This story in verse based on meticulous research is the heart wrenching story of the last cargo of enslaved people brought to this country. When an avaricious American businessman in 1860, long after importing slaves to the United States was illegal, makes a wager that he can smuggle African slaves from the kingdom of Dahomey to Mobile, Alabama, he sets in motion the tragic destruction of 110 families and a terrible new future for these kidnapped souls.
The recommended readership is for young people, ages 12 and older. Certainly it is too graphic for anyone younger but because of the sexual brutality included, I would recommend this only to mature teens. Frankly as an adult I did not feel the writing or story was too young to hold my interest. Considering my interest in learning more about the conditions of the Atlantic Ocean voyage for its human cargo, I found the narrative very sophisticated and the multiple perspectives of this story very sensitive to the characters, no matter what their motivations.
At the end of the story are multiple resources outlining the historical inspiration and the real-life characters. There is also a glossary of terms and expressions of the tribal languages of the characters as well as a timeline, an explanation of the research process and the ultimate history of all the characters included in the story. I wish I had realized how rich this after section was and how it might have enhanced my understanding of the story as I read it.
One complaint I have about reading the pre-pub ebook, provided by Netgalley is the lack of proper formatting of this story in verse. The sections were rarely separated and before I was comfortable with all the characters, it was not clear to me whose voice was speaking. Even worse, I read a very useful section in the author’s note about how the different characters used different styles of poetry and why. Even when I went back to the story, it was almost impossible to see for myself these singular characteristics because the sentences just ran on with no acknowledgement of the structure of poetry. I assume that will be corrected in the ebook for publication because as it stands now, the reader misses out on one of the most unique aspects of this story.
Despite this failing, the narrative presents a look at a part of our history that should be read by everyone. I might even suggest a family reading it together and discussing all the perspectives for a deeper understanding of the evils of slavery.

Another hidden gem that surprised me!!

Love love this one, the message it conveys is both insightful and impactful.

Finished this galley in two sitting and I think I'm developing affinity towards in verse novel.

I received an e-ARC edition of this book via NetGalley and the publisher.

I will be honest, I’m not a fan of books written in verse. However, in this instance, the verse worked amazingly well. When at a quick glance I could tell who was telling the story (not only because the chapters are labeled with the speaker) just by the format of the words on the page - perfect for keeping track. Also each character’s voice is different - a very nice (and clever) touch.

As other reviewers have noted, this book tells the story about the last Africans brought to America as slaves in 1860. The authors start off telling the stories of the people in Africa - one is a relative of the King, another is a young girl, and another is in the middle of initiation for “oro,” which governs their town. Then the narrative introduces some Americans, including the man who comes up with the idea of smuggling in Africans as a bet, along with a captain and a crew member - and the boat herself. Their stories mingle and join together - you can feel the heartbreak of those captured on the page (and also the boat’s!). Upon reaching America, new voices are added to the story - a US-born slave, a plantation wife - so that there are 14 viewpoints in this story.

What I really liked about this book was, as previously mentioned, the ease of keeping track of who was who. But what I strongly recommend is reading the Authors’ Note - it is not only a wealth of information, but also explains what information they knew was factual and what they took a few liberties with. The authors also explain why they wrote the voices in the way they did - one was written in groups of three because he was the third mate, for instance (nice touch there). I also really enjoyed how this story just flowed together - I’m sure that listening to this would’ve just added to the overall experience of this book. I also enjoyed doing my own research about Africatown and learning about the discovery of the boat (Clotilda) after it had been sunk - here’s to hoping that it can be raised and preserved. Additionally, although this book isn’t long, it’s packed with a lot of information but presented in bite-sized pieces (I don’t believe a chapter is longer than one and a half pages). This book is powerful, informative, and I’d like to see this used in classrooms one day, if possible. A very high 4.5 stars.

Wow. I absolutely loved this story told in verse of the last slave ship that transported slaves from Africa to the US. I ended up listening to the audiobook version of the book and it was remarkable. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to in a while. It is done by a full cast and the accents and pronunciations added so much to the listening experience. I really appreciated every single perspective that the authors decided to include in this narrative. Each one was important in its own way and gave voice to the history the authors were attempting to relay. I think this is a must read for anyone in upper middle school and older to learn about the US's history and specifically the history of Africa Town and its founders.

