It's a haunting and wonderful young adult historical ficti0n novel. Mariah is a young woman defined by the idignities of slavery but when the enslaved are freed she joins Sherman's March. A fascinating novel!

I never knew anything about the Civil War nor Sherman’s March but dang this book made me cry, made me feel, and took my breath away. This is not some made up story that is easy to read. None of it is. Thank you Tonya for writing this book.

Crossing Ebenezer Creek was an informative, immersive, and gut-wrenching historical novel. The Union Victory and the Emancipation Proclamation are widely celebrated historical milestones, but so much of what we are taught about that history is white-washed, providing a view of the Union through rose-tinted glasses. This book explores the in detail aftermath of emancipation and the Union march through the South through the eyes of a newly-freed Black girl, Mariah and a Black boy who was born free, Caleb.

Mariah is a survivor who carries many traumas with her but also aspirations and hope. Although she is supposedly free, her new life is far from utopian; the white Union soldiers are a heterogeneous lot in their views of Black people: some are fierce abolitionists, others are apathetic toward the plight of Black people or loudly and unapologetically racist despite being on the side of the war with the apparent moral high ground. Mariah has to reconfigure her life and her family and community in this environment, where the newly-freed Black people are separate from whites and definitely not equal. Caleb provides a source of comfort, stability, and a tangible future for her.

Despite knowing that the book would be dark, I still wasn't prepared for the emotional devastation wrought by the horror and tragedy of crossing Ebenezer Creek. Not every story has a happy ending, and this horrible piece of history should serve as a reminder that the Union was not pure and virtuous, and that Black people deserved better than what they received. No one should be left behind the way Mariah was, and I hope this sort of event never repeats itself.

Fabulous history novel based on a real horrific event that occurred during the end of the Civil War. The characters are compelling and the tragedy is completely appalling because of the betrayals and the racism it reveals on both sides of the war and in the army.

Such a hauntingly beautiful story about the cost of war, freedom, and the hope for a brighter future!

I actually wasn’t sure what to expect when I requested this title as an advance Epub. Pretty much all I knew about it was a slave historical fiction. I love historical fiction, but I haven’t read much set in the civil war. I had a few problems that kept this story for being a hit for me.

First thing that has absolutely nothing to do with the story is that I think my digital edition had been corrupted and a lot of the text had additional words that seemed out of place in the sentence and other times there were weird accent marks/punctuation that made it hard to read. I downloaded it twice and it was still there. I know I should have reached out for a resolution but I thought I could push past it, which I did but I think it affected how I viewed the story.

Overall I think Bolden created a captivating insight into a true event that I had never heard of before. I’m not sure whether this was just a terrible gap in my education, or whether other readers feel the same way and I needed some supplementary background. There was some references and history noted in the back of the book that I wish I had read before the story because it gave me a deeper connection with the characters that I didn’t have during the story.

This is a very short story (under 300 pages), and it was difficult to connect with the characters. We get a sense of Mariah’s pain through flashbacks but I felt like I was dropped into her story and it was a bit jarring. Caleb felt a little more fleshed out to me, but not by much. I wish we get a little more understanding about Ebenezer Creek, because it came at the very end of the book and is only a few pages long. It made sense to me that it was title because that was the historical event, but there was a lot of lead up and then it was over, followed by a short epilogue.

I think Bolden’s effort to shed light on a lesser known historical event works well, but only as a supplementary story unless you’re already familiar with the facts of the crossing.

Heartbreaking!! I think if I had realized this was based on an actual event I wouldn't have been so surprised and saddened by the ending - it is still sad but I would have been more prepared for the reality of it.

The book follows Mariah, her brother Zeke, and other former slaves who follow Sherman's troops as they travel through the south. The book focuses primarily on Mariah and Caleb's blossoming love and Mariah's struggle especially with her new freedom and anger and resentment over her lives in slavery.

As I was reading the book I felt that it really focused on the evils of slavery - and there were many - as seen through Mariah's eyes. But the story just sort of went from one revelation to the next along the journey with very little else to carry it. The ending was tragic and I am glad that I learned about this event in history though

Mariah and her younger brother Zeke have just been liberated by the Yankees traveling as part of Sherman’s march. She meets Caleb, a black man who is given respect and rank in the army, and she begins to learn what freedom could mean.

This was an incredible story made even better by the historical facts that were included. You could tell that Bolden researched slave narratives and events. There was a great balance of real occurrences and narrative interpretation.


