The Freedom Maze is the story of thirteen-year old Sophie Fairchild Martineau, a girl on the verge of young adulthood growing up in the racially divided South of the early 1960’s. In the aftermath of her parents’ divorce, she is trundled off by her mother to spend the summer on what is left of the family estate in the Bayou. To say that she is unhappy about this state of affairs would be an understatement. With the awkwardness and emotional volatility that only adolescence can bring, Sophie’s situation becomes increasingly more intolerable. One of the few remnants of the estate’s plantation days is a maze, overgrown but still very enticing for a girl looking to have an adventure. That adventure begins in the form of a disembodied, enigmatic voice that later materializes as a Creature Sophie could not have dreamed up in her wildest imaginings. A rash wish born out of anger and frustration causes the Creature to intervene, sending Sophie back 100 years into her past. There she discovers a vibrant, working plantation and gets to experience first hand what slavery was like for both her ancestors and their slaves, for in this past Sophie Martineau is not welcomed as a member of the family, but is instead mistaken for a runaway slave.
By the description you might think this would be the kind of book a forty-something male who reads predominately science fiction and fantasy would not gravitate towards. And you would be correct. Curiosity got the better of this cat when Delia Sherman won the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy at the Nebula Awards ceremony on May 19th. That win propelled me to investigate The Freedom Maze, and something about the cover image and the idea drew me right in.
I was entranced. I had to go into that maze. What I found there was a doorway to a thoroughly satisfying, richly detailed adventure.
It says something about a book when you begin missing the main character before you close the book’s final pages. A feeling of loss began to come over me as I saw the end rapidly approaching and I’ve spent the last day wishing that I could go back in time myself and experience Sophie’s adventures afresh. And it wasn’t just Sophie that I missed. There were so many other characters I had gotten close to in the novel’s 267 pages.
In the acknowledgements for The Freedom Maze, Delia Sherman shares that this book was 18 years in the making. And believe me, it shows. Her words echo the craftsmanship reflected in the pages of the story. I went into this book with a lot of expectations of the “type” of story it would be, and Sherman defied all of those expectations. Somehow, by some stroke of magic (or rather, hard work) Sherman is able to walk a fine line in the manner in which she portrays the slave owners and the slaves on this plantation. There are times when I was concerned that the direction she was taking was affording too much humanity to the white slave owners, others when I was worried that the story would sink into the mire of the harsh reality of slave life and overwhelm the reader with darkness. Neither of these occur and yet both are equally present. Sherman does not sugar coat the truth, nor does she deny that light does shine in the darkness.
What the reader is left with is a story that feels authentic. We are able to witness slavery through the eyes of the slave owners who are not a parody of all that is evil, whose moments of humanity make what they are doing to the slaves that much more difficult to fathom or forgive. We are immersed in the lives of people so real that you swear they must have been, that Delia Sherman somehow went back in time herself to live it. We see the bad, but we see the good too. The black people were a strong, resilient people in that time period. They had to be in order to survive, to not be broken beyond repair and we we see that resilience in Sherman’s writing. Delia Sherman paints a portrait rich in color and diversity, rich in emotions and so very much alive. Along the way Sherman weaves in details of folklore and spirituality that add a fantasy element to the story while enhance the real elements of that era. Sophie Martineau is the perfect guide through this adventure, never succumbing to the kind of childish behavior that might make this novel a difficult reading experience for adults, and yet always acting in a manner that seems genuine for her age.
The Freedom Maze is a captivating, brilliantly executed story about an ugly time in the history of America. Delia Sherman’s triumph is that she manages to confront and then thwart everything you have come to expect of stories that address the topic of slavery. It is a lovely story that ended all too quickly for me. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you’ve seen or read this all before. Delia Sherman’s look back on the South of the 1860’s has a freshness that is hard to describe but is oh so easy to experience: you can read it for yourself!
This is a special book and one you should strongly consider moving to the front of your reading queue. I have read some great books in 2012, but this is only the second that I feel earns a 10/10 star rating. The Freedom Maze is the kind of transformational literature that will open a door in your heart that won’t close when the final page is turned.
Well, I’ve got to say you totally wowed me with this review, Carl!!! Even if it’s only a tenth as captivating as you’ve left me believing it will be, it will be a large tally in the “win” column! Thanks for the wonderful review–I’d never ever heard of this before.
I was hoping you would see this Debi as you and the family were in my mind as I was reading this. I hadn’t heard of it either and might not have had it not been for the award. And missing it would have been a real shame. It is wild how, with all the inundation of information today, books can still slip past you unnoticed. It ought not be this way!
Oh, this sounds amazing! I read Kindred last year or the year before, and it really brought slavery to life for me, particularly the complete lack of control the slaves had over their own lives. The slaveholder in that book was also complex, but he was really impossible to like. I think I will appreciate reading this. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
I would especially enjoy reading your comparison of the two books, given that this is written for a YA crowd.
I have this on my wish list because Ana, I think it was, said she was anticipating it, but I haven’t bought a copy yet. Soon I shall! Glad to see you liked it so much.
Ana would do a really amazing review on this one I’m sure, putting me to shame. I hope she does read and review it, I’d love to see that. And you as well. I would especially be interested in your take on it as an “American” in the continental sense but not a U.S. citizen. How familiar are you with this period of American history>
As enthusiastic as you are about this book, and despite reading two other positive reviews, somehow the plot, location and characters fail to interest me. I guess we can’t all like the same books.
