This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
Dickie Erman’s historical fiction novel, The Adventures of Sunny Washington, wastes no words and spares no feelings regarding the attitudes and treatment of black people by whites. So many times, I shook my head in disbelief, beginning with the heartbreak of Sunny’s mother when she realizes her two young sons have been sold off by her master without her knowledge, after which she is sent packing, leaving little Sunny on the plantation. Eventually, the young adult Sunny decides to risk her life by running away and hooking up with two other young slaves on the run. Using the Underground Railroad to reach the relatively free state of Illinois, the three young people manage to elude slave catchers. When an influential black man convinces white leaders to offer black slaves autonomy on an island off Haiti, the trio separates, and a suspicious Sunny, with the help of Quakers, makes her way to Canada. Her choice proves to be the right one.
This story of the trio’s struggles constitutes the primary plot. But it’s the subplot about a good, Christian black slave, Thomas, falsely accused of raping a promiscuous white teenager that hits readers hardest. The injustice he endures in a court where the jury of 12 white men returns a guilty verdict because they are more concerned about explaining an innocent ruling that makes your skin crawl. While children are not the targeted readers, Dickie Erman’s writing style and information are suitable to and would rivet mature tweens. The Adventures of Sunny Washington is a quick, easy read with enough background information to interest but not bore a younger audience. The plot moves quickly, and the characters are relatable. Adults, on the other hand, in light of everyday current events, will wonder just how far society and white supremacists have come since the 1850s.
