Will

by Paul Steinmann

Will and his friend are risking their lives and have escaped the plantation. They are on the run; but before Will took off, the old conjure woman warned him, "Evil spirits creeps 'round at night, and tricky spirits kin hex people—even da smart ones likes you." Evil spirits are not the only problem; slave hunters, patrollers, and a mercenary detective are all after Will and Tom, and his childhood companion, Teeny. Luckily, the three friends encounter a group of abolitionists—a lawyer, a riverboat captain, a businessman, and a wealthy heiress—who want nothing more than to help them escape to freedom. But slaves are valuable property, and owners will go to any lengths to get them back. What transpires for these three slaves borders on the implausible, but is rooted in historical fact. They all flee in different directions and make their way north by steamboat on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. This harrowing journey involves wearing disguises, finding new love, and risking a fortune in a poker game. But the real gamble is a slave betting he can escape and be free...he pays the ultimate price if he loses.

402 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2017

Reviews

[Rebekaneongirlyahoo.com]

This is certainly a interesting tale, complete with likable protagonists and some enjoyable side characters. It extremely easy to become involved in the story and hope the three fugitives makes it somewhere safe. The action generally moves along at a good clip, though it does briefly slow down a bit in places. I only planned on reading a few chapters but got sucked in and had to find out how it ended, staying up late to finish it.

Readers should nonetheless be aware that this book does contain scenes involving sexual assault and other violent acts. Despite what one reviewer said, I certainly wouldn't consider this to be an appropriate book for middle grades or even sensitive high school students. In fact, it may be problematic for some adult readers.

There are also a few minor issues that bugged me. Some paragraphs near the end of the book weren’t indented in a typical fashion, which made it a bit harder to tell who was speaking.

I also could not figure out why Teeny kept using “Elizabeth Douglas” as her name instead of changing it up once she realized she was still being hunted. This dumb move made it much easier for her enemies to find her. I really wanted the former slaves to legally win their freedom, since the evidence supports it, rather than constantly have to flee.

Overall, it’s still a very good story.

[Katherine]

Will is a great example of fine historical fiction. Based on true events, this novel takes the reader on a journey through the lives of three slaves making their escape from a plantation in a time and context where to do so meant putting their very lives at risk. This story holds together a constant tension between the hope of escape and the threat of retribution as the slave owners attempt to reclaim what they believe to be their rightful property. I think the element of truth in this novel makes it for an especially compelling read, and Steinmann has done well to weave this together so deftly as fiction.

The book was overall very well written - my only complaint would be that I found the dialects somewhat clumsy at times.

[Julie]

It's been a while since I read a book that pulled me in after only a couple of pages and kept me glued to the story all the way to the end. I loved this book! The book is set in the South during slavery. Will's master dies and left a will stating that all of his slaves were to be set free and given a sum of money to help them start new lives. You can imagine that this is NOT what happens. Will flees with his best friend and the proof of his old master's wishes. I can't say any more ~ I don't want to give any of the story away. What I can say is you should read this book!

[Karen]

Will is a work of historical fiction where the main character's name becomes symbolic of his journey to become free. The story of three individuals trying to escape the harrowing world of slavery as they scatter in different directions - willing to risk everything - keeps the reader engaged. The writing is consistent throughout the narrative and is an enjoyable read. I would not recommend for anyone younger than high school.

[Marguerite Grandelious]

It may be a difficult and painful read for some (my personal experience) but very enlightening for all. It is a fictional novel but I felt there was historical accuracy.

[Nancy]

Paul is a friend.