Book of Addis: Cradled Embers

by Brooke C. Obie

In this award-winning epic tale of love, loss and the cost of liberation, Addis, a 17-year-old enslaved girl, escapes from her enslaver, the first president of a young country. On the run for her life, with unlikely friends and a nation of enemies, Addis becomes the most wanted person alive and a global symbol of hope to enslaved people longing for freedom.

Written in an 18th Century Black Diasporic vernacular, Book of Addis reaches back in time to explore the intergenerational impact of oppression and plots a daring path into the future.

This Gold Seal Edition includes the Book of Addis Syllabus and the Reader and Discussion Guide!

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addis - or in her native language of Eboe, Adaeze - was born to a family of warrior women. Unfortunately, they've been enslaved in the new country of Amerika, which believes she belongs to the first President of that new nation, William Burken. Slaves are forbidden from speaking Eboe, so they have to keep their language and their religion alive in the few secret places in their lives. When Addis is taken north as part of Mr. Burken's entourage for meetings in the capital of Filadelfia, her mother promises that she's found a way to secure Addis's freedom...but the cost might be much greater than Addis can bear.

OMG this book was so, so, SO good. It is a slightly off-kilter fictional history that is obviously based on our real history, and it pulls absolutely no punches about the complicity of white people in not only slavery, but slavery's far-reaching effects in this country that continue to this day. Even the few white people who are on the right side, who help with the Underground Railroad or fight alongside the black people during the revolt, and not spared a deservedly critical eye for the privilege they were born to purely for the color of their skin. I have never in my life read a slave narrative that does not try to pander to white people's feelings - but the world needs this book. I can't get over how great the story, the plotting, the writing were - I hope everyone gets a chance to read it.

[Julia971 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Addis tells the story of Addis, a young slave with strange abilities and a great destiny.

I liked the use of the Eboe language to convey History, magic, strenght and hope. Addis' mother is also a great character, an admirable woman.

Unfortunately, I disliked the main character a lot. The plot, and most of the « action » in the book revolve around Addis choices and she kept being strong headed beyond reason, incoherent in her choices and she met almost everyone with defiance and bitterness. It changes at about 85-90% of the book, but it was then too late for me to connect with her.

The book reminded me a little bit of « Queen of the conquered ».

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smartly written. It felt real, our history as it as been taught may not lead us to believe that a successful slave revolt existed but this writing let us know it might have taken place. This is a great read and should be read by many. It would make a great transition to film as well.

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down.

An alternate history with historical reference, Igbo and yoruba culture and legend, and the authors own life combined to create this story of Black revolution in 18th century America following a 17 year old girl enslaved to the first president. Addis agu through danger and murder becomes the face of the rebellion, but not by her own choice, constantly being pulled in every direction, she finds it difficult to be or know who she is and her part in everything. Chasing freedom is long and hard, and with white supremacy at every turn, will African Americans in the States ever be free? Or is death the only freedom? Addis and all the people she loves find out.

Highly recommend. Content warning: torture, sexual assault, violence, racism, death, slavery, white supremacy, murder.

[Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful novel about oppression, atrocities, and resistance. The language is difficult--not only because of the style but also because of the horrors depicted--but Obie is a fine writer. Think Toni Morrison.

[Sandra Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book everyone should read. The language is so beautiful and striking--it makes it very hard to put down, and even once you do put it down, the words and syntax remain in your mind long after. The story is raw and real and compelling. I'll be passing this one along to friends and family. It took me awhile to read it but only because it is so dense and powerful and I usually only read before bed and I knew this was the kind of book where the words and story would get into my dreams and make it impossible to sleep. So I read in small bites, and enjoyed every minute of it.

[Emma]

The Book Of Addis:Cradled Embers is a read that worthy to read. The giftedness of the author, Brooke Obie, demonstrated her gift to write in a language that everyone should grasp, particularly the African American Community. As Facilitator of the Swap Ministry (Seniors With A Purpose), at First Baptist Church Vienna, Va., Senior Servant, Dr. Vernon Walton, we were pleased to have Miss Obie, has a guest author, to unravel the layers of her book. Brooke Obie is a gifted writer, eloquent speaker, that is on the move to higher heights, as a prolific Writer in the 21st Century as a beautiful, humbled African American female. Brooke is destined for great things...she has found favor with God.

[Liv Lansdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard at first to know how to read this debut. Dialect invention is a technique traditionally employed by fantasy writers, and while being a work of alternate history, The Book of Addis is if anything fantasy's opposite: it's an uncomfortably detailed look at realities that American literature traditionally overlooks, recounted in a unique voice, the invention of which serves as a haunting suggestion that it may not have needed resurrecting had it not been wiped out (or at least kept illiterate).

Followin this unfamiliar if not foreign voice is an exercise most of us needs in this political climate, but nevertheless an enormously enjoyable experience--in part due to Obie's expert command of narrative structure, in part due to some magic lesser writers fantasize of possessing.

I found myself grateful as early in as the second chapter for the reassuring subtitle "Book One": when books Two and Three come out, I'll be first in line. If any writer can be said to have this power, Obie just might be able to start a literary revolution.

[Monise · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing and wonderfully written debut novel! The story of Addis is one of determination and triumph in the ugly face of slavery. Brooke did an amazing job of telling one of our many stories, using one of the languages of our ancestors. Addis reminds us that we all have a warrior inside, just waiting to be awakened.