Very well-done, nonfiction account of the life of Emily Edmonson. Truthfully, it's more the story of Emily's entire family and she does not stand out on her own so much, but the book is a heart-wrenching description of the awful realities of slavery. ( )

Passenger on the Pearl is an eye opening, and should be mandatory read for all teens, a very sad part of American history. The story focus on the Edmonson family, from the marriage of their parents, where their mother loved their father but was reluctant to marry, because she didn’t want her children in slavery.
When six of the couples fourteen children make a strike for freedom, their parents are heavy hearted, but happy that they may finally become free. Wouldn’t we all want this for our children, but being children of color, they were illiterate; it was illegal to learn to read. Sad but true, as the many side articles that accompany this excellent story show the law in description. All of the Edmonson children were poised, proud, and pious, and raised with strong moral and religious values.
As we travel with these six family members, we see the horror of slavery; the cruel and heartless things that happen are given faces of these young ones. As this is based on a true story, it makes me feel worse, because now I know them, and my heart breaks for them.
I recommend this book highly, and although you will need tissues handy, continue reading, it is a real eye opener. Be sure to follow this to the end of the book, I marvel at what God put in front of these people. I’m glad for once I didn’t live during this blight on our history, but on a side note some important things happened not to far from where I reside in Cazenovia NY.

I received this book through the publisher Algonquin Books, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

PASSENGER ON THE PEARL by Winifred Conkling tells the true story of Emily Edmonson’s flight from slavery. The work of nonfiction for youth is an authentic portrayal of the heartbreaking reality of slavery. Readers are immediately immersed in the story as Emily and her sibling’s attempt to escape on a ship called the Pearl. After their unsuccessful quest for freedom, the story continues to follow Emily’s life in slavery as well as the plight of the abolitionists who planned the escape. Ultimately, Emily and her sister are freed, educated, and became abolitionists themselves. They even develop a friendship with Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The book includes a variety of compelling primary source documents including photographs, paintings, manifests, and posters that dramatically visualize the story. Graphic elements including maps, a timeline, and a family tree that help orient readers. The source notes, bibliography, and index are helpful to young researchers.

Focused fact sheets interwoven into the story help readers understand the laws and practical threats to slaves seeking freedom in the mid 19th century.

Conkling does a masterful job merging the real-world story of Emily with background information about the time period and specific events associated with the famous failed escape. The combination creates both empathy for the runaway slaves as well as an understanding of the context of the escape.

To learn more about author Winifred Conkling, go to http://www.winifredconkling.com/.

After reading this wonderful book for youth, some teens might be interested in a more in-depth examination of the attempted escape and the aftermath. Read ESCAPE ON THE PEARL (2007) by Mary Kay Ricks, a work of nonfiction for adults. ( )