First published 2011
Six-year-old Prince Broteer Furro rules in Dukandarra, Guinea, until slave traders tear him from his homeland. The ship's steward buys the boy and renames him Venture. The vessel carries him across the Atlantic to Narragansett. Venture must navigate the brutal realities of bondage in colonial New England. He labors under masters who control every aspect of his existence. Yet Venture refuses to accept permanent enslavement. He works relentlessly to earn money and purchase his liberty. His struggle extends beyond personal freedom. Venture fights to secure the release of his wife and children from bondage. Marilyn Nelson transforms this historical figure's journey into a powerful exploration of one man's determination to reclaim his family's dignity and autonomy in a system designed to deny both.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Dukandarra, Guinea, Narragansett, New England
Period: Colonial Era, 18th Century
29 pages · Hardcover · Lyme Historical Society, Incorporated, Floren
Content warnings: slavery, violence