First published 2013
Fleeing his violent master, young slave Henry Shackleford pretends to be a girl to hide his identity as he joins the legendary abolitionist John Brown on his fateful raid of Harpers Ferry. As the deadly confrontation with pro-slavery forces escalates, Henry, nicknamed "Little Onion," must decide whether to risk everything for the cause of freedom.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Harpers Ferry (W. Va.), United States
Period: John Brown's Raid, 1859
480 pages · Paperback · Riverhead Books
Content warnings: slavery, violence