An important young adult historical fiction book done in verse, African Town tells the story of the last group of Africans who were enslaved and brought illegally to America. It begins before their kidnap and it continues through their transatlantic journey until they reached the US, and were sold in the state of Alabama. This book handles heavy topics of abuse, torture, and enslavement, and even though the authors did thorough research, they did take some liberties with how the stories and characters were made. One of the main authors is white, and none are descendants of the survivors of the Clothilda trip, so this is something to take into consideration while reading.
In regards to the way the story is written, I found it good most of the time, though sometimes I found some of the poems unnecessary or/and boring. It really didn’t make much sense to me to share the POV of the slavers, and I was mostly disgusted by their thoughts. On my earc they explained the different types of poems each character featured, and I found that to be really cool.

It was an easy read. I really like the word building and the pacing. Also, the character’s voice was quite captivating too. I really enjoyed it.

I thought this was a fantastic novel in verse weaving together fact and fiction to tell the story of one of the last surviving enslaved people who was brought to America on the ship, Clotilda.

It was a story I knew nothing about and I felt that the authors did a great job piecing the story together in an engaging and empathetic way.

I really liked this book and would definitely recommend. However, I did want to note that one of the two authors is a white woman and I’m not sure how I feel about her telling this story, even half of it. They do mention in the authors note why they felt compelled to write this story but, I think it’s something I still need to sit with and sort my feelings out about.

This a a powerful novel written in verse about the last Africans illegally brought to American as slaves in 1860. African Town follows the journey from the ship to be enslaved, to freedom where they settled in a community they called African Town. This book has 14 POVs - all based on real life people.

This is such an important topic, and I love that it was written in a way that also makes it accessible to a younger audience - I can see this book being an integral part of high school classroom libraries and discussions. While there is much heartache and struggle that goes with telling this story, this book is also one filled with hope. I loved how intentional the authors were - even determining what style of poetry would be used to each character and providing an explanation for why they chose to write that character in that way. It was clear this book was well-researched and written with intention. My only hesitation with this book is that of the two authors, one is Black and one is white, neither of them are descendants from the survivors. While they do share additional resources, I have seen many reviews wondering if this was their story to tell or if it would be better told by someone with a more direct connection, especially since there are not yet many books on this topic. That being said, this is such an important topic and this book was eye-opening in many ways.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I'm a big fan of books and verse and this was an incredibly written piece of literature. I loved the long timeline and the epic poem feel that it gave the story. The strong variety of perspectives also really added a little something to the book to make it incredible. Hope to see this in classroom curriculums in the future!

This one was beautiful and so insightful. I’m thrilled that I’ll be able to recommend this one to everyone. It’s something more people need to read.

Thank you PenguinTeen and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book!

I’d like to begin this by saying that I found out one of the authors is white after reading the book. I can’t help but wonder if there are manuscripts out there by Black authors who can’t get published because of systemic racism in publishing about this same topic. I can’t also help but wonder how having a white author’s perspective might have changed the narrative. I think it’s important to bring these questions up because it’s not the first time it’s happened in publishing and I suspect it won’t be the last. On Goodreads, Whitney left an amazing review analyzing how it is problematic having such an important piece of literature (one of the first stories of this kind) being written by a white author. I highly suggest reading their review!

Aside from that, I want to say that this book was important to read. I can’t say it was enjoyable—how can reading about enslavement be enjoyable? It was absolutely heartbreaking. However, I can’t stress the importance of this book. I had no idea Africans were still kidnapped and forced to America even after it had been outlawed (boo to my white-washed education). I also appreciate all of the resources and explanations left at the end of the book. I will definitely be looking more into this, since I feel like it’s important to be aware of this if I plan to see the legacy of slavery in my world.

The storytelling is powerful—the imagery leaves little to imagination. You feel the nervousness, fear, humiliation, frustration, and even hope. I loved how it switched between so many voices, since each perspective helped to create a fuller picture of everything that happened.

I truly hope that more books will be written about Africatown (formerly known as Africa Town). Until then, I believe this would be such a powerful tool to use in classrooms. I do recommend reading this book. I think it provides a great learning experience that forces us to confront the horrors of slavery. If you read it, please let me know what you think!

