The Price of a Child

The Price of a Child follows Ginnie Pryor, a young enslaved woman in 1855 who escapes from her Virginia owner while in Philadelphia. Upon gaining freedom, she takes the name Mercer Gray and must rebuild her life in the North while grappling with having left her youngest child behind. Set against the backdrop of pre-Civil War America, the novel chronicles Mercer's transformation from an enslaved woman to an abolitionist speaker. Her involvement with Philadelphia's Underground Railroad network and anti-slavery movement becomes central to her new identity and purpose. Through Mercer's experiences, the narrative examines the personal costs and complex moral choices faced by those who sought freedom in nineteenth-century America. The work explores themes of motherhood, sacrifice, and the true meaning of liberty in a divided nation.

Readers call this historical novel well-researched and appreciate the realistic portrayal of 1850s Philadelphia and the Underground Railroad. Many note the strength of the main character Ginnie's emotional journey and internal struggles. Readers liked: - Details of Philadelphia's free Black community - Complex relationships between characters - Incorporation of real historical figures and events - Quality of the writing style Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in the middle sections - Some found the ending unsatisfying - Difficulty connecting with secondary characters - Historical details sometimes overshadow the narrative Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (350+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (30+ reviews) "The historical detail is impressive but sometimes gets in the way of the story," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads reader comments: "The protagonist's inner turmoil feels authentic, but the plot drags in places."

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Property by Valerie Martin The story examines the psychological impact of slavery through the perspective of a plantation owner's wife in the American South during the 1820s.

Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill An African girl is captured and sold into slavery, then chronicles her journey from South Carolina through the American Revolution to freedom in Canada.

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez Four enslaved women who are their masters' concubines gather at a resort in free territory, where they face decisions about escape and freedom.

🌟 Author Lorene Cary based this novel on the true story of Jane Johnson, who escaped slavery in 1855 with her two children by seeking refuge in Philadelphia. 📚 The book's title reflects both the literal price of enslaved children and the emotional cost mothers paid when forced to leave children behind to gain freedom. 🏛️ The story takes place during Philadelphia's role as a vital hub in the Underground Railroad, where the local Black community maintained an extensive network of safe houses and escape routes. ✍️ Lorene Cary was the first African-American woman to serve on the University of Pennsylvania's Board of Trustees and founded Art Sanctuary, a Black arts organization in Philadelphia. 🗓️ The novel was selected as the inaugural One Book, One Philadelphia choice in 2003, uniting the city in reading and discussing this powerful story of motherhood and freedom.