Cy in Chains

by David L. Dudley

Cy Williams, thirteen, has always known that he and the other black folks on Strong's plantation have to obey white men, no question. Sure, he's free, as black people have been since his grandfather's day, but in rural Georgia, that means they're free to be whipped, abused, even killed. Almost four years later, Cy yearns for that freedom, such as it was. Now he's a chain gang laborer, forced to do backbreaking work, penned in and shackled like an animal, brutalized, beaten, and humiliated by the boss of the camp and his hired overseers. For Cy and the boys he's chained to, there's no way out, no way back.
   And then hope begins to grow in him, along with strength and courage he didn't know he had. Cy is sure that a chance at freedom is worth any risk, any sacrifice. This powerful, moving story opens a window on a painful chapter in the history of race relations.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Abuse, African American, Fiction

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

David L. Dudley is professor of African American literature at Georgia Southern University. He lives in Twin City, Georgia, with his wife. They have four children and homeschool the younger two.

Reviews

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Read!

Of course I have heard of the chain gangs of the south, but I like how this book put it in the perspective of recently freed slaves.

What Cy teaches us in this book, is slavery is a mentality. Cy got his freedom from thinking outside of the norm. I like how this book shows the progression of Cy throughout different obstacles.

[Dana Hammer]

I’m sure this is a good book, but I couldn’t get past the first scene because it was so upsetting.

[Carol Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cy Williams is a 13-year-old boy who finds himself wrongfully imprisoned under very cruel conditions several years after the Civil War has ended. He is detained at a forced labor camp for African American boys, which is run by a trio of racist tyrants who overwork the boys, beat them, and do even worse things. Cy tries to escape but is betrayed by the man who was supposed to help him. He watches as other boys, even younger than he, are also thwarted in their attempts to flee or to rebel in small ways. Along with others, he contracts whooping cough and almost dies. He witnesses the murder of one of his friends. All along, Cy is thinking about what it means to be a man in these terrible conditions, and about whether or not God exists. It is a very cerebral book, and the characters do a lot of thinking as they endure their terrible experiences at the prison camp.
This one is beautifully written, with very sharply drawn characters and a lot of white-knuckled adventure. Along the road to growing up, Cy needs to think about the meaning of family, the meaning of love, the meaning of dependence and independence.
There are some sexual references and breath-taking instances of violence. This one is recommended for readers in the upper grades of high school and up.

This novel is based loosely on a true story, and it is harrowing in its descriptions of African American life.

[CKE387 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of an African-American boy in the post Civil War south who is accused of a crime and sentenced to convict labor on a chain gaing. Many African-American boys have been victimized by this system which "convicted" youths without the benefit of a trial (some as young as ten years old) to stiff sentences of 15-20 years for petty crimes. Many young boys died trying to do the hard labor assigned, or from lack of medical care when sick or injured, or from trying to escape. Sad story portrayed in a realistic manner. Real eye-opener, worth the read.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

So had a little time between assignments with Grad school and decided to read my Sunday away (my all time favorite Daylight savings Fallback activity) I always give myself the extra hour to read as much as I can and I got caught up with this one and many hours later I finished it as it reads fast but I must admit the motivation for finishing it for real was not to have to read it tomorrow..Sigh it was interesting and easy to read but also depressing, shocking and lacking action in many parts..so I finished it, will be able to pass on to serious readers only and will take with me the time spent with Cy in the 1800s South chain gang…Alright so you meet thirteen year old Cy who lives with his father after the Civil war on a plot of land that used to be worked and lived in by slaves. The former master John Strong and his son and a horse they can’t afford still live beyond their means in the “big house” and Cy’s father works for them after his wife and Cy’s mother left—Cy’s best friend is the master’s son Travis and while things could go better for them his life is okay..until Master Strong’s horse loses, Travis gets beat in retaliation one too many times and he gets it in his head to run away. Travis running away puts in motion nothing but bad mishap for Cy and he is sold off to a chain gang full of boys who committed any or no offense at all. The book takes place mostly within the camp and you learn of the relationships between the boys, the horrors that take place within there and how slavery is not always a physical condition, being enslaved mentally can be just as devastating. The book was real and didn’t hold anything back in describing the lowest forms of degradation to break a person’s spirit and CY withstood it all and still pushed through..I can’t lie and say it wasn’t entertaining or refreshingly different but it was also slow moving, flat, monotonous and uneventful..you have to really want to know what is going to happen to push through and I really question it being on a middle school library shelf ---I looked in the author note and see he is a Ph.D but it is definitely YA as there is death, cruelty, physical and sexual abuse and lots of time relevant language with derogatory use of the n-word all through this novel..It is rough reading, has its rewards and has moments you must muddle through..I don’t think I will make a book trailer or group recommend this one because of its sensitive material but I can see some advanced readers taking this challenge on, maybe some adults..I recommend this one with strong reservations and am glad I read it but eh I was not overly hyped with it..

