, you wonder? Through skillful, deep characterization and subtly built moral gradations in human beings within all walks of life.
Another way that McCann modulates and softens her story telling is through her lyrical descriptions. The descriptions are integrated to reflect mood and emotional content so they never feel like bits you want to skip over. For example, when the young lawyer who will defend Pennsylvania’s case before the Supreme Court rides into DC, he looks about with interest on his first visit to the nation’s capital. Evening is falling and most people have headed home for the night. “This exodus had brought a hush to the scene, a bit enchanting and a bit eerie at once. Elegant maple saplings lined the road, casting skeleton-like shadows upon the ground as the sun dimmed and the lanterns glimmered.” The rawness of our nation is emphasized by the saplings—our unfinished state is both literal and figurative in the newly built capital that has yet to face its defining challenge in the Civil War. Will we stay true to our founding principles of liberty or not? These skeletal shadows throw a deathly aura on the scene. The natural sunlight is dimming and the artificial light of cynical manipulation is growing brighter. This atmospheric setting is furthered in a contrast: the coach stops to allow a free-roaming goat to go unharmed across the road right next to a high-walled, wooden pen of slaves held for auction. You can feel the foreboding of the young lawyer and his mentor as they ride through this scene. That’s excellent writing: communicating your characters’ inner states through the physical details of their world. The reader is spell bound.
The grim realities of slavery and the difficulty of reading about them are intermingled with moments of joy and tenderness. McCann knows how to pace this story. You will sob—bring your tissues—but you’ll also feel better at the end of the book than before you began it. You’ll still want to reach into history and throttle a few folks, but then, as a nation, we shed blood to redeem the Margarets from their bondage and we continue to fight to achieve racial equality as a nation. I think this book’s overall emotional impact will remind you why the fight is worth your focus and energy. Why hope is worth holding onto, even when none seems anywhere around. I highly recommend this book.
March 28, 2011
This is a sad story. Books like this make me deeply ashamed of my country's history. The way people were treated...
Margaret Morgan is a free African American woman living in the mid 1800s. She has a husband, also free, and three children. An old lady under the influence of some cruel people claims that she still "owns" Margaret and her children. Margaret and the wee ones are abducted and forced back into a life a slavery.
Margaret is a very likable character and I admired her when she chose to take the old lady to trial. The trial was an absolute sham, of course.. Nothing goes right for Margaret, actually.. I said this is a sad tale.
I think people should read this and be aware of what women like Margaret faced. I liked this book, but I had a few issues with it.
Sometimes the characters are just way too stupid. Okay, first of all, how can a woman have a heart of gold and yet take 12 children away from her "slave" and sell them all? Something wrong with that thinking..
*** Possible Spoilers Begin Here ***
Margaret sends her husband off on a trip immediately after the bounty hunter's first failed attempt to apprehend her. Of course he's going to come abduct you in the night!! Duh!
The old lady frees another slave, Jim. Um, Jim, hello? You do realize she "freed" Margaret too, right?
Jim travels to the slaveholding south, hands his free papers to a slave owner.. OMG, I knew the first time he pulled those papers out of his jacket that someone was gonna rip them up.
The book preaches forgiveness.. I think it goes too far. You have a choice: face a life of slavery, rapings, and beatings or let the bounty hunter die and run free. What kind of idiot is gonna save that man? Forgiveness has its limitations. That's just nuts.
*** End of Spoilers ***
My last three issues: 1. The characters were super good or super bad. One could argue that the old lady was both bad and good, but I didn't see it that way. She simply changes her mind too much. 2. The trial bored me. Unless it's about a murder, I don't get very into trials. 3. What happened to her sons? The ending left me feeling unsatisfied.
Despite my quibbles, I recommend it. It's a good look into our controversial history.
Margaret Morgan is a free African American woman living in the mid 1800s. She has a husband, also free, and three children. An old lady under the influence of some cruel people claims that she still "owns" Margaret and her children. Margaret and the wee ones are abducted and forced back into a life a slavery.
Margaret is a very likable character and I admired her when she chose to take the old lady to trial. The trial was an absolute sham, of course.. Nothing goes right for Margaret, actually.. I said this is a sad tale.
I think people should read this and be aware of what women like Margaret faced. I liked this book, but I had a few issues with it.
Sometimes the characters are just way too stupid. Okay, first of all, how can a woman have a heart of gold and yet take 12 children away from her "slave" and sell them all? Something wrong with that thinking..
*** Possible Spoilers Begin Here ***
Margaret sends her husband off on a trip immediately after the bounty hunter's first failed attempt to apprehend her. Of course he's going to come abduct you in the night!! Duh!
The old lady frees another slave, Jim. Um, Jim, hello? You do realize she "freed" Margaret too, right?
Jim travels to the slaveholding south, hands his free papers to a slave owner.. OMG, I knew the first time he pulled those papers out of his jacket that someone was gonna rip them up.
