When the 1834 Emancipation Act is announced to the enslaved people at Barbados' Providence plantation, it seems like cause for celebration. But they quickly realize it’s being replaced with “apprenticeships” that are no different, and they still aren’t allowed to leave. Rachel decides to run away, determined to track down the five children that were taken and sold throughout her life.

What a remarkable, heartbreaking, and somehow hopeful book! This is the kind of epic historical fiction that really sets into your bones and changes the way you look at the past and its relationship to the present. Eleanor Shearer beautifully contemplates the meaning of freedom, particularly to those that have spent a lifetime enslaved, and shows the echoing effects of families ripped apart. This is a stunning debut, and I hope the first of many books to come from Shearer!

✨ Review ✨ River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer

I was so excited about this book from the moment it came on my radar, and it did not disappoint. I'm adding this to my favorite books of 2023 list!

The story follows Rachel, an enslaved woman in Barbados, who escapes her plantation just as the Emancipation Act of 1834 takes effect. She starts on a journey across Barbados and beyond to find her children, Mary Grace, Micah, Thomas Augustus, Cherry Jane and Mercy, who were sold and taken away from her throughout her life.

This book so excellently shows how Emancipation often didn't translate to freedom, and shows this in the context of the Caribbean. It also really beautifully shows a mother's love for her children as she seeks and seeks and seeks out her children she has lost.

Shearer's writing is beautiful and profound as she reflects upon freedom, love, family, power, race, and more. I loved this quote, as an example of the power of her writing. Rachel realizes the parallels between the trials of her journey and her plantation work: "The physical sensations were the same, but the goal was her own. The act of compelling her body to exert itself for a purpose of her choosing, rather than for the profit of a master, was exhilarating. The punishing heat and sharpness of hunger could not erase the fact that she was free. She would still suffer from weariness, from thirst, from the corners of her vision blackening with dizziness as they went on and on and on. But she suffered on her own terms."

I loved this book even more after reading the author's note and understanding the connections to Shearer's own family and histories of enslaved families in the Caribbean. I was fascinated by the process a woman like Rachel could have taken on to find her children again, and so my historian brain and reader brain both equally loved this book.

Highly highly recommend!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: historical fiction, 1834 Caribbean
Location: Barbados, British Guiana, and Trinidad
Pub Date: Out now

Thanks to Berkley and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy and physical copy of this book!

Book review: Find family, love, healing in 'River Sing Me Home'
ASHLEY RIGGLESON For The Free Lance–Star

It is hard to think about the themes of Eleanor Shearer’s début novel, “River Sing Me Home” and not think of Toni Morrison’s famous book, “Beloved.” Like Morrison, Shearer looks at slavery and mother-child relationships, but the similarities end there.

Based partly on a person from the historical record, “River Sing Me Home” follows an enslaved woman from Barbados named Rachel. As the novel opens, the slaves on the Providence Plantation have just found out that the king has set them free. But there is a catch. They must continue working on the plantation as apprentices for six years. Later and without a lot of prior planning, Rachel finds herself running away from the plantation. She is soon captured and brought to the house of an elderly woman who helps her begin to heal. And Rachel takes stock. She has five living children, all of whom have been sold away from her, and she feels compelled to discover their fates. Thus begins a journey that will take Rachel away from Barbados to British Guiana and Trinidad. But the quest is as much internal as it is external, and Shearer pens a novel about redemption and acceptance as well.

“River Sing Me Home” perfectly straddles the line between literary and historical fiction. Shearer’s writing is clear with occasional moments of lyricism. But the novel really excels in its pacing. It is a fast read that kept me captivated from start to finish. And while I do not usually like historical fiction, I loved this novel. I looked forward to reading it every day, and there was little I wanted to do other than return to its pages. It is also wise beyond measure.

That said, there are also a lot of coincidences in this text, and there were some improbable scenes. And although the author’s note at the end of the book does somewhat account for this, I found myself having to sometimes suspend my disbelief.

Some readers might remember I had the same complaint about Charmaine Wilkerson’s novel, “Black Cake.” But I think readers who loved that novel will also love “River.” Shearer, like Wilkerson, has penned a truly memorable novel about family, love and healing. And while the horrors of slavery are quite apparent, those in need of a little hope would do well to pick up this début.