[Christina Chilelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in pre-Civil War American, "Cy in Chains" follows the story of Cy Williams when he is falsely accused of trying to run away and is sent to a slave chain-gang camp. Throughout the novel, he encounters various struggles: his hate of the white man, conflict with his fellow prisoners, but most of all, his desire to be free. When the book starts, he is friends with his master's son, but his untimely death leads to Cy's imprisonment in the chain-gang camp, for though he tries to save his life, his friend ends up swept downriver when he tried to run away from home. The bulk of the novel follows Cy in the camp, set some three years in the future after he was abducted from his home and sent there at his master's command. There, he spends a good deal of the novel planning his escape. While I will not spoil the end, it was somewhat surprising and in my opinion, satisfying and refreshing, as it was not nearly as predictable as I would have expected.
Throughout the novel, he is rather aloof, not really befriending any of his fellow prisoners, though he does have some alliances with his peers. While Cy is the main character, the reader lacks emotional access to him. Several of his friends die in the course of the novel, among other horrors imparted on him, and yet, nothing ever really seems to phase him. Even with the third person POV, the book would have benefitted from more insight into his feelings and emotions, as he is presented as quite robotic in nature. Furthermore, the book presents a black-and-white view, refusing to relent in any way. Even when some of the white men are kind, the books treats them all as enemies, and does not flesh out their characters. However, the dialogue is fairly believable, and all the dialect is spot on (which I always appreciate in historical fiction books). The dialogue is easy to read, and yet still bears the heavy southern accent, enabling the reader to essentially hear the characters speak.
While this book does cover a fairly unknown part of southern history, even for someone somewhat well-rounded in early American history, it is not for younger teens. It is dark, gruesome, and eludes to some content not well-suited for the younger reader.

[Jesus Espinpoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

All type of action into one book!
The title of my book is CY Chains by David L Dudley is an emotional, action packed and thriller of a story put all into one book. CY Chains is about a boy named CY getting moved to a prison camp during slavery times and at this time all people got put into chains and got treated like slaves, at the time CY was going in he saw all types of people in the prison camp he saw some older and younger kids and some adults. The main basis on this story is about CY running away from the camp to reunite with the rest of his family by making strategies/plans and many more with his dad and Travis so one night they go at it and leave the camp. Throughout the story he makes friends and at one point in the story he meets a kid called Travis him and Travis had a good relationship and eventually made a plan to escape the prison. As CY,Travis and his dad escape camp the prison guard sees them and eventually splits the three and what CY didn’t know is they eventually the prison guard murders his father after CY finds out he gets revenge on the guard that killed his father and escapes prison finds Travis and bails him out of the camp and they both eventually end up with their families by the end of the book. I feel like this book is emotional due to the fact that CY got split with his family and his friends and the fact that his father dies in the same camp they got moved in is just sad, in the end it all turned out well and him and his friend Travis escape the camp so I feel this book is a solid 4 stars and I really enjoyed what the author David did in this book to make it good.
In my opinion I feel like people that like to read about slavery or like more stuff related to segregation would love to read this book. A quote that made me realize or made me like this book is when in the middle of the book Travis says “You saw freedom in all of us” which in my opinion means CY tried to help Travis and his friends and he wasn’t trying to be selfish about it and help the whole camp. In conclusion, this book was really great in all and it deserves 4 starts for what the author does for the book and what it has to offer.

