I liked it! It was amazing learning about this overlooked pivotal moment in Black American history and the people who led the charge towards freedom. I just wish some parts had been executed better but overall, it's a marvelous read. Would definitely recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for an advanced copy.

"Freedom Was in Sight!" is an engaging and skillfully written graphic history that provides a modern and up to date analysis of the Reconstruction era in American History. Focusing on events in the District of Columbia and a few other key sites on the Eastern seaboard this book maintains a tight focus on the development of Black communities and institutions in after the Civil War until approximately 1900. The illustrated format makes the the core information of the book easy to absorb. The value of the book is augmented by inclusion several essays, a comprehensive timeline and several other useful materials. Of particular note is the set of curated primary sources that allow beginning students to read personal accounts of the aftermath of slavery and the Civil War. Finally, this book is written at a level that should be accessible tom most middle school students, but the depth and quality of the writing an research behind it ensure that is will be useful for more advanced students up to at least the University level, not just as a historical account but also as in introduction to the study and writing of history.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, University of North Carolina Press, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars

I’ve discovered that I love learning history in graphic form, so when I saw that this book was coming out, I was thrilled to have the chance to get to read it. I haven’t read a whole lot about the Reconstruction era just after the Civil War, so I found this read fascinating—especially considering the later Civil Rights Movement and everything else that followed.

Unfortunately, this book ultimately wasn’t for me, which makes me sad, because I really appreciated the history this book tells—it isn’t a topic that’s covered much. But I can’t entirely agree with parts of the worldview presented here. I absolutely agree that we need to treat everyone equally, but I don’t believe it’s right to put one group of people down in order to raise another group up. We all make mistakes, and we are not healthy as a society if we don’t acknowledge them. But there is also a time to move on and try to do better, leaving history as history.

As far as the artwork and storytelling style, I loved it. I felt it was difficult to keep track of all the historical characters represented in the story—I frequently flipped back to try to remember who this or that person was, so it felt like I spent some time jumping around between different people’s stories. Ultimately, this is a story of faith, hope, perseverance, and determination—and people who wouldn’t take “no” as an answer. I enjoyed the historical side of the story, and loved learning about the many courageous individuals whom I’ve never heard of before. I’m just sorry I couldn’t agree with all the conclusions this book came to, which brought my overall rating down.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

A little too text heavy for my taste, but overall fine as an educational graphic novel. The art style was not to my preference, and the fact that it comprises only about half of the book's total contents was unsatisfactory. The inclusion of the timeline, primary sources, and further reading was great, but I felt that needing to include so much written information in a supposed graphic novel left me questioning the point of the "graphic" part.

What a fantastic historically accurate graphic novel. It tells the story of Black Americans during The Reconstruction era in the Washington D.C. area. While we are introduced to well known figures at the time, we also meet Emma Brown, the first African American teacher in Washington's public schools, and William Calvin Chase, longtime editor of the Washington Bee.

Thank you NetGalley and University of North Carolina Press | Ferris and Ferris Books for an advanced copy.

I am very excited to see this piece of research on the post-Civil War and long Reconstruction era. It's a very complex period of American history, with significant change, that's generally less understood or familiar than the Civil War itself. Freedom Was in Sight is a graphic novel-style history that captures the change, challenges, and possibilities of this era, in a way that I hope will be engaging for readers.

While the art is gorgeous, I found the graphic novel a difficult format to navigate in this particular book. The narrative quickly shifts between principal figures and jumps around through time in a non-linear fashion. I appreciate that this format allows readers to cover a lot of ground quickly, but I had trouble following it.

This is a fantastic informational graphic novel. The illustrations are striking and the amount of text is just right. Recommended for school libraries. This is a good additional text for classes learning about reconstruction.

An informative and historically accurate book. The artwork is a distinct style that works incredibly well with the subject matter. This book looks at a period of history that is often overlooked and is a great way to learn something.

Kate Masur’s “Freedom Was in Sight: A Graphic History of Reconstruction in the Washington, D.C., Region” is a remarkable history text in graphic novel format. It delves into key pivotal moments of the Civil War and Reconstruction era, a critical period in American history. Masur's engaging storytelling brings to life the struggles and triumphs of African Americans fighting for their freedom and rights. This was a meticulously researched book and would be a great way to introduce a topic of historical significance to schools. I think presenting nonfiction works in a variety of formats appeals to a wider range of readers especially the younger generations. The artwork (Liz Clarke, illustrator) itself is both vivid and evocative, capturing the emotional intensity and the significance of the period. Through these powerful visuals and poignant narrative, this graphic novel provides a nuanced exploration of the complexities of freedom, resistance, and justice. It's a must-read for anyone interested in American history and the ongoing struggle for civil rights of black people in this country.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author Kate Masur and the University of North Carolina Press - Ferris and Ferris Books for a digital copy of the graphic novel #FreedomWasinSight in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wasn't sure I liked the format at first, with the kind of framing device to take the reader through different historical periods. However, it turned out to be a fantastic way to cover a lot of information in a way that was easy to understand. The events were organized and the writing was pretty concise, with about half the book devoted to other sources so interested readers can learn more from primary sources. Learning how to use primary sources is so important, and this book was thought-provoking and interesting. It would work well for many students as a supplement to help put history in context. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

This was a fascinating exploration of American history. I loved learning about what happened during this era through people’s personal stories of heartbreak and triumph.