October 13, 2026 by Nancy Paulsen Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
After the traumatic events in The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA, the Hunter family moves to Detroit, Michigan, where the father, Meriweather, has gotten a job at an automobile factory. Meri had been in the 761st Tank Battalion and got a glimpse of what like with less prejudice against Black people was like, and hopes that being in the North in 1946 will provide more freedom for his daughter, Abigail. Abigail is sad to leave her grandmother behind, but Nana gives her her own journal, since Abigail would like to be a writer. The trip out of the South has some dangers, even with the Green Book, but the family make it safely to the home of their friends, Lonnie, Dorothy, and young Caesar. They are able to rent the house next door to Caesar's, and Phoebe, Abigail's mother, gets a job as a maid at the Gotham Hotel, which caters to Black guests, which sometimes include celebrities like Lena Horne. Abigail has some freedom to travel around and get to know her new city, and she and Caesar sell peaches from a tree in the yard, earning some income. Sadly, they are robbed by a boy with slicked down hair who is said to come from Black Bottom, an area with some economic disadvantage. She also goes to church, and spends some time at the hotel while her mother works, people watching and thinking of things to write. When the boy with the slicked down hair shows up in her neighborhood and tries to steal Caesar's bicycle, the incident ends in a tragedy. Caesar and Abigail conduct their own investigation into the event to try to make things better. There are historical notes about the Great Migration at the end of the book.
After the traumatic events in The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA, the Hunter family moves to Detroit, Michigan, where the father, Meriweather, has gotten a job at an automobile factory. Meri had been in the 761st Tank Battalion and got a glimpse of what like with less prejudice against Black people was like, and hopes that being in the North in 1946 will provide more freedom for his daughter, Abigail. Abigail is sad to leave her grandmother behind, but Nana gives her her own journal, since Abigail would like to be a writer. The trip out of the South has some dangers, even with the Green Book, but the family make it safely to the home of their friends, Lonnie, Dorothy, and young Caesar. They are able to rent the house next door to Caesar's, and Phoebe, Abigail's mother, gets a job as a maid at the Gotham Hotel, which caters to Black guests, which sometimes include celebrities like Lena Horne. Abigail has some freedom to travel around and get to know her new city, and she and Caesar sell peaches from a tree in the yard, earning some income. Sadly, they are robbed by a boy with slicked down hair who is said to come from Black Bottom, an area with some economic disadvantage. She also goes to church, and spends some time at the hotel while her mother works, people watching and thinking of things to write. When the boy with the slicked down hair shows up in her neighborhood and tries to steal Caesar's bicycle, the incident ends in a tragedy. Caesar and Abigail conduct their own investigation into the event to try to make things better. There are historical notes about the Great Migration at the end of the book.
Strengths: I was glad that this book centered on Abigail, rather than Gabriel, who drove the narrative of the first book. It was interesting to hear about the father's experiences during World War II, and also to see what jobs were available to Black people in Detroit. Including the dangers of driving in the South was a good way to transition to the North. The feeling of community in the neighborhood, the church, and the hotel was good to see, and I loved that Abigail and Caesar has an entrepreneurial spirit. The incident with the boy who stole from them was sad, but also showcased the strength of the neighborhood some more. There is also a sub plot where Caesar suffers from polio and has to receive treatment at Tuskegee; I wouldn't mind a few new books about the post war polio epidemic.
Weaknesses: I wish the cover had more of a 1940s feel to it. The bright pink and purple are an odd choice. Some readers might enjoy the inclusion of Nana and Abigail's poetry, but I'm not a fan of including this kind of writing, as it slows down the story.
What I really think: There is room for a lot more historical books about the Great Migration. Cline-Ransom's Finding Langston, Shabazz and Watson's Betty Before X, Flake's Hattie Mae Begins Again, and Ireland's Ophie's Ghosts, are all great, but there's still room for books that show the difficulties of moving during this period of history but also showcase some Black joy.
Weaknesses: I wish the cover had more of a 1940s feel to it. The bright pink and purple are an odd choice. Some readers might enjoy the inclusion of Nana and Abigail's poetry, but I'm not a fan of including this kind of writing, as it slows down the story.
What I really think: There is room for a lot more historical books about the Great Migration. Cline-Ransom's Finding Langston, Shabazz and Watson's Betty Before X, Flake's Hattie Mae Begins Again, and Ireland's Ophie's Ghosts, are all great, but there's still room for books that show the difficulties of moving during this period of history but also showcase some Black joy.
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