The book preaches forgiveness.. I think it goes too far. You have a choice: face a life of slavery, rapings, and beatings or let the bounty hunter die and run free. What kind of idiot is gonna save that man? Forgiveness has its limitations. That's just nuts.
*** End of Spoilers ***
My last three issues: 1. The characters were super good or super bad. One could argue that the old lady was both bad and good, but I didn't see it that way. She simply changes her mind too much. 2. The trial bored me. Unless it's about a murder, I don't get very into trials. 3. What happened to her sons? The ending left me feeling unsatisfied.
Despite my quibbles, I recommend it. It's a good look into our controversial history.
June 14, 2021
3.75 stars. this book dragged me in, i needed to know how it went with Maragret. I needed to know how her familiy had it. I hoped that she would get he freedom and some tears would come on occasion when she were in distress, sorrow and pain. I roothed for her freedom from start to finish! This book makes you feel so many things at once and for me... i just could'nt put it down either i had to read further!
Just wow. i can't describe it otherwise.
Just wow. i can't describe it otherwise.
June 11, 2011
I often hesitate when reading a book about slavery, especially slavery within the United States. This can be a very emotional subject for many of African-American descent. I wish I could say that All Different Kinds of Free by Jessica McCann wasn't an emotionally-charged read, but it was . . . in a very good way. Ms. McCann provides a poignant bordering on tragic fictionalization of the life of Margaret Morgan and family.
Margaret was born to freed slaves of Mr. Ashmore and grew up free in Maryland. She was taught to read by Mrs. Ashmore. She marries Jerry Morgan, a freed slave, and they have three children -- Sammy, Johnny and Emma. When tensions rise in Maryland due to an attempted slave revolt, they move to Philadelphia where Blacks are treated with humanity and a sense of respect. Margaret is an accomplished seamstress and quite happy with her life in Pennsylvania. Jerry works as a teamster and earns enough to keep his family clothed and well fed. All is well with the Morgans until the day Edward Prigg comes to Philadelphia. Prigg asserts that he is a bounty-hunter looking for a runaway slave of Mrs. Ashmore, Margaret Morgan. His quest is thought to be thwarted when the Pennsylvania courts rule that since he doesn't have papers showing ownership the Morgans remain free. However, Mr. Prigg doesn't like to be told no and mounts a late-night capture of Margaret Morgan and her children. Before they know it, they are back in Maryland with the intent of being sold to offset Mrs. Ashmore’s debts. Thus begins a fight between the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland on state rights. Pennsylvania in 1835 is a state that presumes a Black man or woman is free and since the state doesn't recognize slavery, goes out of its way to protect the rights of these men and women. Maryland is a slave state and presumes that any Black man or woman seen out and about is a slave or a runaway and the only rights to be protected are those of the slaves' owners. While Margaret and her children languish in a jail cell, Maryland and Pennsylvania launch a battle that is taken all the way to the Supreme Court. Margaret even tries to sue Mrs. Ashmore to prove that she was born free, but she isn't allowed to question anyone in court, have an attorney protect her interests or present evidence on her behalf so she loses. What follows is heart-wrenching. Margaret and her children are prepared for sale and her sons are sold to two different slave owners. Margaret and Emma are sold together to a slave-owner from South Carolina that has started his own "breeding" program.
Although Margaret is intended to be a house slave, her attitude gets her beaten and raped on the first night at the plantation. She does eventually find her "place" acting as a nurse to the other slaves. She and Emma are permitted to grow foods that supplement the allotted foods to the slaves as well as herbs used to treat their sicknesses. Meanwhile, back in Maryland, Mrs. Ashmore is starting to have a change of heart. She has become "friends" with her one remaining slave, Jim. Jim finds a way to get messages to Margaret using the Underground Railroad. Later when he is freed, Jim leaves Maryland for South Carolina to purchase the freedom of Margaret and Emma, with the blessings of Mrs. Ashmore. The results are less than spectacular.
All Different Kinds of Free is not light-hearted but it is a well-written and thought-provoking read. The characters endure harshness and strife that we can only imagine, but they do endure. Margaret is completely believable as a Black woman that has never been a slave. She has a quickness of mind and the unguarded tongue of someone that has never been whipped or feared being whipped for speaking her mind. She does guard her behavior in public but it is her tongue that gets her into trouble time and time again. Margaret eventually learns how to appear subservient while getting her way. She teaches her daughter to read and throughout all of their woes and struggles as slaves they endure and remain hopeful. I think it was their enduring hope that made this a good read for me.
