In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas - 3 stars (BWF)

[Joy D]

In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas - 3* - My Review

I picked up this book due to its nomination for The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. In general, I enjoy historical fiction that is well-written, complex, and based on real events, and this book certainly qualifies. It takes the reader to the fictional town of Dunmore in Southwestern Ontario, a place not typically covered in slave narratives. It is a dark and haunting story. It focuses on free-born Blacks and fugitive slaves in Canada, living in fear of slave catchers crossing the border to recapture them. A key element is their interactions with the indigenous peoples. It contains references to the War of 1812, Tecumseh’s Native Confederacy, and the Underground Railroad from the US to Canada.

One of the main characters is Lensinda. As a black journalist, she is collecting the stories of the escaped slaves. Another primary character, Cash, kills a bounty hunter. The two tell their stories to each other in pieces and parts, switching back and forth and taking big leaps back and forth in time. I think this format makes the book a more difficult read than it needed to be, particularly in light of the various myths and fables added to the mix, and the already difficult subject matter. The time shifts are not signaled in any significant way, so it requires constant focused attention to make sure to follow the storyline. I had to go back and re-read several sections. I am glad I read it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more with a different structure. I like to feel immersed in the flow of a narrative, and I did not find that here. I liked it enough to read another work by this author.

BWF March Extra I - fits letter, not tag