To simply say this is an awesome story is an understatement. It grabbed me from hello and never let go. What a great historical fiction, following the life of Maryam, taking us from Africa to the United States and living the life of a slave girl. I have read many slave books, but never one as descriptive and emotional as this one. The feelings and emotions this story pulled out of me was remarkable. The ending was STELLAR!!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I hope this one turns into a best seller, it should be.
I personally thank the publisher for the privilege to be offered this ARC from Amistad Books and NetGalley for my unbiased review – This one comes in with the highest 5 stars I can give.

A beautifully written story of a woman once called little bird by her family in west Africa, but who was captured by slavers at age twelve and put on a ship for the Americas. She would be given different names throughout her long life, but Maryam is the name we will hear the most.
Maryam had quite a journey from Africa, to various Islands and eventually to the USA where she was bought by a Plantation owner in the south.
On her travels she was able to acquire a very needed skill, that of healing and midwifery. Because of her skill she was more of an asset to her owners and was allowed a bit more freedom than most.
Maryam is a very strong individual, who knew what she wanted and would do what it took to achieve that goal.
So many sad and happy moments throughout the story, where I rejoiced with her happy moments, and felt anger at her sad ones.
The author gave us a good look at what it was like to be a slave and the harsh conditions they were meant to endure, but also she gave us a lot of very strong characters that made changes in others lives.
I will have to read more by this author as she has a beautiful writing style.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amistad for a copy of this book.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. What a fantastic historical fiction read about a woman captured in Africa, sold into slavery. I loved every piece of this novel, the characters, the plot, the dialogue, and all the emotions! Maryam is one tough, intelligent, and resourcful character. This novel is well researched and filled with historical details! FIVE STARS!!!!

This story follows Maryam from West Africa in the 1700's where she was captured and taken on a slave ship at a very young age. It follows her journey as she played different roles as she grows up and finds her place in the world. She's been exposed to many languages and cultures which are useful to her. She also learns midwifery and several medical techniques.

To me, the flow of the book and the timeline was a little clunky and less developed. There are some potential triggering events/descriptions in this book too which may disturb some readers.

Little Bird, or Maryam Grace, was born in West Africa and captured in the mid 1700's by slave traders, she lives well past 100 and has quite a life story. Told as a retrospective of her life to a census worker in 1870's Ohio, she relays her childhood, her capture, her freedom before slavery and training as a midwife. Through her years she is re-captured and enslaved, but her midwifery skills create a different life for her. She finds and loses her life and her family repeatedly, in this well written novel filled with historical presence.

The tragedy and horror of enslavement, as well as individual love and survival, are intertwined in this raw, emotional, and memorable historical fiction story. Even if you feel that you've read a good amount of historical fiction about slavery, you should read this book: Maryam "Momma Grace" is a powerful and unforgettable character.

Readers should be aware that depictions of rape and child death are included in the story.
Librariabns/booksellers:

Many thanks to Amistad and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I just finished this book and I am speechless. This book carried so much weight in the story of Maryam. All I can say is WOW. What this character went through in life. I am just flabbergasted by the entire story and even more so by the ending. I knew as soon as that ending started where the story was headed and wanted to cry. This book is wonderful.

This was an amazing book. When I think about all the people who were enslaved, who had father and mothers and husbands and wives and children ripped away from them, and they never knew what became of them, it is just heart wrenching. More people need to realize this. That generations of people suffered in this way.
Wonderful book.

Epic! My goodness, that's the only word I can think of to describe this book. Epic!

From the description, I thought it was mainly about slavery - and it really is, but there is so much more in this story! This is a book that makes me marvel at the author's gifted storytelling and the way she crafts the storylines together. It follows the life of a young girl in Africa, kidnapped from her village and sold into slavery and her eventual freedom. The adventures her life has are incredible and so detailed you are right there with her. It's a powerful story!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Such a great sorry of Maryam Grace, how she struggled not only in slavery and being stolen from her country in Africa, but in her time around the Caribbean with pirates. It showed the expected atrocity of slavery and the sorrow and defeat that brought, but also how love could be found in the midst of it. And it showed the determination and strength she and so many other slaves had despite the horrific experiences they endured.

There were times the writing got a little wordy and I had to go back and reread the sentences because it lost me a bit, but overall it was a great book with a unique story line.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A book about slavery. And the human condition. This is a thought-provoking, beautifully told story that I really enjoyed. I recommend it.

Things Past Telling by Sheila Williams is a beautiful and touching historical fiction that is sweeping, epic, and quite unique in its content that it kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

What a beautiful and memorable story. I absolutely loved reading the epic life and experiences of Maryam Prescilla Grace. It was fascinating, gut-wrenching, and completely epic in so many ways.

Momma Grace experienced so much, but yet was so limited…it was truly humbling and inspiring to read a story about a strong woman…a fighter…and a woman with heart and soul. Through her life and story, we can learn so much. It was stunning, haunting, and emotional. Spanning a century across different lands, times, and continents, the author does an amazing job bringing this story onto pages for us to learn from, love, enjoy, and remember.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Amistad Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/15/22.