Margaret was born to freed slaves of Mr. Ashmore and grew up free in Maryland. She was taught to read by Mrs. Ashmore. She marries Jerry Morgan, a freed slave, and they have three children -- Sammy, Johnny and Emma. When tensions rise in Maryland due to an attempted slave revolt, they move to Philadelphia where Blacks are treated with humanity and a sense of respect. Margaret is an accomplished seamstress and quite happy with her life in Pennsylvania. Jerry works as a teamster and earns enough to keep his family clothed and well fed. All is well with the Morgans until the day Edward Prigg comes to Philadelphia. Prigg asserts that he is a bounty-hunter looking for a runaway slave of Mrs. Ashmore, Margaret Morgan. His quest is thought to be thwarted when the Pennsylvania courts rule that since he doesn't have papers showing ownership the Morgans remain free. However, Mr. Prigg doesn't like to be told no and mounts a late-night capture of Margaret Morgan and her children. Before they know it, they are back in Maryland with the intent of being sold to offset Mrs. Ashmore’s debts. Thus begins a fight between the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland on state rights. Pennsylvania in 1835 is a state that presumes a Black man or woman is free and since the state doesn't recognize slavery, goes out of its way to protect the rights of these men and women. Maryland is a slave state and presumes that any Black man or woman seen out and about is a slave or a runaway and the only rights to be protected are those of the slaves' owners. While Margaret and her children languish in a jail cell, Maryland and Pennsylvania launch a battle that is taken all the way to the Supreme Court. Margaret even tries to sue Mrs. Ashmore to prove that she was born free, but she isn't allowed to question anyone in court, have an attorney protect her interests or present evidence on her behalf so she loses. What follows is heart-wrenching. Margaret and her children are prepared for sale and her sons are sold to two different slave owners. Margaret and Emma are sold together to a slave-owner from South Carolina that has started his own "breeding" program.
Although Margaret is intended to be a house slave, her attitude gets her beaten and raped on the first night at the plantation. She does eventually find her "place" acting as a nurse to the other slaves. She and Emma are permitted to grow foods that supplement the allotted foods to the slaves as well as herbs used to treat their sicknesses. Meanwhile, back in Maryland, Mrs. Ashmore is starting to have a change of heart. She has become "friends" with her one remaining slave, Jim. Jim finds a way to get messages to Margaret using the Underground Railroad. Later when he is freed, Jim leaves Maryland for South Carolina to purchase the freedom of Margaret and Emma, with the blessings of Mrs. Ashmore. The results are less than spectacular.
All Different Kinds of Free is not light-hearted but it is a well-written and thought-provoking read. The characters endure harshness and strife that we can only imagine, but they do endure. Margaret is completely believable as a Black woman that has never been a slave. She has a quickness of mind and the unguarded tongue of someone that has never been whipped or feared being whipped for speaking her mind. She does guard her behavior in public but it is her tongue that gets her into trouble time and time again. Margaret eventually learns how to appear subservient while getting her way. She teaches her daughter to read and throughout all of their woes and struggles as slaves they endure and remain hopeful. I think it was their enduring hope that made this a good read for me.
April 1, 2011
I absolutely loved this novel by historical fiction newcomer Jessica McCann. The story of Margaret Morgan, a free black woman forced back into the shackles of slavery – along with her free children – is both harrowing and uplifting. At its heart and soul is a message highlighting the supreme power of family love. The story, inspired by true events in the 1830s, also reminds us of the privilege of freedom, its beauty, and just how much is lost when freedom is rescinded.
McCann’s writing sings, painting vivid images – some painful and hard to erase from memory, but oh-so-moving – of a perilous time in our nation’s history. She artfully weaves that history with real, authentic characters, adding just the right touch of emotional insight for the reader to join in the protagonist’s difficulty journey. I love that McCann gives a voice to a remarkable woman who, by all accounts, does not ‘exist’ in our current history books. Highly, highly recommend!
McCann’s writing sings, painting vivid images – some painful and hard to erase from memory, but oh-so-moving – of a perilous time in our nation’s history. She artfully weaves that history with real, authentic characters, adding just the right touch of emotional insight for the reader to join in the protagonist’s difficulty journey. I love that McCann gives a voice to a remarkable woman who, by all accounts, does not ‘exist’ in our current history books. Highly, highly recommend!
August 29, 2013
As someone who has focused somewhat on the craft of writing historical nonfiction, I can only imagine how challenging it must be to write historical fiction. You must be true to history in order to lend your book authenticity, yet at the same time you must introduce a believable yet fictional story. And you must create full scenes complete with fabricated dialogue and action that must ring true.
Jessica McCann pulls this off in this novel set during a time in our history where slavery was illegal in some states and not in others. You may have forgotten this (I largely had) but one of the great pre-Civil War tensions was the fact that slaveowners sometimes would hire people to capture free men and women who had once been slaves and drag them back into slavery, and little or nothing was being done about it by the legal system, including the courts of free states. It is this horrific scar on our nation's history that is at the center of McCann's appropriately titled novel.
It's easier to review biographies because people know going in what happens. I don't want to give anything away with this book, because the tension is so thick because it's so unclear what will happen. Let's just say that McCann's protagonist Margaret is one of the most inspiring characters you'll ever encounter in fiction. Her story is one of courage, love and quick wits, and McCann is good enough at creating scene that you will feel the terror and horror she feels as if you're with her.