There are mentions of rape (very vaguely referred to) and some graphic descriptions of how slaves were tortured or killed, so this book would probably lend itself better to upper middle school and high school classes.

CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK by Tonya Bolden, Bloomsbury USA Childrens, May 30, 2017, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)

Tonya Bolden’s Crossing Ebenezer Creek is a Civil War story that will stay with you long after you read it.

It opens the day Mariah and her younger brother, Zeke, are freed from slavery. Mariah has been waiting and planning for this day for a long time. And when the time comes, she wastes no time gathering their things and joining Sherman’s march through Georgia.

With the help of Caleb, a free black man who works for one of the generals, Mariah begins to see the possibilities of the future. But even as she begins to dream, Mariah is reminded of the brutalities of slavery. Everyone has scars — visual and hidden — and not all Yankees thinks slaves should be free.

As the army marches toward Ebenezer Creek, it becomes clear that emancipation doesn’t always mean freedom.

Prior to reading Crossing Ebenezer Creek I had never heard of the tragedy at Ebenezer Creek during which hundreds of freed slaves drowned trying to escape the confederate cavalry.

Author Tonya Bolden brings the events leading up to the tragedy to the fore in vivid detail. Her haunting prose immediately draws you in. Mariah and Caleb’s experiences, though fictional, are based on truth, and the rawness in which their stories unfold demands you keep reading.

Crossing Ebenezer Creek is hard to read. Stories like this often are. But it’s well-worth reading more than once.

CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK by Tonya Bolden is an extremely powerful work of historical fiction. It takes place in 1864 during the American Civil War and Sherman's March to the sea. The union soldiers free the slaves at the Chaney plantation, including Mariah, her brother Zeke, and an older woman named Dulcina. They, in turn, are given a ride and protection of a sort from Caleb, a free black man working on foraging and supplying the Union Army. This book has some gentle, quiet moments and plenty of horrific stories of cruelty from previous masters. What was most shocking, however, was the final section which is based on a little-known disaster at Ebenezer Creek. Well-researched, I appreciated the author's notes about sources and the origin of the laws involving 40 acres and a mule for newly freed slaves.

US History and American Studies classes or maybe our Integrated Global Studies School (IGSS) could be interested in tying this historical fiction to some current day concerns. One example that comes readily to mind is the controversy over statues commemorating Civil War soldiers and the recent speech by New Orleans' mayor. Another is the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis which artist Abdalla Al Omari has tried to personalize for world leaders. I am curious to hear students' reactions and definitely love the idea of pairing CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK in literature circles with other stories of refugees – like Ruth Sepetys' Salt to the Sea or perhaps McCormick's Never Fall Down. Tonya Bolden's well-written and engrossing novel received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, School Library Journal and others.

Links in live post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/civil-war-massacre-launched-reparations-debate/2014/09/11/ab269406-349c-11e4-9e92-0899b306bbea_story.html?utm_term=.4269979410b1 http://www.npr.org/2017/05/26/530257495/new-orleans-mayor-delivers-message-on-race-in-monuments-speech
https://www.buzzfeed.com/anupkaphle/this-syrian-artists-depicts-world-leaders-as-refugees?utm_term=.br9PAZYyb7#.jhLB1l8Gdy
http://treviansbookit.blogspot.com/2016/02/salt-to-sea-by-ruth-sepetys.html

A hauntingly beautiful and heartbreaking portrayal of a shameful, but little-known event in US history - to describe the event in detail would be to spoil the story, so I suggest you go in ignorant and learn more about the event after in the author's notes. If you're a history buff, or a fan of YA romances, or a fan of historical YA romances, then this book is definitely for you. Bring tissues, though.

Based on a true story, Crossing Ebenezer Creek was the civil war book that I have been looking for and dreaming about all my life. The main audience for this book is middle grade, or ages 11-14, but I think anyone interested in the topic and up for a little first love horror tragedy, then you should dive right in.

This is an individual telling from the point of view of a group of slaves freed by Yankee soldiers. After being freed from their cruel master, they join the march on, eventually to Savannah, GA. Mariah and her brother Zeke, both slaves, jump in with hot Caleb, also a black man but a free one, driving a wagon for the Union. This makes for a grim backdrop for a love story but the author pulls it off, and for the next couple weeks Mariah and Caleb heartbreakingly begin to dream about what it would be like for them, together, after this is all over.