This review was originally printed in The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, VA,

Wow. This was breathtaking. Once again, I am amazed by this being a debut novel. Shearer brings such nuance and impressive writing, that it is hard to believe this is the first one she has written - it is just so well done.

When Rachel, on her plantation in Barbados, learns of her freedom she is ecstatic. Until she realizes that this freedom is yet another name for captivity. And so, she runs. Where and why, she initially doesn’t know. But then she realizes - she has to find her children. As a mother, I cannot fathom the depths of Rachel’s pain - the amount of children she had and then the five that were sold. This is the story of Rachel learning who she is outside of captivity, while also reaching into her past to find her missing children. It is redemptive and utterly beautiful. I cannot recommend enough.

Slave families cruelly torn apart by being sold forms the basis of this absorbing story based on the author’s extensive research. In the 1830’s, even though Great Britain ended slavery, the slaves were then forced into apprenticeships. Rachel runs to free herself and start a journey to find the children that were sold as soon as they were old enough to work. Traveling across Barbados, to Trinidad, Rachel maintains hope that she can find her multiple sons and daughters. This is so well written, but also such an important work to understand the brutality and oppression of slavery. I agree with the author that by studying the past, we can learn to make a better future. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This books opens with a bang. I was fascinated by this time period- slavery is over, but what happens now? How are people meant to rebuild from scratch? Our main character doesn't intend to find out- she flees the plantation and sets off to find her 7 children. I do think the pacing fell off a bit after the introduction and I found my attention wandering. The emotion wasn't quite to the level I would have liked it to be, but that said, this was a strong debut.

Quick and Dirty⁣
-historical fiction⁣
-BIPOC author ⁣
-a story of slavery⁣
-powerful motherhood themes⁣
⁣
Synopsis ⁣
Rachel has suffered long enough. Intent on being free she takes the biggest risk of her life. She’s not certain it will work, but all she has left is hope. Her children, taken from her one by one, are somewhere out there. And she’s determined to find them and take back what slavery has stolen from her. But will she be ready for what she finds along the way in her search for her children?⁣
⁣
Musings⁣
What a powerful novel! This hit me hard and rocked me to my core. The profound grief and pain the author conveys in Rachel’s story is palpable. I felt like I was witnessing the story, walking alongside Rachel as she traversed unfamiliar lands in search of her missing pieces. I’m not a mother, but having just lost mine I can appreciate the connection between mother and child, the central theme of the novel. There is no other bond like it. No one will ever be able to fill that hole in my heart, and like Rachel, I notice her absence daily. I adored the audiobook and highly recommend anyone thinking of reading this book (which everyone should) to consider the audio version. The narrator adds authenticity through her gentle speech, use of accents, and emotive inflections. I cannot think of a more fitting book to recommend for Black History Month! Do yourself a favor and read (or listen) to this beautiful book!

I requested this book for background reading for an early-reader First Impressions Program on BookBrowse. It was a great success with our member-reviewers scoring an average 4.7-stars. See link for the reviews.

This story was very good, but at times it was obvious it was written by a debut author. A sad, sad story—we follow Rachel, a slave who escapes her plantation in Barbados with a goal of finding her five children who were sold away at young ages. The book had the same sense of adventure as American Dirt without the grit, anger, and heart pounding action. I felt satisfied by the book’s ending but I was not moved to tears. Still a solid Book of the Month selection!

Heartbreaking, but also a story of survival in the face of almost insurmountable odds. As slavery is outlawed in England, it is not so in the Caribbean, with owners forcing their slaves to stay as apprentices. For Rachel, finding her lost children is the most important thing in her life, and she runs to find her sold-off children. Touching and sensitive, recommended reding.

Short synopsis: Set in the 1830s right at the emancipation of slavery on the Caribbean islands. A slave turned “apprentice” Rachel runs from the plantation in hopes of finding her 4 kids who were sold or taken to different plantations.

My thoughts: This was an easy 5 star read for me. Filled with hope, mercy, perseverance, and the true love of a mother. My heart is broken into a million pieces, and stitched back up, this left me in tears and snuggling my own children closely.

