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Shadow of a Quarter Moon
From the author of Promise Bridge comes a powerful novel of the pre-Civil War era South and the Underground Railroad.
1839, North Carolina. As the daughter of a plantation owner, Jacy has been raised in privilege- until she discovers that she's the offspring of a dalliance between her father and a slave. The revelation destroys Jacy's sense of who she is and where she bel...more
1839, North Carolina. As the daughter of a plantation owner, Jacy has been raised in privilege- until she discovers that she's the offspring of a dalliance between her father and a slave. The revelation destroys Jacy's sense of who she is and where she bel...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
July 5th 2011
by NAL Trade
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Review by Amie Lou: Jacy Lane has what most would consider a near perfect life, but after her father's unexpected death, it takes a sharp turn for the worse. Everything Jacy thought she knew about her father, her life, and her very being gets thrown up into the air with her desperaely trying to catch the peices. After discovering her mother is a slave and not the woman who raised her, several issues in Jacy's life click into place, but several more rise up. Jacy must make the hard decision to fr...more
"Shadow of a Quarter Moon" is a historical set in 1839 in North Carolina. It also contained some romance. Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story, and they brought the story alive in my imagination.
The characters were varied, complex, and realistic. They struggled with realistic problems for the time period. Emotionally, though, I had a hard time with how helpless and powerless Jacy was throughout much of the book. Things just kept getting worse and worse. It wasn't very p...more
The characters were varied, complex, and realistic. They struggled with realistic problems for the time period. Emotionally, though, I had a hard time with how helpless and powerless Jacy was throughout much of the book. Things just kept getting worse and worse. It wasn't very p...more
For the first little bit, I had low expectations of how this book would turn out. The characters were predictable - even without reading the back cover, I could tell who Jacy's mother, brother, and love interest would all turn out to be, long before she figured them out. The dialogue often seemed stilted, overly verbose and well-formed for conversations. Anyway, it got better.
The story derails from most expectations at about page 150, leaving over 200 pages left for great historical information...more
The story derails from most expectations at about page 150, leaving over 200 pages left for great historical information...more
I enjoyed reading this one. Similar in time frame to her other pre-civil war book, Promise Bridge....stories like this open a window into what life may have been like for people living in this environment. The characters are fabricated, but the character of that life-style comes through. Prejudice and hatred is clearly portrayed between the blacks and uppity whites. The story line focuses on slavery in the South and their culture of women's subservience to men as you will see with the females in...more
Set in North Carolina during the 1800s, Shadow of a Quarter Moon tells the story of Jacy Lane, a young woman living in a plantation and how her life changed after her father's death and discovering that she is actually the offspring of a dalliance between her father and a slave.
Added to the complexity is her engagement to Garrison Yob, a middle-aged man who is known to be ruthless and a chauvinist, and most of all finding out that her biological mother and brother are still working in their plan...more
Added to the complexity is her engagement to Garrison Yob, a middle-aged man who is known to be ruthless and a chauvinist, and most of all finding out that her biological mother and brother are still working in their plan...more
I read "Shadow of a Quarter Moon" in two days, because I could not put the book down. The main chacter, Jacy, goes from being a white mistress on a plantation to a Negro living in the North. The author's ability to describe Jacy's descent in status along her "escape" to the North is riveting and chills the reader. This book is similar to "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in that the story tells the reality of slavery and enslaved desire for freedom, rather than the myth of slavery. At several points in the st...more
I love books from this era, but this one just didn't capture me. Some of the characters were so awful I almost couldn't stand to read the book. I probably wouldn't have kept reading it if it wasn't a book club pick.
I didn't feel it was terribly well-written. It's full of action--almost too much action to be believable. If you want to read a great book during this same time period, pick up The Kitchen House instead. It has great characters dealing with similar circumstances but is much better wr...more
I didn't feel it was terribly well-written. It's full of action--almost too much action to be believable. If you want to read a great book during this same time period, pick up The Kitchen House instead. It has great characters dealing with similar circumstances but is much better wr...more
I had high hopes for this book, and while I found it extremely interesting from a historical fiction standpoint, I had a hard time with the main character's rather quick transition from fear to confusion to acceptance, and then to her end storyline, which I don't want to reveal here.
