A Slave to Want

by Jay Grewal

Born into bondage in the prison cell of the plantation, Jelani, a former slave, recollects the inspirational story of his life.

Given beauty for his ashes, Jelani soon discovers that he has an amazing God-given ability, to not only feel other people's emotions, but also project his own into them as well. Compelled to walk through the world with his humanity intact, Jelani quickly learns how to read and write under the secret tutelage of Jessie, the plantation owner's daughter, and the only rose in an otherwise bush of thorns. A defining moment arises in his life, when his best friend Sabira is sold off at auction, and he makes a promise to find her no matter what it takes, a promise he fears he might not be able to live up to.

Along the way—shaping his journey—he encounters slave hunters, abolitionists and other runaways on route to the Underground Railroad. Through his trials and tribulations, Jelani discovers that beyond everything that makes him different is everything that makes him human.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, American, African American

227 pages, ebook

First published January 10, 2012

About the author

Working tirelessly on many different projects and manuscripts, Jay has dedicated his life to the journey of writing. Deep down inside he will always be a humble story teller, who will continue to write as long as people continue to read.

All work can be found on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Jay-Grewal/e/B...

Reviews

[Rowena · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It never made any sense to me how they needed to pull work out of us, but were willing to destroy us in order to do it. What good was a broken man? How hard could he work?”

This is a great story that will suck you in from the start. Stories about slavery are never easy to read but I feel they are important for many reasons. Reading about what horrors people have gone through all because of their skin colour and the pseudoscience that says one race is superior to another will always shock me, and it's sad that it's still happening around the world in many shapes and forms.

Grewal is a very gifted writer. He introduces us to Jelani, a very likeable character who is taught to (secretly) read and write and yearns for freedom. This book could probably be considered a bildungsroman as it shows Jelani’s coming of age while realizing a lot things about himself and the society he lives in: “That’s when I realized we weren’t born to be slaves. It was ignorant of man to think he could be the master of another.”

Jelani eventually becomes a runaway slave and encounters a lot of adventures, good and bad.

All the feelings and incidences one would expect in a slave narrative are captured perfectly in this story: there’s the putting of price-tags on a human’s life, comparing a human-being to an animal, the pain of families being separated, the violence and cruelty that were everyday occurrences in the life of a slave, for example.

The story made me feel , not surprisingly, sad and indignant. However, it did have a hopeful tone, and I think it's important to mention the story took place during Abraham Lincoln's time.Highly recommended.

[Nightfalltwen · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Slave to Want by Jay Grewal tells the story of young Jelani born a slave on a plantation in Alabama.

As other reviews have said, the story was definitely a page turner. This is a good sign of how rate of revelation works in a plot. Nothing felt all that rushed in the story, especially at the end when new authors can fall victim to the "OMG I HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING IN AT THE LAST CHAPTER BECAUSE THE NOVEL IS ENDING SOON". The characters indeed had strong voices and the premise behind the plot was interesting. Jelani turns out to have this supernatural power that he can project his emotions on another person and, if I understood it correctly, he can take on the burden of another's emotions as well.

Where I run into trouble is one of the biggest arguments I have against self publishing. This story has a very big potential of being a well crafted piece of literature, but it needs the critical eye of an editor that is not a friend of the author.

There were points where the language was overtly flowery in a voice that didn't seem at all to belong to Jelani but to the author himself. Unfortunately, author intrusion in a first person narration detracts from the voice of the narrating character.

"Then, unfurling from the woods came a buckshot that startled me." -- location 1625 (kindle edition)

This is just one exmple of overtly flowery language. It doesn't feel like Jelani's voice at all, which is unfortunate because for the most part his voice tends to be rather consistant while speaking. It's the non speaking parts that run on the uncharacteristic side. My thoughts are that this story would have had more wiggle room for scenic description had it not been told in first person. Third person narration allows the author to draw out of the main character's head and do things like pontificate on the beauty of the landscape.

I know it seems like I'm picking on this story, but these are things that caught me up while reading. Overuse of simile, under use of metaphor, language that is too scholarly for the voice of an uneducated slave boy.

As for education. I did find it difficult to buy the characterisation of a lot of the slaves. They seemed to know far too much for the time period and have a vocabulary that didn't fit with how they lived. While it may be true that they were smart, there just seemed to be so much that they knew which I felt didn't match with how life was portrayed. Getting whipped for knowing how to read and yet the mother knows the exact name of the hymn sung at George Washington's funeral half a century before the book takes place? I'm sure there was a reason as to how this came to be, but it never felt truly explained.