I look forward to McCann's next book.
Jessica McCann pulls this off in this novel set during a time in our history where slavery was illegal in some states and not in others. You may have forgotten this (I largely had) but one of the great pre-Civil War tensions was the fact that slaveowners sometimes would hire people to capture free men and women who had once been slaves and drag them back into slavery, and little or nothing was being done about it by the legal system, including the courts of free states. It is this horrific scar on our nation's history that is at the center of McCann's appropriately titled novel.
It's easier to review biographies because people know going in what happens. I don't want to give anything away with this book, because the tension is so thick because it's so unclear what will happen. Let's just say that McCann's protagonist Margaret is one of the most inspiring characters you'll ever encounter in fiction. Her story is one of courage, love and quick wits, and McCann is good enough at creating scene that you will feel the terror and horror she feels as if you're with her.
I look forward to McCann's next book.
June 16, 2011
I love history. I am always amazed when an author can bring something new to the table to make me say, “wait a minute, I didn’t know anything about this piece of history”. It is this type of work that sends me to my computer to research the actual historical event. So it is with this book. I was unaware of the court case that was one of the biggest things to lead up to the Civil War. The author took a court case from 1842 and built her story around it. This is the story of Margaret Morgan who was a free woman, married to a free man. She lived in Pennsylvania. One day she and her children are kidnapped from their home and sold into slavery. The men who kidnapped them was tried and found guilty. However, they appealed it to the Supreme Court. The decision made by that court set the wheels of the Civil War in motion. Through the telling of this story we experience with Margaret the selling of her children and the other atrocities she must endure. We also watch her cling to her faith letting them know that it is the one thing they cannot possess. I will definitely recommend this to all of the history teachers I work with and to all history buffs.
June 28, 2011
This was an amazing trip into the days of pre civil-war slavery. Jessica McCann clearly illustrates what a priviledge freedom is and that we should never take it for granted. I was told by friends who read this that the shortly after startng the book, they were mad. I could completely relate. I was also told that they couldn't put the book down. I too, felt that way as the story took some unbelievable turns. I wanted to know more information on what happened to some of the other characters in the story, but it was also a reminder that back then negros were considered animals and did not ofter know the fate of their loved ones. This book left me wanting to know more about the heros of that time and the underground railroad. It was a fantastic journey and taught me a little about true courage.
March 20, 2011
Riveting Historical Drama
The 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War approaches. Sound the trumpet for a novel where justice, personal liberty and self-reliance are celebrated by a writer who has the savvy to make her voice ring.
An obscure 1842 Supreme Court Case is the backdrop for this compelling book. All Different Kinds of Free, a historical fiction novel based on true events, is really the story of Margaret Morgan, a free woman of color from Pennsylvania who is abducted and sold into slavery. The court case received moderate visibility in historical records. The author states that the details of Margaret’s life are frustratingly omitted from historical documents; however Jessica McCann has created a gripping tale of Margaret and her fight for freedom.
Stolen freedom is appalling. “Don’t lose hope,” Margaret reassures her children who are also kidnapped, “…when something’s lost, it can be found again.”
Jessica McCann, an established non-fiction writer and editor broadens her talents and becomes a historical fiction author to watch. All Different Kinds of Free won the 2009 Freedom in Fiction Prize, an international award recognizing the best unpublished work of fiction championing the values of a free, truly compassionate society.
Some detail about the Supreme Court Case is woven into the narrative to give us proper perspective. Even there, the author is careful to tie in the plight of victims like Margaret. “Better a thousand slaves escape,” says the civil rights litigator, “than should one free man be thus carried into remediless slavery.” Margaret’s story, however, dominates the novel. Her experiences are as horrendous as the reader can imagine, but she uses courage, indomitable strength and faith in God as weapons against the inhumanity heaped upon her. McCann expertly endears us to Margaret’s heart. Somewhat overdone are the extensive use of questions and Margaret’s internal thoughts.
McCann could have highlighted a landmark, albeit obscure Supreme Court case that spurred us toward the Civil War. Instead, using vivid storytelling, she enlightens the more salient issue through an unforgettable character “demanding” to be treated as a human being who safeguarded her soul against all onslaughts.
For a century and a half, people have argued over the Civil War being about state’s rights or freedom of the enslaved. All Different Kinds of Free weighs heavily on the human side—the preservation of the dignity of the individual. Does Margaret prevail? Read the book to find out. Does McCann succeed? Strikingly so. She is an author venturing into a new genre with boldness and heart and has given us a riveting read.
I thank Bell Ridge Books for supplying a copy of this book. The opinions in my review are unbiased and wholly my own.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of
Crestmont
The 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War approaches. Sound the trumpet for a novel where justice, personal liberty and self-reliance are celebrated by a writer who has the savvy to make her voice ring.