Despite my disapointment, I still feel this book is a book I'd like others to read, if not just to learn a little more about life for both blacks and whites before the Civil War.
Despite my disapointment, I still feel this book is a book I'd like others to read, if not just to learn a little more about life for both blacks and whites before the Civil War.
The synopsis on the back of the book made it sound amazing. On the surface, the plot sounds like something right up my ally. The execution, however, came of as dull, and not very suspenseful. I had to force myself to get through the second half. It read a bit like a historical romance novel, but without the witty dialogue. I am sad, because this could have been such a great work.
Loved the beginning! Very exciting. The middle was a bit rough but then it was so interesting to see how a girl can or can't choose between the life of a slave or the life or a white slave owner. I haven't read any books like this and it was a great find at the library!
There are a few points in the book I felt could use more detailed descriptions but for the most part I enjoyed this book. I loved seeing the changes in her attitude and how devoted she is to her real family. I can't imagine going through the things she goes through.
Lots of neat characters. A good historical fiction but to me a bit unbelievable. What I really liked was that it took place in areas that I traveled this past summer--Elizabeth City NC, the Dismal Swamp and a few other areas that were mentioned.
Feb 25, 2012
Dale
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Dale by:
Linda Matty
Shelves:
historical-fiction
I enjoyed this book both for the fast moving adventure, lots of twists and turns, and the eye-opening view of what it was like to be a slave in the pre-Civil War era. Most of the book takes place in 1839, North Carolina, but extends on up to Philadelphia and New Jersey. It was a very emotional read; living through the cruelty and also the bravery brought new insight for me. Although a fictional story, I learned a lot about the Convention of Free Negroes, the Free African society, and the bounty/...more
this stiry was very well written. the detail and attention to character development is awesome. i had to put the book down at times because i became overwhelmed with emotions. LOVED IT!
pretty predictable for the first quarter or so but then shit got crazy!! sort of a roller coaster near the end when I was just sure things were gonna go wrong but I was very happy with the ending.
Although not a "well-known" book, I am so glad that I read it. I love historical fiction, and this book did not disappoint.
I do like her female characters, but too many coincidences and too hard to believe Jacy gets out of so many jams.
This was great read - love the Civil War era, and the insurmountable odds this gal faced.
Not a creative book at all. At every turn, the main character faces a crisis, to the point that you just have to go, "Again?"
A story of slavery in North Carolina just prior to the Civil War.
what a great book. another book with a great ride...
Very enjoyable, historical fiction.
Interesting part 2 of "Promise Bridge", yet more disturbing. What a sad and mean-spirited history we have.
I only read 100 pages of this book. I gave it a good try. I just didn't want to waste any more of my time on this book when there are so many other great books to read. If you want a totally unbelievable romance, in this time period with very little historical facts, then this is the book for you. I don't like to not like a book because I admire anyone who has the patience and talent to write a book, so even if I didn't love the book maybe you will!
What an amazing insight on the life of a slave in the late 1820's. This is an important part in the history of our nation, yet it was disappointing to come to understand just how inhumanely these individuals were treated on the plantations in the Southern States. Well written and captivating story. Highly recommend it!
let's title this review, "Why I Gave This Book Two Stars Instead of One"
**fascinatingly detailed setting and research**
and that's that.
pg13 for grown-ups, as some of the darker, more violent sides of slavery figure non-explicitly in the plot
**fascinatingly detailed setting and research**
and that's that.
pg13 for grown-ups, as some of the darker, more violent sides of slavery figure non-explicitly in the plot
May 21, 2013
Lauren
marked it as to-read
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Eileen Clymer Schwab graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Communication. She resides with her family in northeast Pennsylvania. Her second novel, Shadow of a Quarter Moon, will be released by NAL/Penguin in 2011. Over the years, Eileen's passion for writing has been channeled through occasional newspaper or magazine articles as she balanced a job and raising four children. With the encou...more
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