So while this is a good attempt at a first novel, there are lots of places where it could be improved and where an editor from a publishing house would make a huge difference.

I didn't all together hate the novel. My star rating has more to do with how the writing was executed than what the idea was and I truly wish that the stars didn't have phrases attached to them. Jay Grewal has the potential with this story, but it needed a lot of fine tuning before hitting the shelves.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I have to thank the author for sharing via Goodreads that this book was available (free on Amazon for a short period but no longer). He indicated it was in the same genre as Someone Knows My Name ... but it's not exactly. This book crosses between three genres of books ... historical fiction, science fiction, and religious fiction. I enjoy all three, but frankly, I wasn't sure why this author felt the need to give the protagonist paranormal powers. I guess the powers allowed Jelani to bond with new people more readily and helped him escape once, but I think that could have been done without the powers. I had a hard time liking the characters in this book ... maybe Charlie and his wife, but many of the characters felt contrived. The flow of the book was a bit too "neat"... I felt like we jumped from place to place only to get where the author wanted us to go and not because it made sense for the character. For a historical fiction junkie, like me, I wanted to find out how a slave would find the railroad ... but Jelani didn't really do so within the context of the story ... the author alluded to it at the end but never exploited that plot point. There were also scenes that didn't make sense ... like how Jelani would know about popcorn. I also didn't believe that he would have been allowed to go to the theatre. I'm no historical expert, but it felt like there was too little research into history to make this book well written. I gave the book a generous 3 stars because the pace flowed and the book was easy to read ... I didn't feel that it was drudgery, but I just didn't feel like the book was substantial enough. The author's grammar and writing style were acceptable but Jelani's voice did not seem to fit a young uneducated slave - it was told in first person but the voice bespoke someone much older and more highly educated than Jelani. It made the book feel insincere. So, the book was OK ... but is nowhere close to Someone Knows My Name

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book, and am writing a review, because I got an invitation from the author to do so based on previous reads, specifically Someone Knows my Name which remains one of my most favorite books. If I could, I would probably give it 3.5 stars. I very much enjoyed the writing style, and it was a page turner for me. How I continue to read books about slavery and the Holocaust, I don't always understand, except to say that we can never forget.... And in the horror of these stories displaying the worst of humanity, we also find the most resilient wonderful spirits. The problem I had with this story was the combination of sci-fi, spiritual and historical fiction... Some of it just didn't come together for me.. ..A few other times just a little far fetched. Lastly, I felt that it wrapped everything up a bit quickly at the end, leaving me wanting to know more about their time once they discovered the Underground Railroad. All in all it was a good read....I may not have found it on my own, and am glad I had the opportunity to read it. I will forever remember the meaning of the title, and hope that I can be a "slave to want" in my life...always striving for the best, for ourselves and for our families.

[Sanjeev · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Slave to Want”, is one of the greatest books I’ve ever read. Jay Grewal does a fantastic job describing the plantation’s everyday happenings in such a remarkable way that the reader is hurled back to these dark times in American history, but there is so much beauty in this book, and we find ourselves constantly smiling as we are reminded of our own childhood experiences through those of Jelani , the protagonist of this adventure.

“A Slave to Want” , belongs on the book shelves (or e reader) of everybody. There are so many lessons to take away from this epic tale. This book reminds me a little of “The Alchemist” , and there is no doubt in my mind that it will become as popular once readers catch wind of it.

[Gearóid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book.
Very quickly found myself absorbed in the story of Jenali
growing up in the really brutal and degrading world as a
slave in a plantation.
But the story is an inspirational story of his fight for
freedom as a very young boy who has seen and experienced
some really horrific stuff.
I wont give any of the story away but well worth reading.

[Enikő · Rating 3 out of 5]

*SPOILER ALERT. Ye be warned!* (No, There are no pirates in this book!)


An unusual story about an unusual slave.

Jelani is intelligent and kind. Despite everything he lives through, like seeing friends and loved ones whipped to death, and hung, he has no hate in his heart. His unusual power, to be able to feel what others feel and to transmit his feelings and thoughts into their hearts and minds might seem exceptional. Yet to me it is just a manifestation of his empathy and ability to communicate.

Jelani received his first education from his mother and from a slave named Abner, who became a bit of a father figure to him after his father was whipped to death. Abner imparts his wisdom about planting, tracking, and medicinal plants. Later, Jelani becomes a house slave and Old Mills' kind young daughter Jessie teaches him, in secret, to read and write.