[South Brunswick High School Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cy was only thirteen when he was dragged away from his home and wrongly imprisioned in a horrific work camp. For more than three years, Cy spends his days and nights shackled to the other boys in his gang, many of whom are under the age of ten, all of whom, like Cy, are in prison for minor or made up offenses. When his father finally manages to track Cy down and suggests the idea of an escape it takes a while for Cy to find the guts to put a plan into action. If Cy’s plan succeeds will he be able to lead the band of wronged children to a better life? Find out in David Dudley’s historical novel set in the post-Civil War American South, where life for black americans had changed little despite the abolition of slavery. A tragic tale that will lead readers to root for Cy’s freedom.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a serious, thought -provoking story of a young black boy who is abused by his white owner and accused falsely of killing his owner's son and becomes part of a chain gang. What happens to this boy is horrific, but it is a graphic, compelling expose of how cruel mankind can be to one another. Cy's questioning of God in his life but his strength to overcome are real life and can make the reader where he or she stands in these areas. This book is an outstanding portrayal of life in those times and can make the reader ponder how we treat one another today.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching fictional account of the cruelties put upon children in a chain gang. This is no soft peddling story for the weak at heart. Impossible to put down but even more impossible to comprehend this human behavior.

[Jkhgfhjk · Rating 1 out of 5]

trash

[Altynay Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely harrowing, worth a read. And if you want a similar YA (that’s also own voices), I suggest Cane Warriors by Alex Wheatle.

[Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an advanced reading copy of this novel as part of the Goodreads First Reads program.*

Although “Cy in Chains” is marketed technically as a young adult novel and reads that way, it does include some very heavy subject material. I wouldn't necessarily say that it should be proofread for children by their parents prior to giving them the book, as another reviewer suggested though. The book is realistic in writing about the brutal situations many black people faced in that time period and it doesn't help to sugarcoat the story for young adults, as they too must eventually learn the truth of the hard times and inequality of this country's past.

I believe that is exactly what this author attempts to do with the novel, is to write a story that is easily read and has a character of a younger age for readers to relate to, while introducing the young reader to the harsh reality of being black in the United States in the 1890's. Fiction like this that highlights the feelings and thoughts an individual in a time period can make much more of an impression on a young mind than a textbook that recounts the past in a dry, factual manner. I have to say that David L. Dudley was very effective in doing this. Speaking of the thoughts and feelings of the characters, Cy was really the only character that was strongly developed, but he was really the only character where it was necessary, as all other characters were secondary and only temporary to the story. He was not overly likable, but he had his moments of strength and courage that the reader would find admirable. For a young adult reader, he might be somewhat relatable in that he develops an everyone-for-himself mentality as the story initially progresses, but later realizes he cares about his peers and wants to improve their lives. I would say this is similar to what every teen feels, struggling between a “me against the world” philosophy and one where they learn to appreciate others and develop compassion as they grow older.

As far as the writing goes, even though it was an ARC, I don't recall noting any issues with grammar, awkward sentence structures or typos in the novel. I think the slang/dialect used by the characters and the amount of racial slurs were also entirely accurate, given the time period being brought to life in the novel. The only issue reading the novel as an adult is that the book is clearly aimed at a younger audience and while it is a quick and easy read, the prose is not overly impressive and the writing doesn't make quite an impact as it would if perhaps the book was aimed for adults and included a broader vocabulary and more descriptive language.

Being what it is, I did enjoy reading the novel, even if it was slightly depressing. There were a few minor victories for the protagonists, but the tone of the novel remained melancholic throughout. There are many deaths, whippings, and even a rape, although none of these are given disturbing descriptions, as the novel is aimed at a younger audience. I would say the story, as a whole, is a GOOD one even if it is a sad one. I would definitely recommend this for its target audience, young adults, as I think it could make a lasting impression and teach them a little about this country's difficult (recent) past, but for an adult I think I would recommend another reading option as far as historical fiction of this period.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover and premise---even the character type it was written in promised a dark, gritty, morose read.

Yet within each page----its like listening to a folk ballad or an opera where you understand nothing good will come out of this and you are still reading on---just hoping.

There were three moments of hope experienced in reading this book.



