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In this broadly comic account of a tragic story, an enslaved 12-year-old boy is freed by John Brown, mistaken for a girl, and spends the next few years enmeshed in Brown's plans for an uprising to end slavery. Henry, aka Onion, is focused mainly on his own survival and definitely not on heroism. By the inevitable end, his attachment to Brown gives emotional resonance to a death that forced a nation to face its sins.

Very good! This writer is amazing, and again this book doesn‘t disappoint

I loved Deacon King Kong, so I added this one to my book stacks soon after I read Deacon. I loved many things about this book, and McBride's humor is on point. I found, though, that it tended to drag on and become tedious for long sections of the narrative. While I can appreciate his skill and his irreverent humor, it was a less-could-have-been-more situation for me. This was my July #Doublespin @TheAromaofBooks

3⭐️ Really liked the overall story, but felt that it could have used some more editing. I can see why the book won the #nationalbookaward, but felt it was slow in a number of places and it felt at times like the author was trying too hard to make the story more compelling. #2022 #fallreads #fiction #historicalfiction #bookreview #bookstagram #americancivilwar

I really enjoyed this novel that made me discover John Brown, and his fight for the abolition of slavery.
I loved the narrator, Onion, who recounts his time in John Brown's army with a truth-revealing sense of humor.

You can‘t lose with McBride and this lively tale of John Brown‘s wild life is worth picking up.

You can‘t lose with McBride and this lively tale of John Brown‘s wild life is worth picking up.

Finished listening to this one yesterday. I don‘t think I‘ve ever managed to laugh during a book about this time period but it certainly was an interesting, comic voice.

I didn‘t realize there was a movie based on the book now so might have to try to see that too.

I didn't expect this book to be such a lark and a wonderful romp. Pleasantly surprised at how this subject was tackled by the author.

A history that is sadly still relevant today! Well worth reading.