BLUE -EYED SLAVE by Marshall Highet and Bird Jones

BLUE-EYED SLAVE by Marshall Highet and Bird Jones I didn’t know there were Africans with blue eyes, but there are, and this tale sets forth the story of Bintu, the blue-eyed 13 year old slave in Charleston (Charles Town), South Carolina in the years before the American Revolution. Historically accurate (except for a few instances of “modern” language) Bintu and Hannah, a Jewish girl who becomes Bintu’s friend, are caught up in moral conundrums when Hannah helps in the “slave school” and realizes that Bintu is being systematically beaten, both physically and mentally, by her owners. Moral courage and the Jewish tradition of Tzedek or justice are central to this coming of age novel. Time and place are clearly laid out by the authors. The plot is engaging and builds to a satisfyingly rousing conclusion. Appropriate for both young adult and adult audiences BLUE-EYED SLAVE is well worth your time. 4 of 5 stars #BookTrib