James' Journey
The son of a slave owner turns abolitionist and becomes a conductor on the Underground Railroad.
As fierce slavery debates are dividing the country, James Waynewright breaks family tradition and travels to New York to study. Having grown up on a tobacco plantation in Virginia he never questioned how his family’s wealth is generated. In the beginning he is shocked by what he feels are radical ideas of abolition and feels that Northerners have been subject to propaganda. As time goes on, James begins to understand their point of view, and he realizes that he no longer condones slavery.
James falls in love with Katherine Greenfield, an upper class New Yorker and an abolitionist. Due to unforeseen circumstances they hastily marry and return to the plantation. Intending to free their slaves, James and Katherine begin leading double lives in order to help runaways that are escaping north, at the same time having to navigate their neighbors’ increasing suspicion and the slave laws of their state.
James’ Journey is the realization that the foundation of the world he lives in is immoral. The paradigm that he has accepted all his life comes into such conflict with his epiphany that he becomes willing to risk everything to do what is right.
Reviews for James's Journey
Goodreads
Great book for a book club. Always kept my interest. I rated it high because I felt it had a different perspective on cultures of North/south. It reminded me of the division we have today in our country. No spoiler needed here to tell you the abolitionists win!
Full of suspense and intrigue
Amazon
If you think that you learned everything about slavery and the abolition movement in school, think again. The author's first book "James' Journey" presents a remarkable slice of history of from one of this country's darkest of times. Not only will you come to care about the protagonists but you will discover many little known fascinating features of the underground railroad system. The author's thorough research along with the suspenseful storyline had me "flipping through the Kindle pages". I eagerly await her next book!
Hope there are more to come from this author
Amazon
Beautifully written story I didn't want to put down. Thought provoking on many levels.
Goodreads
While this book is set in the US just before the civil war, it's remarkably timely. People were completely divided on the issues and did not understand each other at all. What I loved the most about this book is that the main character shifted sides after having been for slavery when he grew up. You get a deep insight to his thought-processes (and thus what both the slaveowners and the abolitionists thought, both about slavery and about each other.)
It's an emotional read. The end took my breath away and I had to put the book down to just sit with it for several minutes. Brilliant.
Book of the Year 2015
Editorial Review
Followers of Anne Rice and lovers of indie fiction:
James' Journey is a true rarity in the fictional realm, and it was my favorite read of 2015. If you happen to need a good edifying, engrossing book during your holiday downtime, please consider checking this fantastic title out. For me, it was the one book that increased my unending respect for the moral bravery of the abolitionists, and those intrepid smaller heroes of our world, unnoticed because they are sometimes more pacifist/less flashy about their heroism. (Not that warriors aren't courageous too, they're a different type of bravery.)
While not explicitly connected to Christmas, it certainly has the type of deep ethical storyline of hope/courage in ethical action in the light of disillusioning darkness.
I cannot recommend this book enough! We have very few stories about the abolitionists or any other types of pacifist heroes/heroines, as such this is again a real rarity. - Book of the Year 2015, A Bibliophile's Reviere
Question one’s own values
Amazon
This is a timeless story that makes you think about how people think and what it is like to question one's own values.
I for one had not read any books about slavery since middle school social studies. Helen Lundström Erwin's approach is completely different than any text I've read on the subject. The mindset of someone that actually and truly believed they were helping the people they owned never hit home for me before reading this novel. This is a timeless story that makes you think about how people think and what it is like to question one's own values.
Layered structure of slavery
Amazon
This book gave me a deeper insight of just how methodical and layered the structure of slavery was. I saw that murky position of those (probably many), that deep down inside knew that slavery was not right, but went along with it as long as they did not see it at it's most ugliest and vile form. I was also grateful at seeing and understanding just how determined, creative and steadfastly brave, the abolitionist of these times were. Ms. Helen Lundstrom Erwin did an amazing job of tapping into the psyche of both sides and the middle! Excellent read!!!
A captivating tale of social and personal awakening
Goodreads
Thought Provoking!
The tides of social pressure push us toward our fate, however, the brave, the courageous, the free thinkers forge their our fate, create their own destiny. James is such a man. In the face of injustice he has the courage to listen and learn from the voices of dissension and change the course of his own history and, in a small way, the nation's. In this work of historical fiction, Helen Lundström Erwin has woven a captivating tale of social and personal awakening. Her charters are heart-warming and realistic and move the reader to self introspection. Whom among us are willing to jump from the pot of tepid water before being boiled alive, like the proverbial frog, and stand against injustice?