OUTRUNNING

In this thrilling story, Book Boy is a brilliant slave on a Cherokee plantation in the Indian Territory. His name comes from his ability to read and write, in spite of the harsh Cherokee slave laws forbidding it. Though longing to live in freedom with his love Misty, he has lacked the confidence to escape, but when his friend Caleb is unjustly arrested and forced to either run or be hanged, Book Boy hides him and together they plan the escape of twenty-five plantation slaves. Guided by Jumping Ben, a courageous Cherokee hunter who risks everything to help the desperate slaves, they struggle through the wilderness, fighting natural obstacles and human enemies, hoping to reach freedom in Mexico. As the romance between Book Boy and Misty blossoms, it is complicated not only by hardship, but also by the desires of another slave, Millie, whose affections for Book Boy will not be denied.

"...a vivid, engrossing examination...a vibrant, revealing odyssey that cements history exactly where it becomes most relevant: through the eyes, hearts, and minds of individuals in general and a young protagonist who faces romance, adversity, and struggle in his world...Very highly recommended!" - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review