A Kirkus Best Book of the Year “A poignant and hopeful glimpse at the past for today’s curious readers.” —Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor author From the award-winning author of Eliza’s Freedom Road comes the powerful tale of a slave girl’s triumphant journey to freedom with her family during the Civil War. Twelve-year-old Callie Wilcomb and her family are enslaved, and the Civil War gives them hope that freedom may be on the horizon. On May 23, 1861, the State of Virginia ratified their vote to secede from the Union. In Virginia, a window was opened where the laws of the land no longer applied. Because of the Contraband Law, enslaved people no longer had to be returned to their owners, granting them a measure of protection and safety. With the possibility of Callie and her family escaping their bonds forever, Callie is eager to learn and become educated and hopes to teach others one day. Through hardship and loss—with love and strong family ties—Callie proves that freedom is in her stars.

ジャーディン・ノーレンは、南北戦争の荒波の中、法制度の隙間で揺れ動く少女の魂を鮮烈に描き出しました。本作の白眉は、教育を通じて自らの知性を切り拓く「内なる自由」への渇望です。不条理な現実の中で言葉を学び、未来を綴ろうとするキャリーの姿は、人間としての根源的な尊厳を私たちに強く訴えかけます。 家族の絆と喪失を糧に、運命を自ら掴み取る彼女の旅路は、読者の心に消えない希望を灯します。歴史の重層的な深みと瑞々しい抒情が融合した本作は、自由とは精神の解放であることを、圧倒的な情熱をもって証明しているのです。