An obscure 1842 Supreme Court Case is the backdrop for this compelling book. All Different Kinds of Free, a historical fiction novel based on true events, is really the story of Margaret Morgan, a free woman of color from Pennsylvania who is abducted and sold into slavery. The court case received moderate visibility in historical records. The author states that the details of Margaret’s life are frustratingly omitted from historical documents; however Jessica McCann has created a gripping tale of Margaret and her fight for freedom.
Stolen freedom is appalling. “Don’t lose hope,” Margaret reassures her children who are also kidnapped, “…when something’s lost, it can be found again.”
Jessica McCann, an established non-fiction writer and editor broadens her talents and becomes a historical fiction author to watch. All Different Kinds of Free won the 2009 Freedom in Fiction Prize, an international award recognizing the best unpublished work of fiction championing the values of a free, truly compassionate society.
Some detail about the Supreme Court Case is woven into the narrative to give us proper perspective. Even there, the author is careful to tie in the plight of victims like Margaret. “Better a thousand slaves escape,” says the civil rights litigator, “than should one free man be thus carried into remediless slavery.” Margaret’s story, however, dominates the novel. Her experiences are as horrendous as the reader can imagine, but she uses courage, indomitable strength and faith in God as weapons against the inhumanity heaped upon her. McCann expertly endears us to Margaret’s heart. Somewhat overdone are the extensive use of questions and Margaret’s internal thoughts.
McCann could have highlighted a landmark, albeit obscure Supreme Court case that spurred us toward the Civil War. Instead, using vivid storytelling, she enlightens the more salient issue through an unforgettable character “demanding” to be treated as a human being who safeguarded her soul against all onslaughts.
For a century and a half, people have argued over the Civil War being about state’s rights or freedom of the enslaved. All Different Kinds of Free weighs heavily on the human side—the preservation of the dignity of the individual. Does Margaret prevail? Read the book to find out. Does McCann succeed? Strikingly so. She is an author venturing into a new genre with boldness and heart and has given us a riveting read.
I thank Bell Ridge Books for supplying a copy of this book. The opinions in my review are unbiased and wholly my own.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of
Crestmont
March 9, 2014
Absolutely incredible. Compared to Sue Monk Kidd's The Invention of Wings, which was also a great story of historical facts, this also took me on a ride. Loved it.
December 11, 2011
3.5 stars
"All rise. Harford County trial docket number fifty-three, the case of Negro Margaret vs. Margaret Ashmore, petition for freedom. The Honorable William T. Archer presiding on this day, Wednesday, August 28, 1837.”
All Different Kinds of Free is based on the story of Margaret Morgan and the case of Prigg v Pennsylvania. Margaret was a free woman, living in Pennsylvania with her husband and three children, until she and her children were kidnapped by bounty hunters and taken to Maryland to be returned to the widow of the man who had owned her family (he had freed them before he died). The man's widow has some financial issues and she's convinced by her daughter and son-in-law that she'll make a tidy profit selling Margaret and her children at auction.
Fact is, he said, the Ashmores don’t have papers saying they own me, and I don’t have papers saying I’m free."
McCann takes this lesser known bit of history and weaves a tale of what might have happened to Margaret, interspersed with the POV of her husband Jerry fighting to find a way to get his family back and the legal proceedings arguing the legalities of *abducting* Margaret. Needless to say, Margaret's experiences are horrific, but at the same time I didn't quite *feel* the horror and felt a bit on the outside looking in, and the ending was a bit too pat. The one thing that really struck me is that all those good white folks in Pennsylvania were darned outraged over someone from another state coming in and taking Margaret away and arguing the legalities of it all the way to the Supreme Court, but did one of them really care about getting Margaret and her children back? No...
FTC, a Kindle freebie.
"All rise. Harford County trial docket number fifty-three, the case of Negro Margaret vs. Margaret Ashmore, petition for freedom. The Honorable William T. Archer presiding on this day, Wednesday, August 28, 1837.”
All Different Kinds of Free is based on the story of Margaret Morgan and the case of Prigg v Pennsylvania. Margaret was a free woman, living in Pennsylvania with her husband and three children, until she and her children were kidnapped by bounty hunters and taken to Maryland to be returned to the widow of the man who had owned her family (he had freed them before he died). The man's widow has some financial issues and she's convinced by her daughter and son-in-law that she'll make a tidy profit selling Margaret and her children at auction.
Fact is, he said, the Ashmores don’t have papers saying they own me, and I don’t have papers saying I’m free."
McCann takes this lesser known bit of history and weaves a tale of what might have happened to Margaret, interspersed with the POV of her husband Jerry fighting to find a way to get his family back and the legal proceedings arguing the legalities of *abducting* Margaret. Needless to say, Margaret's experiences are horrific, but at the same time I didn't quite *feel* the horror and felt a bit on the outside looking in, and the ending was a bit too pat. The one thing that really struck me is that all those good white folks in Pennsylvania were darned outraged over someone from another state coming in and taking Margaret away and arguing the legalities of it all the way to the Supreme Court, but did one of them really care about getting Margaret and her children back? No...