I won't summarize the whole book here. Jelani eventually has to flee the plantation where he grew up and receives more schooling from Charlie and his wife Sarah, who is a school teacher. Meanwhile, he has dreams of his childhood friend Sabira, who has been sold off the plantation, asking him to come for her, as he promised the day they were separated. Jelani eventually has to move on again. He sure does get around in the world. He even gets to look Abraham Lincoln in the eye.

The only thing that, to me, was a little disconcerting about this book was the narration in the first person. At the beginning of the book, I wondered how Jelani could speak in one way when narrating, and another way in the direct discourse written into the story. Even after having read it to the end, I wonder if he could really have learned to write with such style in so short a time. I was especially skeptical when he wrote the letter he would give to Lincoln. Apart from that, it really was an interesting book to read. I only wish it hadn't ended so abruptly. Jelani eventually made it to Canada, but that fact was introduced much like I just wrote it now. ("When we finally arrived in Canada...") I had to do a double-take to figure out where that came from. I finally understood that Jelani's story wasn't so much about getting all the way to Canada, but about how he became who he ended up being: his education, his empathy, his faithfulness to his loved ones. It's a good story.

[Marialyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book that put forth an unusual concept, that being a young slave who was able to project his feelings as well as receive feelings from others. The book again reinforces how horrific slavery was but also puts forth that there were many who were opposed to this concept and offered our young protagonist much comfort and love.

The main character was a quite like able young boy when we first meet him. He has a mother who loves him as well as many who look out for him and are kind. Conversely, there are also the evil owner and others who treat him horribly and eventually this young man is forced to become a run away.

The author did a nice job of portraying that period of the young man's life as he comes across people who help him along with those who wish to send him back into slavery. Having the ability to send and receive feelings was a different piece to the story and added another element to many's understanding of what this slave was going through.

This novel was used by my book club and the reactions to it were all favorable. It was free of gratuitous sex and bad language making it appropriate for even pre teens to read it as well. Interesting that the author who is Canadian gave us a different view of the question of slavery. His message was clear. This was an institution that was heinous and one that surely needed to be abolished as it eventually was.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The author contacted me on Goodreads and asked me to read and review his book based on previous books I had read. I really wanted to like this book. I have read many books about slavery but this one didn't hold up for me. Told from the POV of an 11 year old slave escaping his plantation who has some mystical powers. It didn't flow for me and the wording was not the voice of an 11 year old slave. The tone and voice were of an educated modern day adult and I just couldn't get past it. It just felt way too overdone in the language. Too many metaphors and similes. I needed more character development and relationships. Sorry. I really wanted to like it. Just wasn't for me.

[Malika Bedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Review of A Slave to Want by Jay Grewal
by Anthony T. Riggio - May 1, 2013

I received an invitation to be connected on “Goodreads” by the author. He read some of my reviews and thought of them favorably. It is the second time an author has contacted me and I was honored. I had never read or heard anything about the author but was intrigued by his invitation to “connect”. I immediately went to Amazon and downloaded his book, “A Slave to Want”.

I have an interest in the human struggles surrounding slavery in America and could never understand the concept of “owning” another person. I guess I have been interested ever since I read “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe and recently “Someone Knows My Name” by Lawrence Hill (coincidently another Canadian) and “The Loom” by Shella Gillus.

A Slave to Want, seemed like an odd title to a book about slavery and as I started to read the book I had a difficult time reconciling the choice of titles but slowly began to understand the concept. Jelani, the young boy hero of the story was told not to be a slave to want by his Momma. Later on he tells one of the other slaves seeking freedom in a dialog: "If ya ain't a slave, then what are ya ?” (Jelani said) “I'm a slave to want, [he said] and a slave to need, but not to any man”. I suppose the word “slave” was simply an identifier or a substitute for the word “man”, meaning, I want; I need but only to me and for me.

It was perhaps a mother’s lesson to a young but highly intelligent young boy to help him understand his place in a very cruel and mean world.

As I read this wonderful book, I had two thoughts pass through my thinking. I recently listened to a gospel reading at Mass wherein John 13:34 was read and spoken about during the homily and the song which was written specifically for Nat King Cole, namely “Nature Boy”.
Slavery in America did not follow Jesus’ added commandment to “Love one another, as I have loved you”. In fact, slavery was a stain on the American consciousness that we are still trying to wash away.
The character, Jelani, is a special boy who has the power of empathy and the power to heal and make each of us see our hearts and our souls. If evil lies in our hearts, he/we will know it.