I especially loved the authors note at the end. While this is a work of fiction, it is based on true historical situations. Based on real families trying to find each other. The true terror of how slaves were treated, even after their supposed emancipation. Forces to work under the new name of apprentices rather than slaves, still forced to work in fields doing heavy manual labor for no pay.

I loved the strength and determination of Rachel, what an amazing MC.

Read if you love:
* Historical fiction based on true events
* Love of a mother
* Having your heart broken
* Strength and bravery

Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for the early copy of this book. Do yourself a favor and grab it now!

This was one of the best books I have read in ages! Imagine a novel that grips your entire being both physically and emotionally throughout the story. Every aspect of this story was so well crafted, from the scenery (I was always there with the characters), to the credibility of the storyline, to the characters. I cannot find any fault but highly, highly recommend reading this story that takes place at the end of slavery in the Caribbean. This book shares strength of character, love, fear, determination but mostly, hope.

I can't wait to read this author in the future…what a marvelous debut!

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: Following the Emancipation Act or 1834, a slave owner in Barbados announces to his slaves that they are “free” but are now his indentured “apprentices”. With a desire to know what has become of her surviving children, Rachel goes on the run to try to find them. As she makes her way across several islands, she is driven by the knowledge she will never be free until she knows what has become or her children.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: This stunning debut from Eleanor Shearer is a story of a mother’s love and the lengths she would go to find her children, be it dead or alive. Rich in Caribbean history from the shores of Barbados, to British Guiana and later Trinidad, the author brilliantly weaves the history of Rachel and her family’s separation into her current quest to find Mary Grace, Thomas Augustus, Cherry Jane, and Mercy.

While I’m familiar with the lengths slaveholders went to in order to keep their servants indentured post emancipation, seeing the devastation through the eyes of this family took understanding. The uprisings from those still in captivity, the mutilation and murder of others, further brought home the danger and brutality Rachel and many other slaves, including her loved ones, faced.

Based on stories passed down to her from her own relatives’ history, Shearer does a beautiful job at keeping this very complex and nuanced time in history very simple - a mother‘s desire to figure out what has become of her children. Heartbreakingly, this splitting of families is still being felt all along the Caribbean and so while the story takes place over 150 years ago, the reverberations are felt even to this day.

I listened to this one on audio and it was a very easy listen. The narration was excellent and helped to further my connection to not only the characters but to the setting. Per the author’s note, Shearer chose to maintain the core of the Caribbean dialect, while also using language that would be accessible to those outside of it. As someone who knows a tiny bit of Patois from my Jamaica husband, I really enjoyed the mix of dialects and found it a pleasure to listen to.

Read if you like:
•stories about motherhood
•caribbean history
•character driven stories
•emotional reads
•learning while reading

Thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for my gifted advanced copy and PRH Audio for my ALC in exchange for my honest review.

RIVER SING ME HOME by Eleanor Shearer begins in 1834 when Rachel, an enslaved woman in the Caribbean, learns she will be forced to continue work on her plantation despite the Emancipation Act. Seeing freedom just out of her grasp, Rachel flees the plantation and begins a treacherous journey to find her five children who were taken from her. Where were they sold? Are they still alive? Have they found their own freedom?

Rachel’s story, as mentioned in the author’s note, is inspired by a real woman who walked across the Caribbean in search of her missing children. This is a beautifully written book that reads in such a unique way, that is both fast-paced and gently meandering, almost like the river Rachel travels on. The settings—from the Caribbean, to Barbados and Trinidad—are painted vividly and with great care. This is truly a story about the power of a mother’s love. Rachel’s emotions are written in such a visceral way that I felt incredibly close to her. She is a strong and cerebral protagonist, with such satisfying growth and development. There are so many intriguing characters who each tell their own stories as they help Rachel on her journey. I love the way the author celebrates the oral tradition that enabled enslaved people’s stories to live on. It was also interesting to see the inclusion of the indigenous people of the area and how they were effected by colonization. The author’s extensive research is clear on every page, and makes for a harrowing and moving read.