FTC, a Kindle freebie.
April 2, 2011
Margaret Morgan is married and lives happily with her husband and her three children. Margaret is a free woman of color in the 1830's, until a bounty hunter comes to collect her and her children to return her to her former owner in Maryland. Margaret tries to hold her family together and fights every step along the way. This is a book, based on a true story, about a remarkable woman who didn't give up.
Personal opinion:
I was drawn into this book after only a few chapters and it was almost impossible to put this down. The story is heartbreaking, having me on the edge of tears, not believing what I was reading. I was rooting for Margaret from the start and I couldn't wrap my mind around all the things that were happening to her and her family. It is unbelievable how cruel people can be and how they treated those people even worse than the animals on their land. It was the first book I read on the subject and while it is covered in history class briefly (I live in Europe), it feels so different to read all the hardships in detail compared to the fact orientated lessons at school. Living in this time and age, it is hard to believe that people were treated that way and in some places in the world probably still are. This is a really powerful story, a must read in my opinion. This book touched me within my core because is it so terrible yet so beautiful all at once.
Personal opinion:
I was drawn into this book after only a few chapters and it was almost impossible to put this down. The story is heartbreaking, having me on the edge of tears, not believing what I was reading. I was rooting for Margaret from the start and I couldn't wrap my mind around all the things that were happening to her and her family. It is unbelievable how cruel people can be and how they treated those people even worse than the animals on their land. It was the first book I read on the subject and while it is covered in history class briefly (I live in Europe), it feels so different to read all the hardships in detail compared to the fact orientated lessons at school. Living in this time and age, it is hard to believe that people were treated that way and in some places in the world probably still are. This is a really powerful story, a must read in my opinion. This book touched me within my core because is it so terrible yet so beautiful all at once.
August 19, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It was as real as if I was there in all the terrifying situations this young mother had to experience. I did not want to put it down until I had finished. The picture the author painted for us of the characters were vivid. I look forward to other works by this creative author. I appreciate the research Jessica McCann did to make her story so historically significant. It was refreshing to see her insight and caring in dealing with multi-faceted relationships. This author took care to reveal how people struggled with moral issues, doing evil things and some changing their minds and attempting to then un-do the harm they have done. It ended rather abruptly, I wanted it to continue but perhaps a sequel? This book was thought provoking and gave insight into some historical events that I am ashamed to know happened. Reading about history can give us insight into the disatrous effects of a lack of moral character. All good books challenge us to look at ourselves and consider our own character. Thought provoking read.
October 8, 2017
This is a book that will really make you think. It shows the fight that a free black woman goes through to regain her freedom after being stolen from her home in Pennsylvania by a man to be taken into slavery, despite never having been a slave. I enjoy the interlaced rebellion, comedy and the views from many other sides in this fight that made people more aware of what was going on within the country. A very worthwhile read that will keep you interested.
Based of the real story of a woman who refused to give up and tried everything to save her family.
Based of the real story of a woman who refused to give up and tried everything to save her family.
March 9, 2021
This book.....it should be required reading for every American of adult age. It is SO incredibly hard to get through, especially reading it from the perspective of a wife and a mother. So many times I had to go so slowly, stop and digest and discuss before I could continue. No book has ever made me as sad, opened my eyes more, or caused me to feel such rage. The pacing at the end feels slightly rushed in comparison to the rest of it, but regardless of that petty complaint, EVERYONE needs to read this book.
August 13, 2013
Though heartbreaking to read, this story is an important one and kudos to Ms. McCann for unburying it. She did a wonderful job of putting the reader inside Margaret's head, and every horror, insult, and outrage to the woman rang true. A must read for all fans of American historical fiction, as well as for our children.
May 6, 2014
Wonderful book with a unique point of view. I loved Margaret and couldn't stop reading! All Different Kinds of Free is beautifully written and is based on a true story!
"I often marveled at how there can be ask different kinds of free. And yet...I suppose now I've learned there are all different kinds of bondage, too."
"I often marveled at how there can be ask different kinds of free. And yet...I suppose now I've learned there are all different kinds of bondage, too."
February 19, 2015
I loved this book. The author's descriptive writing style flowed well and was thoroughly enjoyable. This book was exciting. The plot was full of twists but was reasonable. It aroused my interest and I just loved this book!
March 13, 2015
Margaret, the main narrator of this book, has a rich, funny, warm voice that is almost spellbinding. I also enjoyed the scenes from Jerry's pov and those with Jim and Mrs. Ashmore. I wish the attorneys had been stronger characters. I have to admit I skimmed most of the trial scenes.
April 8, 2012
I loved this book it just ended too soon. I wanted the story to continue. I guess that is a sign of a great book.
August 29, 2011
Margaret Morgan is late returning from town, where she was purchasing supplies for her seamstressing business. When she reaches home, she hears two unexpected voices. One is the town constable. The other is the man who had been her neighbor in Maryland. It’s not a social call, for bounty hunger Ed Prigg accuses Margaret of being a runaway.
