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Description
Hero's father has been taken away to be sent back to the slave plantation, and Hero has been forced to move in with her mother's family in the east end of London. They despise Hero for being half black and the daughter of an escaped slave.
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a story that doesn't shy away from hard history while still keeping a kid's perspective, this one hits different. Hero is a mixed-race girl in Victorian London dealing with real prejudice from the family she's forced to live with after her father an escaped slave is torn away from her. There's tension, some genuinely scary moments when she's navigating dangerous parts of the city alone, but also warmth in the friendships she builds and the small acts of courage that add up. Kids who enjoy historical fiction with real emotional stakes, or anyone who's ever felt like they don't quite belong, will connect with Hero's journey. Parents should know the book tackles slavery, racism, and loss head-on, so it's better suited for older middle graders and up who can handle that weight. Fans of books like "The War That Saved My Life" or "Refugee" will likely appreciate this one too.