I’ve decided to re-read David Brin’s Uplift novels, the first three of them, SUNDIVER, STARTIDE RISING, THE UPLIFT WAR. Interesting how I remember so little – almost nothing – of the first one, which I’m 3/4 of the way through. I might as well be reading it for the first time. Maybe if you wait a few years you can go back and re-read FREEDOM MAZE as if it’s brand new.
We definitely cannot Richard. This is one of those books that I didn’t think I would be interested in either, but Sherman pulled me right in and I’m so glad I took the chance on it. Such a pleasurable experience.
This is definitely one I could find myself re-reading in a few years. There was an interesting bit of memory thing that happened to the main character and it was so subtle that I’d love to read the book again to see if I could tell exactly where it happened.
I’ve got my library copy of this sitting in my stack–you make me want to move it up to the front of the line! I’ve found characters are frequently the most important factor of a book for me, so now I’m very much looking forward to meeting Sophie and the rest.
Do! I desperately want to talk about Sophie to someone. My wife is going to read the book but she is in the middle of another and I’m aching for her to get through this one.
Okay, I’m strongly considering moving it to the front of my reading queue. The beginning of your post put me in mind of One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (which won the Scott O’Dell prize, the Coretta Scott King award, a Newbery Honor book, and a National Book Award Finalist) where three young girls are sent to their mother in San Fransisco during the 1960’s. It’s got all kinds of Black Panther stuff and wonderful things to discuss with one’s class. Anyway, there my connection ends with your title.
I love the idea that she goes back in time 100 years (time travel has become a favorite device of mine, thanks to you!) But, I also love that the story feels authentic, and resilience is required in order to survive. Indeed. Life is too full of pain to not know how to handle it, to be broken by it. And, there’s no escaping emotional, or physical, trauma no matter who you are. Best learn how to handle those things, and what better way than through Story?
Seeing the title “One Crazy Summer” I think of the John Cusak film. Fun, wacky movie.
I do hope you read The Freedom Maze. It is one of those books that I hope a lot of people read as I’m not sure it has gotten a lot of buzz and yet I feel like it deserves to get some.
It also feels so much like a “summer” story, given that it starts during this time of year. I’m going to be doing a post about summer stories soon and I’ll be mentioning this book.
Great review! I didn’t think it would be anything I would be interested in and your review has sold me. Thank you.
Thanks. I felt the same way but decided to go ahead and give it a try and I’m very happy that I did.
I’m sold. I just ordered my copy today.
Great! 🙂 Make sure you comment when you are done reading it as I’ll be interested in your assessment of the book.
This was one of my favorites from the young adult category of the Nebulas as well – although I wouldn’t have pegged it to win, because while I liked it – I did think it was a little under-done on the “creature part” of the story – I suppose because I was reading in the context of being nominated for (and subsequently winning) a Nsci-fi/ fantasy award – so I expected more detail into the magical part of the story. I discussed this on my little corner of the web too (I read all the nominees) – but alas no one else seems to have read it judging from the comments, and I really hope more people do now because it is a gem of a book.
I can completely see that in regards to the Nebulas. I personally am glad that the elements with the Creature were as few as they were, not because I didn’t like those elements, but because keeping him out of the picture helped Sophie, and the reader, get more lost in the world of the past. However, as you point out, does that mean it shouldn’t even have been considered for this award, let alone have won?
I agree with almost all of your comments. I felt like Delia dealt with the ugliness in a straightforward way, and not just with the slavery, but with Sophie’s issues in the current world. It was a fantastic underlying message of “be careful what you wish for” and “the grass isn’t always greener.” The only real issue I had with the story was the addition of the Creature which was underdeveloped. The story behind Creature really drew me in and had me intrigued. And then it just dropped. Why was Sophie so important? What part did she play? I wanted more. I mean, I usually want more, but for me it felt unresolved on that page. Otherwise, though, I really enjoyed it. Thanks for the rec!
It was definitely a ‘be careful what you wish for’ story, wasn’t it? The fantasy/folklore elements of the story could definitely have been played up a little bit more. It didn’t bother me at all that it wasn’t, but you are correct in that that aspect of the story just dropped away. Of course it did so because of the character getting convinced that she was actually living in that time and a part of that world and as a reader I enjoyed getting sucked in with her. I think Sophie was important solely because she was of that blood line. It was her family that she went back in time to be a part of, her blood, her history and heritage. I do get what you mean though and can see your points. I liked it the way it was but would have probably liked it more fleshed out in those areas as well.
Wow, Carl, don’t know how I missed this review. This book sounds bloody brilliant and right up my street. Thank goodness for your end of year list! I could swear I’ve read ALL your reviews – now I’m worried! What other potential goodies have I missed?
Thanks. Going to go and look this up right away.
Lynn 😀
Easiest way to check it just look at my Books Read 2012 tab there at the top! 🙂
Yea, I read Freedom Maze and immediately passed it on to my wife who also enjoyed it as much as I did. It was a fun one to talk about afterwards and that makes me look forward to the day you read it so we can talk about it. No pressure or anything, lol! Actually it is better as a summer book in my opinion just because that is the time the story starts in.