After the end of slavery, Rachel finds herself an "apprentice" of her former plantation master—she has to work for him for another six years. Contemplating what this new "freedom" means, she decides to find her children. Rachel travels from Barbados to British Guiana and Trinidad and embarks on a grueling journey to reunite with her five children sold to different plantations over the years.

A raw and powerful debut, RIVER explores loss and hope through a mother's quest to find her children. What moved me the most was the kindness Rachel received and reciprocated, especially the compassion and quiet strength Black & indigenous people showed towards each other. Another standout of RIVER is Shearer's profoundly moving and nuanced examination of the meaning of freedom and how it takes on different forms for various formerly enslaved people.

While the grief and loss in RIVER are palpable, the story also emphasizes hope and its healing & redemptive power. I'm a bit embarrassed to say, but I cried so much reading this book I was dehydrated and developed a mild headache 🙈 Nonetheless, RIVER is a phenomenal debut that I hope will get more attention.

Congrats to Shearer on this remarkable book; I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Shearer is the granddaughter of Caribbean immigrants to the UK. She is of mixed race and while she makes her home in the UK, she has travelled extensively in the Caribbean. This is her debut novel. It is an historical fiction set in the Caribbean starting in 1834 on the day the King has announced an end to slavery. The slaves at a plantation in Barbados are not able to celebrate though, as they are quickly informed that they are now apprentices and must stay on and work for six more years without pay. Rachel has had enough. She decides to run and is driven by the need to find her children...the five who survived and were sold to others. Her search takes her to other areas of Barbados, British Guiana and Trinidad. The book is not always an easy read but it is a fabulous recommendation for readers interested in black history and who want to expand their area of knowledge while still being entertained.

Reading is knowledge. Reading is power and this is a very powerful book, one that makes you sit up and draws your attention. It has an important story in it. It's about love. The ultimate love. A love story between a mother and her children. Her children that are no longer with her. Children she carried within her body for nine months and then they were stolen from her in the aftermath of slavery. Some stayed with her longer than others, none loved any less because of the time they stayed with her. The day after the King declares all slaves are free, the Emancipation Act of 1834 in Barbados goes into effect. We follow one woman's journey to find her children as she and her companion's trek across the Caribbean. A child's pain becomes the mothers. Will she be able to find all of her children, or will she be caught by the slave catchers for a reward?
Memorable! Once you read this it will stay with you!

Pub Date 31 Jan 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

RIVER SING ME HOME is a BEAUTIFUL and poignant debut chronicling one mother's journey to find her children after the emancipation of enslaved people in the Caribbean. I can say with absolute certainty that this is a must-read for lovers of historical fiction.

I am so thankful I read this book, particularly because I have not read anything like this set in the Caribbean. The writing is haunting, beautiful and poetic, and the journey is one that I will remember for years to come. Something I loved about this book outside of the obvious (the beautiful story, the great writing, etc.), is how we really get a deep dive into the fear Rachel feels as she searches for each of her children. I am glad this was written from the perspective of just Rachel, vs. getting different perspectives, because this allows the reader to truly jump into Rachel's story whole-heartedly.

I can't wait for this book to be out in the world soon so more readers can read and appreciate it. Thanks so much to Berkley and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early.

- really descriptive and powerful story and prose
- important voice
- i learned and felt so much
- slow but engrossing in the way a great historical fiction is
- would’ve loved more povs included from other characters on the journey with rachel

If you’re a parent, imagine the love you have for your children. Next, imagine that one by one your children are taken from you. Some die. Others are stolen away. You have no choice. In River Sing Me Home Rachel is an enslaved woman in Barbados who experiences just that. She has no choice. In 1834 the Emancipation Act takes place, however, she is still not free. Enslaved people are still held captive as apprentices. Rachel’s heart is telling her to walk away, to go find her children. When she does, she finds herself on a journey to other islands, to other places that she had never experienced. It is a heart rending journey that demonstrates both the power of a mother’s love and the inhumanity and brutality of slavery. Accompany Rachel on her quest. You will have no regret.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing for the invitation to read this arc. Thanks to NetGalley for being the vehicle. All opinions are my own.