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Published in Canada as The Book of Negroes, this novel relates the story of Aminata Diallo –kidnapped at age eleven from interior Africa and brought to America as a slave. What follows is brutal and devastating story, but not one that lacks hope or humanity. I particularly loved the emphasis on names, language, and identity and the often surprising ways they relate to power. This is a book that begs to be devoured, but also savored. I shamelessly ignored my family for the past three days because of this book and still find I wouldn’t mind going back and reading it all again.