The author Jay Grewal, wove a terrific story that will capture the reader and leave him pondering many questions about human nature in general and about his own belief background. He is a new talent on the literary stage that will hold a spot in my heart and consequently,

I intend to read other books etc., that he has written. I rated the book only five stars because this was the maximum allowed in my review.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I would like to thank Jay Grewal for providing a copy of this title as an ebook and providing me information about the Kindle for PC applicaton. It was my first experience reading an ebook and unfortunately I found it less than optimal. The meaning of ‘unmediated’ in the new cataloging code took on relevancy for me after this experience. I will most likely continue to experiment with reading ebooks but I very happy that physical books are still available.

A Slave to Want is the story of Jelani, a young slave boy who loses almost everyone who ever cared for him or that he cared for. Raised on a plantation with the usual cruel master, Jelani comes to understand that it is one thing to be a slave to want or a slave to need and an entirely different thing to be a slave to someone. Possessed of an unusual power, some might say a supernatural power, he makes his way North after running away to follow the Underground Railroad. Along the way to Canada he meets people, black and white, both good and bad. All of these experiences shape the man he will become someday. Thanks to his unusual power and the help of God he is reunited with his childhood friend Sabira who had been sold to another slave owner; the same owner who had purchased his father and worked him to death.

The book read quickly and it was entertaining. Like others, I found the language and maturity of Jelani a bit at odds with his stated age of 11. It was difficult to gauge the passage of time and how old he was by the end of the story. While this work has aspects of Historical fiction, the inclusion of Jelani’s empath power seemed at odds with the genre. And as with most self-published books I have read, the services of an editor would smooth out some of the rough spots.

Altogether, I feel Jay Grewal has real potential as an author and I would be happy to read other works by him in the future.

[Lorrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free from Amazon at invitation from the author thru GR. I feel very fortunate and really wanted to read the book and give it a fair appraisal.

The book was pretty good! It was a nice historical fiction trail leading from slavery through abolition. The main character, Jelani, had "powers" which escalated the book a bit from fiction to sci-fi; however, Jelani trekked from slavery in Mississippi to freedom in Canada. Jelani even saw President Lincoln as he was leaving the state of Illinois on his way to the White House.

You have to really stick with this book. There isn't a "grab" at the beginning as is usually the case which is part of the reason for the 4/5. Since I read the book as an invitation from the author, I felt I needed to stick with it even though the grab was missing. About 15% of the way thru, I was finally grabbed out of curiosity and kept with it.

Another reason for the 4/5 was the fact that the main character was literate; however, he spoke and wrote in perfect English also. I found this a little hard to believe and this knowing made the feel of the book a little off. I just couldn't sink right into it and feel comfortable, although the book was written about holy grounds.

The book reminds me of how personal connections are and that love can make you do some pretty crazy things.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Slave to Want by Jay Grewal is the story of a young slave determined to find freedom. Young Jelani watched as his family and close friends succumb to plantation life as slaves, never knowing freedom. Through the help of his master's daughter and the kindness of strangers, Jelani embarks on a path of destiny. Jelani also has a special power, reminiscent of John Coffey from The Green Mile, that keep him one step ahead of those who are searching him out. Jelani also leans on his faith, something his Momma instilled in him at a very young age. Jelani was a slave to want freedom and he would let nothing stand in his way.