Stage 1 of hope: These were the moments when you experienced what Cy experienced that through West's fortune telling---"he would be free---despite betrayal." His father came to visit him---when there was no hope...when he was too cynical to hope... and then



Stage 2 of hope: After a while when you experience heartbreaking physical and mental trauma these boys are put through in a chain gang, torture physical/mental...humiliation, rape, sickness: the whole camp was infected with the whopping cough. I mean you are looking for anyway, any excuse to stop reading....but Cy's situation almost compels you to find out what will happen at the end. You are rooting for him to hold onto anything, to not give up and wanting the easy "end all route"---you want him, Billy, Jess to come out of this alive.



Stage 3 of hope: You have made peace that this book will not end well. You are going to stick with it until the end, when Cy comes full circle with his past, when he gathers to courage to arrange a coup, and finally know that death brings about hope.



Why? In the author's note there is reference to him stumbling across a book filled with describing youth chain gangs---because there might have been a Cy Williams who can finally be at peace knowing that his story is finally out there---that there is hope in knowing he did what it took to fight injustice in his time...and hope that instead of covering up the shamed parts of American history---there can be a recognition in that the Cy Williams deserve to have his story told.

Be prepared for the grim realities of that time. There is a place in literature for mature depressing stories that teens dealt with historically. While I wish that ever story could some how have a Hallmark ending, I appreciate an author who wants us to acknowledge the horrors children faced in the Jim Crow south. In the end, it was a movement of hope that brought about change.



Red flags: Time period/situations, extreme racism, prejudice, homosexuality, drug usage. Some adults/teens may not be comfortable with the graphic violence in the book. The adult/child sexual situation was done remarkable well, but you will suffer the aftermaths of the Cy's inner monologue.

[Anita Lock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though slavery has been outlawed for a number of years, living as a free black man during the 1890s in the Deep South of Georgia doesn’t always “feel” free. One person who understands this perception is thirteen-year-old Cy Williams, a sharecropper’s son. Very early in this provocative story, we learn that Cy is in a fix because he is not only friends with Travis, the plantation owner’s son, but to further complicate matters, Travis wants Cy to help him run away from his abusive father. Cy knows better than to get involved. “How many times had his own father said that the black man must never get in the middle of white folks’ business?” Nonetheless, when Cy's uncle alerts him that Travis has run away, Cy is torn because he is the only one who knows where to find him. Prior to pursuing his friend, Cy divulges this secret location to his uncle.

As expected, Cy locates Travis, but so does Travis’s father who pressured Cy's uncle to reveal Travis's whereabouts. Travis's father wastes no time to teach both a harsh lesson. Trying to avoid another blow from his father’s beatings, Travis manages to break free, but drowns in his attempt to run away. Certain that Travis’s father will lay blame of his son’s death on him, Cy grows suspicious when he hears that he’s been forgiven. His suspicion is confirmed when he is kidnapped in the middle of the night and taken to a camp, where he is sold as a chain-gang laborer.

Dudley is careful not to mince words about Cy's horrific life experiences. Though the story is fictional, there once lived a Cy Williams who was in a chain gang, and the chain-gang experience -- a way to keep free blacks enslaved -- actually occurred in the Deep South. With that in mind, it is not surprising that very few boys are allowed to leave the camp. Cy wonders if the others are restless for their freedom and why they haven’t made attempts to flee. Regardless, Cy longs to be liberated. It isn’t until West, one of the boys in his gang, foretells Cy’s future when Cy realizes that fear is the driving factor keeping him and the boys from escaping. He concludes that "fear is the master, not white men with whips, horses, packs of bloodhounds, and guns." Reminded of West’s message that he will experience freedom -- “First one kind, then another,” Cy knows that in order for him to be a free man, he will have to get past fear. Through amazing and unpredictable events, West’s prophecy is fulfilled, but not in the way Cy had in mind.

I am always grateful when another puzzle piece of black history comes to the forefront because it helps to complete the picture of truth in my country, the U.S. Every country has its ugly stories, and the U.S. is not exempt. I am also grateful to Dudley, who accepted the challenge to take his master storytelling skills to another level by imagining and sharing Cy's story. Definitely, a gripping plot that is filled with unforgettable characters, Cy in Chains, in my humble opinion, should be earmarked for a book award in historical fiction.
Originally posted on Teenreads.
Anita Lock, Book Reviewer

[Ollie Hennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

IMPORTANT NOTE (December 2017): The author of this novel is a white man. As such, this novel should be read with that understanding. I feel like, if I had known this at the time, I would have passed on the novel, or analysed my thoughts on it more thoroughly with that in mind. About the author can be found here: http://davidldudley.blogspot.com/p/ab...