There were many times during this story that I honestly had tears in my eyes. What they endured!! The descriptions of what the treatment of slaves was like, however brief, were still breathtaking, and not in the Grand Canyon kind of way. To know that people treated other people the way they were treated, that their lives were actually owned by someone else, it is still so saddening even when knowing it beforehand. Her story was sad and violent and I am 100% sure very common.

Since I had no idea what had happened at Ebenezer Creek, I went in not knowing and was blindsided by the end. There was so much foreshadowing in the story though, there was no way you couldn’t guess something ominous was coming eventually. In the end it was hot Caleb that I thought about as I lay away after finishing the book. The amount of suffering in this book is tremendous.

The two main characters, almost star-crossed lovers, force you to instantly fall in love with both of them. As a reader I found myself hopeful for them in this crazy and contradictory times in their lives. So happy to be freed from slavery but knowing that the enemy is hot on their tail, not knowing if that could all come to an end in any instant. These characters had never had any hope before, and here they are wait for it to be taken away, like some cruel joke where the rug is jerked out from underneath you.

Honestly the only thing that I didn’t like about the book is that the characters had accents, and the author wrote in the accent, even when the character was thinking. Sometimes I had to sound things out in order to know what they were talking about. Some may find that a deal breaker but it wasn’t for me, because those places weren’t abundant.

This book is what I personally call a “gateway” book, one that has you asking Cortana things that you don’t know about and then looking up other books that are related and adding them to your groaning TBR.

I hope that kids will read this story in school, first love and a horror story, history and a tragedy, all rolled into one great yarn. 4/5 stars.

*I was given this book for free in exchange for a honest and fair review.* Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity!

Three and a half stars: A powerful book that exposes readers to the horrors of slavery and a little known tragedy that occurred at Ebenezer Creek.

Mariah has long prayed for the Yankees to come and deliver her to freedom. That day has finally come, and Mariah is ready. She quickly gathers her few possessions and Zeke. She is pleased when a handsome black man named, Caleb, offers her a ride in his wagon. Mariah and Caleb are marching with Sherman's men across the South, delivering other slaves to freedom and looking for a new beginning. As they travel, Mariah realizes how fragile freedom is, and she is hesitant to even dream of the future. Will Mariah realize her dreams of freedom?
What I Liked:
*Crossing Ebenezer Creek is an informative and interesting read that exposes younger readers to the horrors of slavery while shedding light on a little known tragedy that occurred at the end of the Civil War when a group of recently freed slaves was caught in between the armies. I liked learning about this event, and I am curious to know even more.
*I liked the cast of characters. Mariah, a young slave girl, has had a hard life. One of constant abuse, hard work as well as plenty of sorrow. She is overjoyed when the Yankees finally deliver her to freedom. Her story was tragic and heartbreaking, yet she never let her past ruin her. She is courageous, kind and determined. I loved her strength. Caleb, a freed black man, has also seen his fair share of heartache, but he too has a big heart and a gentle soul. Captain Galloway, a true historic figure, was amazing. He was a man who was a gentleman. He treated everyone fairly, with kindness and compassion, and he was not cruel or prejudice. I also loved many of the secondary characters such as the twins and Zeke.
*I enjoyed learning more about Sherman's march. Most people who study the Civil War are familiar with the looting and the destruction in the South in order to bring the Confederacy to its knees, but there is also more to the story such as the deliverance of the slaves and their march with Sherman. *This book focuses on the freed slaves and their journey with Sherman's men. I have to admit, this was all new to me so it was a learning experience.
*The author exposes some of the horrific abuse the slaves endured. It was hard to read, but necessary as we all need to be aware of the horrible things that the African Americans endured as slaves. It is a dark and ugly part of history, but one we need to take note of lest we not forget.
*Even though this book covers some difficult topics, the author refrains from going into gory detail, thus it makes it appropriate for a younger audience. I actually see this more as a read for older middle grade readers and younger teens.
*I gleaned a great deal of information about the events at Ebenezer Creek from the author's note. She includes some terrific information that made me curious to know more.
And The Not So Much:
*While I enjoyed the story, I never felt like I was completely immersed in the story. There was something about the way it was written. It lacked the depth and detail that I love in a good book. For me, the story felt cursory and it brushed over so much. It felt like it was written for a younger audience, especially with the way the chapters were set up. The book wasn't really divided into chapters, it had sections with headings that described the events in that section, which again made me think it was better suited for a younger audience. I wished for more descriptions and connections to the characters.
*I was disappointed in the coverage of the crossing at Ebenezer Creek. It occurs at the very end of the book and it isn't more than a few pages. I wish the author had taken far more time to explore this little known tragedy. She includes more information in her author's notes about the event than in the book. It would have been a far richer read if she had taken the time to incorporate this information into her story, and it would have been far more impactful.
*Overall, I felt a lack of connection with the story because it wasn't well developed. The book comes in at 233 pages. This could have been far better if there had been more detail especially when it came to the tragic events at Ebenezer Creek. Again, I got the feeling that this was better suited for a younger audience.