I believe this is a second book for Grewal, but read like he was a seasoned writer. I was a little bothered that the voice of Jelani seemed intelligent, beyond his 9-11ish years, even for one who could read and write. I would expect Jelani's english to still be a bit (quite a bit, even) broken and muddled. I did enjoy the book, though. It was at times, a page turner and at times predictable. The twist of Jelani's powers sets it apart from other Civil War/slave stories without it seeming to "sci-fi". The images were vivid and clear from the beginning. It was worth the read.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Does this book have some slightly cheesy plot elements? Yes.
2. Does this book have some improbable plot elements? Yes.
But so do have the action movies you watch, and it doesn't mean you don't enjoy the time you spent watching them.
I got this e-book free during a promotion and I think I worried I wouldn't like it -- maybe you get what you pay for? But it's really good. It's really well-written. I enjoyed every page. I looked forward to reading time.
I never really got past the idea that it's told by a slave boy who only by chance learned to read around age 10. Which means he was an uneducated person raised by uneducated people, yet he learned to read and became exceptionally well-spoken immediately? That was a bit far-fetched considering how all of the other slaves, including his mother, spoke.
He has special powers. That was kind of a strange addition to a slave story, but it wasn't terrible. Just kind of out of place.
While lots of bad things happened, as is to be expected in a slave's life, sometimes the good strokes of luck seemed a bit hard to believe. I would have liked to know more about what happened to the main character as he grew up.
All that said, it was still a really good read, and quick, too. Grab a little bit of your suspension of disbelief and enjoy.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel as though I have been put through a difficult and exhausting ordeal, but in a good way as this story is beautifully told and with such passion. I feel as if I am a slave during this time just before the civil war. . This novel is told mainly through the eyes of Jelani, a young slave, in the southern USA and on a plantation that had a ruthless owner. The first half, is of his life on the plantation and the second half following his quest for freedom. Jelani was born with a special gift (which I will let you discover) one that allows him and others to grow from it. As they mention in the book, "your tongue has tasted all of the flavors: Pain, Sorrow, Grief, happiness as the journey leads him toward "freedom". And this is exactly what I have experienced while reading it.
One of the quotes that sticks with me is from the title "If ya ain't a slave, then what are ya ? I'm a slave to want, I said and a slave to need, but not to any man."
This story not only teaches you about that horrible time in our history, but it also, despite the horrific things happening, brings out the beauty of certain characters both White and Black. In my opinion this is a book well worth reading.

[Mim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book asked if I would read it and write a review. I said yes, the book was at no cost via Kindle, so why not. It was interesting to read this after having seen the film "Django Unchained" the other night, and having read "The Warmth of Other Sons" recently. The south, and slavery, was, you might say, freshly on my mind. This book kept my interest. The protagonist was someone that I was rooting for as life threw more and more at him. I cared about him, which is something that I like in a novel. The story moved forward at a nice pace and it seemed as if the author had done his research. There was a feeling of authenticity. The author was even handed including villains and good guys. Even when he used dialects, which I'm not terribly fond of reading, he didn't carry them on too long and they did give place and time to the conversations. It's a short book and is well written. I did think that this book would be perfect for YA audiences, young people who hadn't read much about slavery. Whether you've read a lot of books about slavery or not, but have an interest in that period in history, you might like to read this book.

[Shari (Shira) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very different kind of book. It is historical fiction/fantasy like KINDRED and BELOVED. The ebook was offered to me by the author. So I felt the need to read it critically, in order to give feedback. It seemed to be the work of a developing author. The author tried to use dialect, but it was not done consistently. There were several passages when the characters did not speak in dialect at all. There were some modern expressions in the book such as "Suck it up," that I am pretty sure that slaves did not use. I was concerned that almost everyone who helped the main character, except Wild Bill Haycock, died. The main character's special powers were like the ex deus machina in Greek tragedy. So whenever the main character got into trouble, either someone died in their efforts to help him or he used his special powers. However, the characters were likable and the author definitely has potential.

[Anne Gerth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author contacted me and asked me to read and review his new book, A Slave To Want. How fitting that I read this while on vacation in the vicinity of Baynard Plantation, a cotton plantation from the per-civil war era. The book wa a fast read and held my interest. This first person narrative tells the story of Jelani, a slave boy who grows up and escapes the clutches of slavery. He has a special gift, that took me awhile to fully understand that he could see and feel another's emotions and pain. This story details his travel through the south to Canada and his trial and tribulations to get there.

This story is packed with our sad history and shame, and is worth the time to read. It could use a good editor to tighten it up a bit. Like other reviewers I felt the tone varied in unlikely ways. However, it is a page turner (actually a location turner) and Im glad I had an early opportunity to experience the story. Jelani's tale with stick wi me for quite awhile.

[Dana Obuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars - engaging enough that I read it in three settings. The first half (even though it kept me reading) was really unoriginal. All of (and I mean all...not an exaggeration) books I've read about slavery depict the plantation owners in the exact same way. They are sadistic rapists who have an alcoholic evil son, a caring daughter and a distant wife. Overseers must be one of the biggest stereotyped characters around (were they all big burly sour-tempered evil men?). Not siding with slave owners at all, but I did like the second half better when the young boy escapes and heads north towards freedom. His special ability added a nice twist - wouldn't we all love to let others know what we're feeling inside and experience our pain and joy. Such a tough subject but a good read.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is beautifully written but I found myself thinking there is no way the main character could be 11. He had the wisdom of a man not a child. I was swept up in the story of a child slave searching for freedom. The brutality was vivid and the characters were real except for the main character Jelani. He had a special gift that intrigued me and perhaps was why he was wise, but it seemed impossible for him to have endless good fortune. His faith saw him through to the end. The earlier part of the story on the plantation gave a vivid rendition to the life of the people. After Jelani escaped, the story because less believable. I needed to put his age out of my head so I would be able to enjoy it.

