Three Links of Chain

by Dennis Maley

Blanche thinks he has it good. He has risen above the field hands to a position helping run a printing press. He's well fed, never physically mistreated, and he has taught himself to read, though he keeps the illicit skill a secret. Most importantly, he has been promised a chance at emancipation. Then, in a single bloody morning, his world is overturned, his master lies dead, and the widow has no intention of following through with her husband's promise to free Blanche.

Blanche would never have considered running away from his old life, but faced with the prospect of being sold as a laborer or worse, he forges his free papers and flees north, a fugitive, to create his own future. Only a few steps ahead of the slave catchers, he travels hundreds of miles across the violent backdrop of “bleeding Kansas” in the 1850s, a land torn by apart by two very different visions of humanity.

This richly researched work of fiction weaves actual historical characters and institutions into the gripping story of a young man born into slavery but resolute in his quest for freedom.

Genres: Historical Fiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2015

About the author

Confirmed flatlander, lives with a killer reading teacher in Oklahoma City.

Reviews

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blanche Bruce is a teenage slave who can read and write. His master is a printer, so Blanche often sets type. Because it’s the 1850’s, there are people divided into abolitionists and those who are pro-slavery. This is the life Blanche has always known, but he’s seen atrocities and wants his freedom.

When his master dies, he’s supposed to be free, but his cruel wife aims to keep him, perhaps sell him into an even worse life. Blanche proceeds with following his dream—forging papers and becoming a fugitive. On his northbound journey, he encounters helpful people and those who want to entrap him and bring him back to the fate he escaped from.

Blanche is an amazing, strong, and intelligent character. Because of the historical context, there are numerous passages that will make the reader angry at the injustices being done, but at the same time you’ll root for the character. The setting was realistic and the writing flowed well. I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blanche was a slave boy, banking on buying his freedom. His circumstances changed quickly, and he begins on a journey that teaches him about the reality of the world, his personal worth, and his responsibilities to his fellow man. My favorite quote of the book came from Aunt Dlephie- “Boy, if’n I ain’t helping folks, my freedom ain’t worth a bucket of spit.”
I’ll be having my 8th grader read this book and opening more dialogue around racism and its roots in our US history.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this on First Reads.

I have received it.

I am very interested in history and I love the way Dennis Maley took such a turbulent time and made it into a read that grabbed me and kept me reading until I was finished. It is one that will be put in my personal library and reread.

[MoDonasChridhe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read!

A tale of a journey towards freedom steeped in heart pounding situations and sweet moments. Really enjoyed the tale. Also enjoyed the interesting historical bites at the end regarding slavery and politics of pioneer Kansas

[sandra stinon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rate it fair

At times was hard to follow. Had to read some reread some of the book. Sooo many characters I couldn’t remember who they were.

[Heather C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although American history is my favorite location/period to read, the time surrounding the Civil War has never been one of particular interest to me. I was interested in Three Links of Chain because I wanted to see how an issue as heavy and dark as slavery and the Underground Railroad would be handled in a novel aimed at a young adult audience. And overall, I was rather impressed with this book.

One of the aspects that caught and held my attention was that despite the short length of 250 pages, it had the feel of a much longer epic journey. I will compare it in many ways to the travails that Odysseus faces in the Odyssey. Every time Blanche escapes one hardship he lands square in the middle of another, even worse, situation. He has to keep persevering in an attempt to attain his ultimate goal. At many times he questions if he is taking the right action or if he should turn back to some easier end point. I think that the epic adventure quality will be quite successful with younger readers as they get caught up in Blanche’s journey.

The history of the time period (Underground Railroad, Bleeding Kansas, life of slaves on the western frontier) was well integrated into the narrative. The Underground Railroad portion of the story highlights how dangerous it was, whereas I think a lot of novels make it feel a little more glamorous. There was the dangers of trying to walk that line between questioning and trusting the folklore, signs, and people whose hands they were putting their lives. That balance was well achieved as Blanch moved forward; he grew from complete naiveté to someone with a little more experience under his belt. In the early chapters there is the juxtaposition of how Blanche holds himself above those of the field hands because he knows how to read and then how little he really understands about the workings of the greater world.