She and her three children are threatened with being sold into slavery—even though each of them is free. So opens Jessica McCann’s compelling and gripping debut novel, All Different Kinds of Free.
At first Margaret is more stunned than afraid. Why would Mrs. Ashmore, the woman she’d worked for as a free black woman, set a bounty hunter on her trail? In the beginning, the law is on Margaret’s side. Eleven years earlier in 1826 the state of Pennsylvania passed a law requiring bounty hunters to provide proof of ownership. Prigg doesn’t have any.
When the matter goes before the local justice of the peace, he dismisses the case, even though Margaret, free from birth as the offspring of freed slaves, doesn’t have any papers of manumission. Only her husband, a slave who bought himself out of bondage, has written proof. Their two older children were born in Maryland, a slave-holding state, but to a free mother. Only their youngest, Emma, was born in Pennsylvania; that makes her the “freest” of all.
Pennsylvania sees them as citizens. Maryland sees them as property. And with that, Prigg vs. Pennsylvania becomes a prelude to the Civil War as people from all walks of life begin questioning the role the federal government should have in states’ rights.
Despite the court ruling, Margaret and the children are taken to Maryland and kept in jail, supposedly for their own protection, while lawmakers and enforcers in both states join the debate. While in jail, Margaret decides to sue Mrs. Ashmore for her freedom. When she appears in court, those who testify lie and Margaret isn’t awarded a lawyer or given a chance to speak. The ruling? Margaret and her children will be sent to the auction block.
You’ll weep with Margaret as she watches first one then her other son sold away. Because Emma is only 5 years old, she’s allowed to be sold with Margaret, who is bought by a master who wants her for only one purpose—to mate with a brutal “stud” and become a breeding woman.
As Margaret and Emma slave for their master, their case goes before the Supreme Court, which upholds Maryland’s ruling. Margaret starts to lose hope until she begins receiving letters via an underground route from a surprising source. The ending will leave you weeping and cheering.
She and her three children are threatened with being sold into slavery—even though each of them is free. So opens Jessica McCann’s compelling and gripping debut novel, All Different Kinds of Free.
At first Margaret is more stunned than afraid. Why would Mrs. Ashmore, the woman she’d worked for as a free black woman, set a bounty hunter on her trail? In the beginning, the law is on Margaret’s side. Eleven years earlier in 1826 the state of Pennsylvania passed a law requiring bounty hunters to provide proof of ownership. Prigg doesn’t have any.
When the matter goes before the local justice of the peace, he dismisses the case, even though Margaret, free from birth as the offspring of freed slaves, doesn’t have any papers of manumission. Only her husband, a slave who bought himself out of bondage, has written proof. Their two older children were born in Maryland, a slave-holding state, but to a free mother. Only their youngest, Emma, was born in Pennsylvania; that makes her the “freest” of all.
Pennsylvania sees them as citizens. Maryland sees them as property. And with that, Prigg vs. Pennsylvania becomes a prelude to the Civil War as people from all walks of life begin questioning the role the federal government should have in states’ rights.
Despite the court ruling, Margaret and the children are taken to Maryland and kept in jail, supposedly for their own protection, while lawmakers and enforcers in both states join the debate. While in jail, Margaret decides to sue Mrs. Ashmore for her freedom. When she appears in court, those who testify lie and Margaret isn’t awarded a lawyer or given a chance to speak. The ruling? Margaret and her children will be sent to the auction block.
You’ll weep with Margaret as she watches first one then her other son sold away. Because Emma is only 5 years old, she’s allowed to be sold with Margaret, who is bought by a master who wants her for only one purpose—to mate with a brutal “stud” and become a breeding woman.
As Margaret and Emma slave for their master, their case goes before the Supreme Court, which upholds Maryland’s ruling. Margaret starts to lose hope until she begins receiving letters via an underground route from a surprising source. The ending will leave you weeping and cheering.
September 11, 2011
All Different Kinds of Free by Jessica McCann
Bell Bridge Books – March 28, 2011
www.jessicamccann.com
Facebook: no
Rating: Loved it and hated it
Recommendation: Personally I think everyone in the world should read this book to get a better idea of slavery and to have a real appreciation of freedom
Margaret Morgan was a black woman who lived in the 1830’s. Though her parents were slaves who were freed by their master, Margaret was born a free black. She enjoyed her freedom with her husband and three kids and the life that they had built together in Pennsylvania. But in one day, that is all destroyed and the life she knew was no more. Everything changed, and being free took on a whole new meaning.
This story gives a whole know meaning to my understanding of freedom, betrayal strength and devastation. Was this story an accurate historical account of the real Margaret Morgan and her life? Maybe not, but I am sure it was an accurate depiction of that time. I don’t want talk about the story, because it is really something that the reader should experience. The writing and the story are amazing. It’s in a time period that I could not have survived in, too much anger and hate and no one had a complete understanding of the depravity of man or the resiliency of humanity.