[Jonna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a first time novel by Jay Grewal but it reads like a book from a seasoned author. The topic is tough - slavery. But in Grewal's hands, the prose is meaningful and he writes about the cruel world of slavery without being preachy. For example: "Was our color so dark that it cloaked our humanity?" I have read several books on slavery and this describes the evils of slavery better than just about anything else I can think of. I loved reading this book - which sounds weird because it's such a tough subject, but Grewal's prose has a way of pulling you in and mesmerizing you. I zoomed through it in a day. I couldn't take my eyes off the pages! Great Job and I'm looking forward to his next effort. This one was a grand slam in my book! Happy Reading!

[Sarah Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story of a slave boy forced by unusual circumstances to become a runaway. It was a very moving and thought provoking story and I quickly fell in love with the lead character, Jelani. I was a little worried at first about his powers making the novel feel cheesy and unrealistic but I found that aspect to be an exceptional twist to the story.

I withheld the final star in my rating because I felt that it ended so abruptly. The whole novel is filled with wonderful imagery and descriptive text and then.... It just sort of has a quick sum up and ends. Would have loved a more detailed ending than what I got. However that is a minor critique, loved this book.

[Angel **Book Junkie** · Rating 2 out of 5]

“That was when I realized we weren’t born to be
slaves. It was ignorant for any man to think he could be the master of another. We were all meant to be free, and somewhere there were good people helping to heal this broken world.”

Okay, I keep going back and forth with this book. Part of me really wanted to like this book but, I do not know if I did. I hate when I read something and want to continue reading but when I got to the end I was upset with how rushed this book was. I liked the characters but I could not connect with them the way that I was meant to. I think with that being said this book was okay for and two stars it is.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book of Negreos vs A Slave to Want


I usually don't read this genre, but earlier this year I read "The Book of Negroes" by Lawrence Hill. After gushing over it for days, a friend of mine mentioned she thought "A Slave to Want" was much better. So I had to check it out. I finally got around to reading it this week and I must say, my friend was not lying. It is an incredibly inspiring story, not to say that The Book of Negroes wasn't, but it was much slower, where as A Slave to Want is a fast-paced, page turner that reads almost like a thriller at times. I will say no more, read it for yourself and decide!

[Natashaanderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, vivid novel. Certainly my kind of book! I enjoyed it very much. The narrator is an admirable young boy, speaking in a voice which grows as he tells the story. He witnesses many horrors and sorrows that make him ponder human nature and the hypocrisy of God. Yet through it all he does not succumb to anger or hatred; he wants only to be reunited with his friend Sabira, who is taken from him early on. The author uses the story as an allegory for everyone's struggle to break from the comfortable confines of conformity and pursue their life dreams.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to THANK YOU, Jay Grewal, the author, for allowing me to get a "sneak peek" with your free download. Your descriptive words and dialect guided me into the awful life of slavery in the rural south. The 11 year old main character will be remembered! A notable time, Derby Day in Kentucky with the first female jockey in the race and the first African American jockey in over 100 years. Thanks.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book. I enjoyed the chapters and the thrust of Jay Grewel's tale. I think it will appeal to many. My one critique comes from the author drawing the conclusions. Main character, Jelani, born into slavery suffers the horrors of slave treatment. At each insult I feel my own outrage, sadness and terror. I would like to follow my thoughts rather than have the author redraw the picture. It comes across, to me, as "preachy" . I have many friends who will love his book.

[Darlene Dawne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not often that I find a book that moves me so deeply. Jay Grewal has the ability to make you feel like you are right there with Jelani on his journey of pain, loss, and sorrow . Even his unrelenting strength and courage, which is needed to gain his freedom, comes through loud and clear to the reader.
This book left me with a feeling that in the face of adversity, hope and faith can prevail. " A Slave to Want", will definitely be one that I display on my bookshelf. A definite 5/5

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this historical novel about slavery and discovered there was some paranormal content, I was disappointed and didn't think I would like it. I wasn't even sure I would finish it. But as I read, I became very connected with the main character in the story! I would definitely read more books by this author.