Crossing Ebenezer Creek is a book that exposes younger readers to the horrible tragedy of Ebenezer Creek and the atrocities of slavery. I liked the characters and learning more about the march of the freed slaves. I just wished that this book had more depth and detail. As it is, this is a good book to share with older middle grade readers and younger teens because it is informative and a way to start a discussion.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

BookFilter review: Mariah has been freed...but her troubles aren't over by any stretch. In this young adult novel, Tonya Bolden shows great restraint in describing the plight of men and women, old and young who have been enslaved but suddenly taste a bit of freedom when Yankee soldiers turn up and plunder the estate they've been trapped on. Some are too enfeebled or scared to leave (or simply can't bear the thought of losing all possibility of tracking down loved ones by abandoning the one place they could be found). But Mariah is young, attractive, smart and strong -- she takes her little brother Zeke and attaches herself to the Union troops. These are Sherman's men and they're headed deeper into the South, but the soldiers are the best bet for protection Mariah has. On the surface, this is a budding romance as a Union black man Caleb befriends her and they begin a tentative romance. But Holden brings out a great deal of complexity. Not all (or even most) Union soldiers care about ending slavery. Mariah and others are under constant physical threat from rebel soldiers harassing the Yankees to the Yankee soldiers. The once enslaved people have their own stories to tell -- the field workers resent the house worker and they all despise the drivers -- those who used their power over others to curry favor with the master and take their pleasure. They're suspicious of Caleb because he's always been free, a fact Caleb hides for a while. And our heroine Mariah has a dreadful desire for revenge when brought face to face with the driver who had her father killed. One more shock is ahead for those who know the name Ebenezer Creek and the awful tragedy (or rather, crime against humanity) that location evokes in the Civil War. A solid, deceptively simple work that gets across the tangled complexity of what it means to be freed as opposed to what it means to be free. -- Michael Giltz

Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden.

Mariah and her little brother Zeke are freed from slavery and the life they have only known. Mariah for years yearned to be free from her Master and when suddenly freed, joins Sherman's army on their march through Georgia. Mariah meets a free black, Caleb and begins a friendship with a possibility of a new free life together. This story is based on a real life event which is not known to many, until now.

Ms. Bolden draws the reader into this true event. The reader quickly gets drawn into the character Mariah's journey on the march and her struggles to her new found freedom on the road. The friendship between Caleb and Mariah builds throughout the story. Teen readers will be drawn into the budding romance of Caleb and Mariah. Ms. Bolden writes in such a way that the readers can start to feel like they are along for the journey throughout Georgia. The ending is shocking but done tastefully.

This read makes the civil war feel a little more personable and might spark additional study of this event and the personal effect of the civil war on the persons of this time period. This book would be a great discussion on how the war touched both sides of the war and the impact upon the free black and slaves. Hand this book to fans of historical fiction or readers who enjoyed Laurie Halse Anderson's Seeds of America series.

Note: I was given an electronic copy via Net Galley and the publisher, Bloomsbury USA Childrens for an honest review.

in depth


Crossing Ebenezer Creek is a short, richly detailed, soul-rending book that should be included in every middle school curriculum (or high school, but I think it'd go along well with To Kill a Mockingbird, which like everyone reads in middle school). Written by a black woman historian, it covers an event that is unpublicized and largely absent from discussions of the Civil War: the massacre at Ebenezer Creek, when hundreds of slaves marching with Sherman's army were left to drown and die when a Union general removed a crucial bridge from Ebenezer Creek, leaving them to choose swimming across the deep, turbulent waters, or being re-enslaved by the Confederate soldiers on their heels.

When I started the book, I didn't realize it was talking about a real event, but the authenticity was palpable. Bolden's background is obvious. Sometimes, you read books about history and they throw in a few historical terms, some real life people. But other books feel like they were plucked from that time. The whole worldview and atmosphere reflects the period. That's Bolden's novel. It's a slice of black culture in the era of slavery. It's young adult but could easily appeal to middle grade readers, and has enough depth to interest adults.

