Play Book Tag discussion

Telling the fictionalised life story of a real person, this book is written by Sancho, born a slave, in diary form for his young son. Born on a slave ship, Sancho’s mother died in childbirth, and rather than living and being raised on a plantation, Sancho grows up in England, living with three spinster sisters who use him as a play-thing. Upon leaving their house, Sancho must take care, for London in the mid-1700s is not a safe place for a young black man, especially one who is unsure as to his status, and so Sancho must always be on the look out for slave catchers. Despite these scares, Sancho has a seemingly easier life than many others, for which his is always grateful, and often a feels a little guilty, as he meets and is known by the King, he write and plays highly acclaimed music, takes part in the fight to abolish slavery, and becomes the first Black person to vote in Britain. This was a very interesting story, full of adventures. It is a beautifully written book, and I really liked the descriptions of Black Georgian Britain and the beginnings of the fight for abolition. I felt that the book stalled a bit in the section where Anne is in the Caribbean, and the book is told through the letters she and Sancho exchange, but when Anne returns to London, the book picks up again.

EXTRAS: Team: Sassy Sisterhood. Extra read for “S”.

I loved this one! So glad to see you enjoyed it too. I agree it lags a bit during the section told with letters, but I just loved the author's writing style.

I had this one and did not get around to it before it was due back. I need to get back in line for it