----------

SNAPSHOT:
Teenage Cy learns the hard way that while slavery is supposed to be illegal, there are white men out there who still have ways of oppressing and enslaving young black men like himself. At the slightest provocation, boys as young as nine or ten are ripped from their freedom and sent to serve time on chain gangs for insignificant or made-up crimes.

Cy’s story in the boy’s labor camp is hard to turn away from, due to the brutal territory it covers. His friends, like Jess, Mouse, and Billy, are well-developed through a few simple, sorrowful strokes as we learn pieces of their past and hopes for the future. The villains, the labor camp owner and his guards, invoke quick, strong emotions–mostly contempt and disgust, but at least one has moments of sympathy and empathy with the boys.

Cy Williams’ tragic tale bookends brilliantly, pulling together all the emotional strings that the young man wove throughout the novel. Like a steadily pounding drumbeat, the pacing grows more intense with each new chapter.

Recommended for ages 12+. Some strong language, no drug or alcohol use, violence as punishment, murder, and one scene of implied sexual assault. Deals with false imprisonment, racial prejudice, slavery and freedom, finding personal faith, end of childhood innocence, learning to trust again, justice, and taking fate into your own hands.

Readers would benefit from further discussion on how things have changed or not changed since Cy’s time, especially in regards to how people treat young men and women of color and other teenagers suspected of even minor crimes. Could Cy’s story happen today? How does class, race, and age provide or remove privilege from the accused and the accuser?


GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:

If you…

– Are fascinated with all things American Civil War
– Have ever wondered what it was like for African Americans post-slavery
– Need a tale of the bad guys getting their comeuppance
– Enjoy characters who stand up for themselves and others

[[Review originally featured at https://youngentertainmentmag.com/cy-... ]]

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
After being wrongly accused for the death of Cy's best friend, he is arrested and sentenced to a chain gang. Cy spends from age 14-17 working on the chain gang with several other young boy his age. As the story takes place in the late 1800's in Georgia, it is expected that the boys are mistreated and brutally punished for the smallest of infractions. The tale of hard labor but also the bonding of the boys brings the reader back to that time period to witness injustice.

My thoughts:
Wow! Not only does Dudley bring to life the time period, but he grips the reader in with the characters. Cy feels like a real historical being. It's almost as if we were watching a documentary of his life. Almost immediately, I was sucked in and didn't want to stop reading. I cried and wished for Cy to have a better life. I wanted to rally for his rights and safety. This book just pulls so many emotions from the reader that you want to jump from your chair and act. It's so difficult to read through the punishments, brutal beatings, and horribly difficult work that Cy is forced to do. The fact that most of the boys have really done nothing wrong makes it even more difficult. Dudley does not hold back and lets the reader live with injustice without the promise of a happily ever after. It's a book that will not soon be forgotten.

I would be careful giving this book to students that are too young. I would shoot for high school as the lowest age group. It fits perfect with my Junior American Literature course, but I had a student that gave it back to me because it was too hard for her to read (emotionally, not textually). There is a section about the history at the end of the book that I used within my course lecture (with reference to Dudley of course). It really grounds in that after the civil war things weren't automatically better. It clearly shows that changes in culture still needed to be made. It also is an excellent book to really discuss racism and some of those hidden fears. Just be careful to make sure the reader can handle the unabashed violence.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

We first get to know Cy, our main character, when he's living with his father, who is a sharecropper on a wealthy white man's plantation. A tragic series events sees Cy sent off to the chain gang, forced to do work for years and years with no hope of release. He has small glimmers of happiness -- new clothes, unexpected friendships, some extra food slipped his way -- but for every decent thing that happens to Cy, there are dozens more horrible things he has to endure. The book is somewhat of a coming-of-age story as Cy grows into a man and decides to take matters into his own hands. But if you know anything about the time period, you know that no matter what happens for Cy, there's probably no real happy ending in store.