It's also incredibly poignant. While it does tell a story of black pain, it doesn't fetishize it or glamorize it. No one dies to teach anyone a lesson. There are no gratuitous details. It's simply a simply written, compelling account of fictional characters experiencing a real historical event. Because I didn't know about the massacre before I started, I was shocked at the abrupt turn of events. Angry. Horrified. Bolden follows up the tragedy with an author's note that explains the historical fact of the massacre, plus other facets of that era portrayed in the book. The note helps reduce the potential for the massacre as shock value by frankly discussing the reality of the past.

In alternating chapters, it tells of Mariah, a newly-freed teenager caring for her developmentally delayed younger brother, and Caleb, a free Union soldier who exists in the uncertain space between slaves and white people. They interact with other slaves and white soldiers, some cruel (even some of the higher status slaves) and some learning kindness (but don't worry, it's not about the redemption of white soldiers). There are also real historical figures, like the magnanimous Captain Galloway who treats the slaves with humanity (but doesn't set himself up as a savior) and was, in real life, instrumental in promoting the welfare of free black people. Plus the nefarious General Jefferson Davis (the Union one, not the Confederate one), who is no less evil than the slave owners.

It's a book that doesn't flinch away from the realities of the subject matter. I wish it could have been longer, a little deeper. Because it's so short, I felt there were characters, relationships, and plot threads that could have been more deeply explored. Some events, like them actually meeting Sherman, are alluded to but happen off-screen; they could have been important moments fleshing out the characters and their world. It felt rushed at times. However, it's a powerful read nonetheless--not wholly enjoyable, because it can't be, but worthwhile and affecting. It's the kind of book that could be a classic someday, and well deserved.

in a sentence

Crossing Ebenezer Creek is the unflinching, poignant account of fictional heroes experiencing a real-life historical tragedy.

The story itself was very heart-wrenching and tragic. However, the story felt rushed and the book was mostly told not shown. Despite these flaws, it teaches children the powerful message of courage and freedom. Thus, I recommend this to fans of Numbering All the Bones, Red Moon at Sharpsburg, and Which Way is Freedom.

I found this story intriguing and sad. After all Mariah and Caleb had gone through, I wanted a happier ending, but war does not often offer that.

Tonya Bolden’s latest is a simple and devastating novel based on an atrocity that took place near the end of the American Civil War, as General William Tecumseh Sherman’s Union Army closed in on the city of Savannah, Georgia. Newly freed slaves joined the Union soldiers on their march, men, women, and children who viewed the US Army as protection from Confederate forces eager to to return them to slavery.

CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK begins as Mariah flees along with her younger brother Zeke when Union soldiers arrive at their former owner’s plantation after the fall of Atlanta. Amid the chaos of the harrowing trip south, she and other newly freed Blacks help the soldiers as best they can, preparing food, treating the wounded, anything they can do to assist the Army and further their own dreams of freedom. Caleb is driving a wagon for the Army, and he is immediately drawn to Mariah. Although he was raised a free man, Caleb is fleeing demons of his own, memories he keeps shielded by his calm and methodical ways.

Bolden focuses on the community of former slaves on the march, rather than the Union Army or its military goal. Many of the freed Blacks are living with horrific memories of physical torture and psychological abuse they experienced at the hands of slave owners. Bolden describes their accounts of whippings and amputations and other abuse in spare and haunting language. Twin sisters tell how they were sold away from their family as small children and recall how their mother helped them memorize their family members’ names and where they were from before they were taken away, hoping that one day they might be reunited.

Over the days of their journey, Caleb and Mariah allow themselves the beginnings of hope that they may find happiness together. After all, they travel with Captain Galloway whose every action toward the former slaves is protective and cordial. They realize that not all in the Union Army feel the same. One of the most feared is General Reb, real name Jefferson Davis, the same as the president of the Confederacy, who hates them and takes every opportunity to terrorize the freed slaves in the caravan.

Finally all that seems to stand between these marchers and their future hopes is Ebenezer Creek about 20 miles from Savannah, a wide tributary whose waters run deep. Caleb, Mariah, Zeke, and all the others wait for the Union Army members to cross their hastily built bridge and listen to fire from approaching Confederate forces coming closer and closer.

I was born and raised in Georgia and consider myself well versed in its history, but the story of Ebenezer Creek is one I’d never read before. Tonya Bolden has done extraordinary research using historical sources that detail a shameful incident at the close of the Civil War. Books like CROSSING EBENEZER CREEK, however painful they may be to read, help us better understand our nation’s complex history, one in which blue Union uniforms may mask shades of gray.