The world that McCann describes through Margaret’s voice is vivid and her voice draws you in. You can’t help feel something while reading, especially when you realize that this did happen to someone. I wanted to hate Prigg, but I also wanted to understand how a man can do the horrible things that he did and not care. But, a part of me thinks that maybe he rationalized it to himself in a way that I will never understand it.
To be honest, I don’t read a lot of books on black history or slavery, because it is something that I don’t understand and it stirs up a whole slew of emotions. But there are some books that cross my paths by accident on purpose. The first would be Kindred by Octavia Butler, and this would be the second.
Bell Bridge Books – March 28, 2011
www.jessicamccann.com
Facebook: no
Rating: Loved it and hated it
Recommendation: Personally I think everyone in the world should read this book to get a better idea of slavery and to have a real appreciation of freedom
Margaret Morgan was a black woman who lived in the 1830’s. Though her parents were slaves who were freed by their master, Margaret was born a free black. She enjoyed her freedom with her husband and three kids and the life that they had built together in Pennsylvania. But in one day, that is all destroyed and the life she knew was no more. Everything changed, and being free took on a whole new meaning.
This story gives a whole know meaning to my understanding of freedom, betrayal strength and devastation. Was this story an accurate historical account of the real Margaret Morgan and her life? Maybe not, but I am sure it was an accurate depiction of that time. I don’t want talk about the story, because it is really something that the reader should experience. The writing and the story are amazing. It’s in a time period that I could not have survived in, too much anger and hate and no one had a complete understanding of the depravity of man or the resiliency of humanity.
The world that McCann describes through Margaret’s voice is vivid and her voice draws you in. You can’t help feel something while reading, especially when you realize that this did happen to someone. I wanted to hate Prigg, but I also wanted to understand how a man can do the horrible things that he did and not care. But, a part of me thinks that maybe he rationalized it to himself in a way that I will never understand it.
To be honest, I don’t read a lot of books on black history or slavery, because it is something that I don’t understand and it stirs up a whole slew of emotions. But there are some books that cross my paths by accident on purpose. The first would be Kindred by Octavia Butler, and this would be the second.
September 3, 2019
This book cut me quick to the heart. It is the story of a woman kidnapped with her family from a life as a free woman in Pennsylvania, then a free state, to a life of horrendous, hellish, slavery in the south in the 1830's before the civil war. This story is based on a true occurrence and it just made my blood boil at the injustice of slavery and those who supported it. Horrible, brutal stuff. I appreciate the author taking license with other details of the story, not the factual. She did a great job of building believable characters and believable situations with a lot of historical detail. I could not put it down. I highly recommend this book, it will get your blood pumping and make you want to go out and save the world. A great read and page turner.
August 10, 2018
My goodness what a heart wrenching, gut punching story.
The fact this is based on true, historical events just kills me. It makes me feel incredibly ashamed and the writer did a fantastic job.
She gave a voice to Margaret- the one behind the Supreme Court case of Prigg v Pennsylvania.
I held my breath and felt every emotion from anger, fear, hope following along with Margaret’s story.
It’s emotionally heavy but it’s a story that needs to be read.
The fact this is based on true, historical events just kills me. It makes me feel incredibly ashamed and the writer did a fantastic job.
She gave a voice to Margaret- the one behind the Supreme Court case of Prigg v Pennsylvania.
I held my breath and felt every emotion from anger, fear, hope following along with Margaret’s story.
It’s emotionally heavy but it’s a story that needs to be read.
August 21, 2020
Inspiration & Heart Break
I am saddened by the events in this book that occurred in our history. To think humans were treated as such is heart breaking. Margaret’s kindness, positivity and toughness is absolutely amazing. To think she could continue in such a matter is what describes the best of a human spirit who never gives up. To say the least, she is an inspiring woman.
I am saddened by the events in this book that occurred in our history. To think humans were treated as such is heart breaking. Margaret’s kindness, positivity and toughness is absolutely amazing. To think she could continue in such a matter is what describes the best of a human spirit who never gives up. To say the least, she is an inspiring woman.
April 19, 2017
(Audiobook) What a powerful and moving story. I really liked this writer writing style. Even though this book is fiction, it closely relates to non-fiction events. What a terrible period in Amercia's history. What a very sad story for Margaret. It really doesn't have much of a happy ending :(
October 12, 2020
This is a fictionalized account of real characters involved in the Supreme Court case of Prigg vs Pennsylvania. It’s the story of the courage of Margaret Morgan, a free black woman, captured by a bounty hunter. At times heartbreaking and infuriating it is an excellent read.
June 12, 2015
Great story
I really enjoyed this story and characters. Seems to be a true life event. Many stories are similar, but this was very true to life.
I really enjoyed this story and characters. Seems to be a true life event. Many stories are similar, but this was very true to life.
March 31, 2019
Could not put this book down. The end of the story is a new beginning. I would love to see a follow-up book showing what happens to these characters.
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