First published 2010
York walks beside the Corps of Discovery as they push into uncharted western territory. As William Clark's enslaved body servant, he carries supplies, hunts game, and tends fires while the expedition maps routes to the Pacific Ocean. Native tribes marvel at his dark skin, some believing he possesses spiritual powers. York proves his worth as translator, diplomat, and skilled outdoorsman, yet remains property rather than explorer. He watches white men earn fame and land grants for discoveries he helped make possible. The journey forces York to confront what freedom might mean when he has tasted respect from strangers but returns to bondage among those who know him. Moses gives voice to the forgotten man whose strength and knowledge helped open the American frontier.
Genres: historical-fiction, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, forgotten-man
Setting: Pacific Ocean, American Frontier
Period: 19th Century
128 pages · Hardcover · Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Content warnings: slavery