I really enjoyed this book! It had quite a few different perspectives and while it could've been chaotic with the number of perspectives there was, it actually wasn't. Only thing I wished was that it was always denoted when the perspective would change but because the voices of the characters were so distinct, it was easy to pick up who was speaking. I think this book would be amazing in curriculums about the end of slavery ushering into the reconstruction era.

An important piece of historical fiction in verse, African Town chronicles the last group of Africans brought illegally to America to be enslaved, and the heritage they left by building what is now Africatown, Alabama. It takes some liberties, but overall seems to be very thoroughly researched. Note that this book deals with a lot of very heavy topics such as enslavement, various kinds of assault, and death including that of children. But it is also a story of hope and resilience.

I recommend you read from this reviewer who has some thoughts on the fact that one of the authors of this book is white: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... It's worth considering the issues addressed.

That said, I do think this is an important story and one that should be told. It's a fairly quick read and pretty accessible, so it might be a great tool for teachers who want to cover this material. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

AFRICAN TOWN is one of those books that will stick with you for a very long time. Following the last group of African people to be brought--illegally--to America, this novel-in-verse has a variety of perspectives, all real people from history. I will mention, firstly, that the authors highlighted in the authors' note that neither have direct ties to the group of people within the story, so please be aware of that going in. Additionally within the authors' note, there were many citations regarding information from the book, so it was as well-researched as it could have been, considering the time period and the fact that the individuals were brought over illegally and information wasn't as accurately reported because of that. The book is told in verse and, while I couldn't truly appreciate the formatting because of the ebook, I think it will translate beautifully on the page. There are many perspectives, including those who were brought from Africa and those participating in bringing them over illegally and those who owned them. The white characters are reflective of their time and beliefs and use harsh, racist language and are generally cruel, so please note that before reading. The book follows these characters over many years, from the 1830s through 1901, and you grow very attached to each one. They each have their own distinct voices and even though it's a large cast, each is unique. I appreciated that the authors had a section discussing what happened to the individuals after the book ended as well.
This is an extremely important read and, like I said, while the authors aren't descended from those who built African Town, I believe they've created a powerful, relevant, important story that should be widely read.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me an eARC of African Town.

First of all, this story is a historical fiction novel based on the last slave ship of the Middle Passage. The story begins several years before the American Civil War. It chronicles the events Africans from Benin and Nigeria went through before, during, and after slavery. The story is told in 14 voices, presenting all sides of the story. Although the personalities of the characters are fabricated, the story humanizes these Africans that were thought to be non-human during the time.

I loved learning about the Middle Passage and the journeys several of the 110 Africans went through in their trip to America. It was an eye-opening experience that widened my perspective of American history. Kossola's story is heartbreaking, but his ability to smile through it all gives hope to the reader. I recommend this book to anyone with a desire of preserving cultural history and seeking knowledge of the injustices from the Middle Passage.

I really appreciated that this being a novel written in verse. The 14 unique POVs were very intense (saying interesting doesn’t sound right given the nature of their stories). It never felt difficult to keep up with. It was absolutely heartbreaking reading about everything these people went through during the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Especially the biographical notes and context included at the end. These stories are incredibly important though and I hope this makes it to many more people.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers in connection with the New England Library Collaborative Teen Summit for the eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my thoughts and ratings**

First things first, to be VERY upfront, this book is written by two authors, one of whom is Black, one of whom is white, and neither of whom are descended from the survivors of the Clotilda. So if you're looking for something of that nature, there are some resources listed in the back of the book to peruse. I did not know Ms. Latham was not BIPOC when I downloaded this title and the way that part of this was addressed did cause me to rethink how I felt about the book a little bit. In their author's note, It is addressed that some readers may "question whether this was our story to tell." While I agree with them that it should not be left solely to the victims and descendants to tell this story, I do question the authors saying that we "need to work together and include multiple perspectives to 'get it right'." What perspectives specifically did they think needed to be added to "get it right"? I'm unsure if I believe that it was specifically the place of Ms. Latham to insert herself into this narrative since it is a topic and story that is newly being told and has only recently been brought to light. I understand the authors worked together on other projects, but in this case, I just wonder if that was the right decision. I'm wondering if it will perhaps take away from this story which is INCREDIBLY important. This is not to say that authors who aren't of color cannot tell stories about BIPOC people, but because there are so few titles about this particular story, I wonder if it's the best choice for the first time this topic is being brought to light for many, including many teens, for it to be presented by this specific author who has no ties to the community.