Cy in Chains is a difficult book to read at times because the author pulls absolutely no punches. Telling the story of a young boy forced to work on a chain gang, the book doesn't flinch at showing the brutality that Cy and the other boys faced on a day to day basis. Day in and day out, he and other boys are abused and mistreated by the men who run the chain gang. Slavery might have been outlawed in name, but the practice of forced labor didn't end just because of the law.

Overall, the book is written very simply, and were it not for the amount of violence and (period-accurate) racism, I would say this could easily be appropriate for middle grade readers. However, I think the contents could be disturbing to younger readers -- honestly, I know adults who would not want to read such a frank assessment of the way African Americans were treated in the US in the 1800s. I would recommend an adult previewing this book before giving it to a child, and perhaps doing a read-along and discussing the book with the child, because this is some heavy material.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cy should have never interfered in the white man’s ways, he was warned. Working in the Strong’s Plantation in Georgia, he was friends with Travis Strong and when Travis took off, Cy went after him. In the morning, Cy received the whip from Travis’ father for the state of affairs he found them in. What happened next, Cy will forever hold in his memories as it transported Cy to a chain-gang camp miles away from the plantation he grew up on. Cy, was just doing what he thought was best but being a black plantation worker didn’t give him any rights and now working 12-hour days without any family nearby, Cy needs to earn his place in the camp before they take him out. Cy, this once courteous boy, must start sticking up for himself, earning himself a place in the camp and soon the other boys in the camp begin to fear him. The days are long and the stories are sad and torturous as they struggle to survive each day. There are visiting days as outsider visitors come and Cy wonders why his father does not come and see him, his anger deepening as each month passes. With a handful of characters, I got attached to a few of the inmates as Cy tries to adjust to his new daily routine. Their stories are distinct yet they all have a few ribbons that all tie them together. They fill each other with realism, with desire and excitement as their day starts to take shape. Individuals come and go, each with new ideas, sparking thoughts and dreams in each other, giving each other hope and clouding their minds with despair and realism. Each day seems to be the same yet it is different. Five years are the maximum they say you will last in this camp, Cy is wondering if he will make it that long and why.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through a goodreads giveaway. Thanks to all those involved that made it possible!

Although marketed as Young Adult fiction, this book is sure to pack a hard punch for any reader.

Set in postbellum Georgia, this novel revolves around the life of Cy Williams, an adolescent who, by necessity, has inured himself to the hardships in life. Every crack of the whip and disparaging ethnic slur has become standard, serving only to reinforce the repulsive notion that your ancestry determines your value. Slavery may be abolished legally, but the situation of the slave population, especially for the blacks, has hardly improved. Being kidnapped by white men and sent to perform slave labor in a chain gang seems to leave Cy exhausted and weary of fighting.

This book was extremely well-written and I flew through it rather quickly. Dudley gives a realistic portrayal of the debasement and corruption that was often prevalent at these sorts of forced labor camps. He exhibits, few details withheld, just how nasty and brutish that human beings can be to one another. He also presents in the members of the chain gang an array of emotions: submission, hope, and compassion, among others. I was really able to feel the pain these characters went through and it was a truly agonizing book to read at multiple points.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It was a powerful story, one with a lot of truths in it, and it’s definitely worth the (sometimes painful) read.

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

After slavery is abolished, slavery didn't disappear. Based on true events and names, this story is very moving and quite shocking in telling of the often wrongly-imprisoned men and boys who are used as in-all-but-name slaves, imprisoned in chain gangs for years, sometimes for as little reason as answering back or being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

At 13, Cy is unable to save the life of the landowner's son, the friend he tries to stop running away from an abusive father. Sold to a chain gang far from home, he soon grows bitter at the father who never comes for
him and vows to only look out for himself. Four years later, he is one of the biggest boys, unable to see a way out, suffering beatings, cold and hunger.

This is the story of his break for freedom, the actions he must take, the consequences, and his underlying instincts for friendship and selflessness that haven't been killed off by his suffering.

Stories about slavery and freed slaves are not uncommon, with The Long Song and Chains in recent years sticking out in my mind. Cy in Chains is a good addition to the genre, aimed at teenage males in particular, with a straightforward first-person narrative in Cy, telling his story, the language nothing tricky (no accents to trip you up as you read). It's a story to get you thinking, of an era that shouldn't be forgotten. You think along with Cy; what would YOU have done?

With thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unflinchingly real and honest, Dr. David unleashes the story of Cy Williams, a brutal and painful look at the inhumanity of post-slavery life in the South. In the author's note at the end of the novel, Dudley mentions the book that provided the inspiration for this story, The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow by RIchard Wormser, a title I will now most certainly read to learn more background about the convict labor system young black Americans in the South were forced to endure, thousands of them children.

The writing in this novel is rich and authentic, a sense the author did his research to create a searingly realistic portrait of the times. Cy's character is perfectly formed and his journey for freedom becomes the reader's. I could feel his pain, despair, urgency, and hope, a remarkable hope considering the reality of his situation. Yet, Dudley pulls no punches. The harsh brutality and inequality of Cy's world has a crushing weight, the oppression bleeding off the pages. The narrative tension makes this a page-turning story until the last. The ending fits the story like a glove, allowing Cy some sliver of dignity and hope, but reminding the reader just how unfair the world can be, especially in a time and place of such tremendous prejudice. An important, essential story to read.

[Brett]

Cy Williams is a 14 year old kid who lives in a time where white men had the power. Cy gets talked into going to find his friend Travis who had run away because his abusive drunk father. Travis's father John Strong, owns the land where Cy, and his father live. Cy finds Travis, and try's to convince him to go back home but refuses. They fall asleep and wake up to see John Strong, and his men beating Cy. Cy and Travis, run off a cliff into a river where a current started to take them away something terrible happens to Travis, and John Strong blames Cy. Strong sends Cy to a chain gang camp where he and other boys will work, until their time is done but never does anyone get out of this camp until they die cy finds out.

I liked this book because it was well written, it had a lot of twists, unexpected parts in the story which kept me guessing.
I think that the audience would appreciate this book for it's inspiration taking control over your own life and changing the life of others.

[Ben Van]

Readers will be struck and saddened, well taking in the truth of what it was like for some African-American boy's in post-civil war era Georgia, as they read David L. Dudley's Cy in Chains. Cy experiences great sadness through the loss of a friend, and then great hardship as he is given to a chain gang camp to live out his day working. He transitions from a helpless child into a hardened man, as well as a leader. I enjoyed how personal the novel was, and how it provided an in-depth look into the journey of Cy Williams. Dudley provides a story worth reading, connecting racial issues, the class system, and overall issues surrounding Cy Williams, many of which are still prevalent today. Most students will appreciate the connection to a young man and the overall journey that life takes Cy Williams on. This is highly recommended for public and especially school libraries.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrifyingly realistic, Cy In Chains is the story of a young boy coming of age during the early days of Reconstruction. Cy's crazy violent former owner kidnaps him and pays to have him locked on a chain gang far from Cy's home. Although this is a story of a young adolescent finding strength and courage while suffering unimaginable pain and humiliation, Cy In Chains is not a story for young teens. The brutality is historically accurate which means the violence and language of hatred are very, very graphic. Cy, however is an inspiration. He works hard to maintain his humanity, faith and hope. He knows that he will find a way to be free.

[Colin Novak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Cy in chains the author is David L. Dudley. The book was about a 14 year old boy named CY. He lives in Georgia, slavery was over but in his home town black mean would be tortured, killed, and beaten. He was accused of murdering his brother and is put in a chain gang. The genre of the book is historical fiction.I rate this book five stars because it had a great plot and was very exciting and amazing. If you haven't read this book you should.

[Clovernm · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Cy in Chains" is a book that is a story about a black boy with a troubling past, figuring out that his friends are his family, and they are worth saving. It is inspiring, but slightly gruesome, and it is an emotional story that does need a few tweeks. But the ending is something that isn't common, and makes it special, but sad.

[Kellie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story of a 14yr old and his tragic times when he is sentenced to prison. Although written more for a YA, I think some of the feelings and the ability to actually imagine being there with Cy could have been better written. The events that took place are sadly all too real for many blacks. You can't help but feel Cy's sorrows and hate the white mans ways.

[Sarah Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is defined as 'teen historical novel.' It is quite a saga of the period of slavery and the other types of enslavement of the African Americans. The entire spectrum of torture is used against these young boys and it leads to many of them believing that death will be the only answer. Sad, heartbreaking, even there is always something to learn of the horrors of slavery.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm speechless.