There was only one place the fell a little flat for me and that was the opening chapter. This was a little unfortunate because it almost made me put it down. The first chapter is set in and around an outhouse. And while I have no issues with that per se, and it was an interesting gimmick, it felt very weird to me. It was more like you shouldn’t be there and I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the feel the author was going for because you were very distinctly supposed to be there. It just felt out of place and it pulled me out of the narrative. If the chapter had been a little further into the narrative, I don’t think I would have had as much issue with it, but as an introduction I found it awkward. However, it might grab the attention of young adults better than adults, I don’t know.

This review was previously posted at The Maiden's Court blog and the book was received from the publisher for review.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways, the fight over whether Kansas would be a slave state or a free state was the first fighting of the Civil War.

In a shortsighted move, the Congress of the United States decided to let the Kansas Territory decide for itself if it wanted to be a slave or a free state. It was shortsighted because it put off a festering political problem and let it be decided in a far away territory with little thought to what would happen in that territory. Immediately, this became a real-life struggle, the physical embodiment of the arguments taking place across the country about slavery and its future. Slave states rightly determined that they needed to bring Kansas in as a slave state and they immediately sent financial backing to support pro-slavery settlers and pro-slavery men from neighboring Missouri who would cross the border and illegally vote in the election.

Abolitionists sent settlers, financial aid and weapons to counter. Soon enough, neighbor was fighting neighbor (John Brown of the infamous Harper's Ferry raid got his start here by killing a number of his pro-slavery neighbors with broadswords) and a series of tainted elections were held. Multiple governments claimed to be in charge of the state, multiple federal investigations resulted in nothing but contradictory conclusions, depending on the political affiliations of the investigators.

This book starts in Missouri, very close to the border with Kansas. Blanche is a slave working for the local newspaper owner. The town is in an uproar due to its proximity to Kansas. Men are planning to illegally vote one side or another, arms are being sent across the border and ugly fights and arguments are breaking out everywhere.

Blanche is not happy being a slave but figures that he has got things all figured out and will eventually be free due to his careful manipulation of the slave system. He can read, is free to work on the side for extra cash and is confident that he is superior to any field hand slave.

Blanche's plan is simple...

Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2015/...

[Ruth B · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always hard to start talking about a book that is based in historical facts. You can’t say that history is right or wrong and most important we have to be careful when we judge the actions of the characters because something that was right hundreds of year before, might be wrong today.

This is an historical novel about a slave boy who wants to be free. It could be as simple as that but it’s not. It is also a story about people trying to change a system that existed years ago, people that believes that slavery is wrong and who is risking their lives to do what they think is right. It could also be a story about the willpower a young man can have or a story about survival. Take your pick, the main thing is that is a great story and you should read it.

Blanche is 14 year old running away from slavery. A young kid, who against the laws of the time knows how to read, and this brings him some advantages and some problems. In his journey to freedom he meets a series of characters, good and bad, some willing to help him and the ones that want to catch him.

Dennis deserves a round of applauses for writing about Blanche. He created a character that feels real and whose feelings you can almost feel yourself. Some of the decisions that Blanche has to make lead to some scenes that were hard to read, they really moved me to the core (I almost cry with the scene of Husband).

The descriptions of the time, the places and all that surrounds this moment on history were a great complement to a great story. You will find out that this book is more than just a tell about a period of history.

A very recommendable book for YA or adults.

*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. ***

[Revo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good history presents facts and dates in an enjoyable manner so they can be retained. Great history immerses the reader into the situation and produces a more complete understanding.
Three Links of Chain is great history.
The story itself breaks no new ground, where the author makes the material rise above the fray is in the details and growth of character. The reader isn't bludgeoned with events, instead, they are integrated into the story seamlessly. By the end, the reader relates to the situation and time period to walk away with a degree of enlightenment.
In a time where society is focused more on sound bites and one-sided soapbox outrage, Three Links of Chain stands out as important history wrapped around a sympathetic character's quest for what we've too often come to take for granted.

[Pamela Jinright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning more about the strength the slaves had as they tried to escape slavery on the Underground Railroad.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about this period in history. Interesting book that me wanting to read more.