That aside, I think this book presents a topic that is incredibly important and that it will immediately be targeted to be banned because of that fact, along with the fact that it unapologetically portrays almost all white characters (more on that later) as being racist and as having feelings of white supremacy, as would have been the case for that time period. Timothy Meaher and William Foster, particularly, use multiple slurs, engage in shady tricks after the end of the Civil War to keep the Africans characters indebted to them, engage in rewriting of history later in life, and in voter intimidation, as well as many other realistic but uncomfortable situations of the time. I can easily see the Texas Board of Education having an issue upon this being released in January. I'm calling it now that this will be challenged within an inch of it's binding.

The book discusses the circumstances of the last victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. They were sold into slavery by their countrymen from Benin and Nigeria to Meaher, who made a bet back in America that he could smuggle in African people without being punished for it by US law, as it was illegal by this point to bring in new enslaved people. The book is a novel in verse, with each character having their own specific form of poetry (as is explained at the end of the book). You can tell a lot of thought went into the writing style. The book has many POV characters, including Kossola, Abile, Kêhounco, and Kupollee, all of whom were captured under different circumstances and sold to work as enslaved people in Alabama, Meaher and Foster, the two who organized this smuggling and own plantations or businesses, Augustine, Meaher's son who is portrayed as being "sympathetic" to the plight of the Africans, J.B., a sailor who sells out his morals for money, and even the ship herself, the Clotilda. I thought especially personifying the ship gives an added layer as it enables a deeper understanding of the quarters and conditions of the multi-month trip. There are 14 unique voices and they almost all add to the story. Personally, I don't think Augustine's needed to be there and I think it was included to make certain readers feel better about "not all people sharing their parent's beliefs." The authors claim they were encouraged by the work of Dr. Sylvaine Diouf, a historian who specializes in the African Diaspora, but I would've liked a specific citation for this particular characterization as she has written many works. While yes, ideas and thoughts change over generations, this child was growing up in the Deep South, right after the Civil War, and is "sympathetic" from an INCREDIBLY young age and through his adulthood, which feels historically inaccurate to me.

The book starts with Kossola's life back in Bantè (now known as Benin) in 1860 and goes through his capture, enslavement, through the Civil War, the creation of African Town (now known as Africatown and still standing today in Alabama), up through the deaths of Foster and Meaher in the early 1900s. This also includes marriages, the birth of children, the heartbreaking notion that returning to Africa is a pipe dream, and the creation of a new community in Alabama. There is hope and joy along with the heartache and pain. It is a stark portrayal of this time period and a book I hope many people pick up, despite my hesitation about whether this was the right author to tell this story. While I felt respect was shown and it was obviously well researched, I stand by my claim that it might have been better to go with someone who had more connections to the community since this is the first time many of us are hearing this story. I think it's a book that will be talked about for a long time to come and should be read and taught.

African Town by Charles Waters and Irene Latham was both a fascinating and quick read. I really loved that this book was written in verse. I always find that to be such a beautiful way of writing.

I really appreciated the way in which the story was written. There were a ton of different perspectives. At times I got a little overwhelmed with how many people there were. However, each of the characters had such a clear and definitive story that it was easy to follow each of the stories. Some characters were consistent throughout the entire book and others were just mentioned in certain time periods. That helped too.

I did not expect the book to cover as long of a period of time as it did. I am really glad it did. The story just felt more complete. I felt the book was broken up in very nice sections.

I did find the end a little abrupt, but I think this is because I just wanted to keep reading and connecting more with the characters and their stories.

I was super curious and very excited about all the notes, documents, resources, videos, additional reading material and so much more included in the back of the book. As with any historical fiction sometimes items, people, or events need to be left out due to the flow of the book or missing information among a bunch of other reasons. The authour’s included some of the changes they made and the people they left out, which I thought was cool. I appreciated that for those they had more information on that they leaned into that. I was glad to hear they used different sources to try and get a more whole understanding of who the people were and the events that took place.

Overall, African Town was a heart breaking yet inspirational story written in beautiful verse. I felt the different points of view, stories, and characters were well researched and executed. I have already checked out some of the sources included in the back of the book, and I am eager to do more research and read more about this event and these people.

I received an eARC from Penguin Teen through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.