The Disappearing Man [Kindle Edition]

I'm a fan of historical fiction, particularly when it's based on true stories. I also have an interest in the struggles against racism, past and present. As a child I was impacted by the book, "Black Like Me," and I love the gritty reality in the poems of Langston Hughes. With this in mind, I picked up "The Disappearing Man," although with some hesitation. Could the author, a man connected to the Veggie-Tales, pull off a credible and gripping full-length novel, one set over 160 years ago and involving no animated characters?

The answer: Absolutely! Doug Peterson takes us into the story of Henry "Box" Brown, a slave in Richmond, Virginia, who makes a daring escape attempt by allowing himself to be shipped north in a wooden box. Henry was an amateur magician, and with the help of a few others, he gave himself a chance to "disappear." This daring feat is mentioned in history books and archived diaries, but few Americans are aware of the tale. Peterson rights that wrong. Alternating chapters between the 1849 escape attempt and the earlier years of Henry Brown's enslavement, the book picks up speed. I got hooked on the storyline in the past--the abuses, the romance, the friendships--only to find myself hooked again on the harrowing portions dealing with Henry's imprisonment in the box. Henry's foes are set on finding him before he reaches freedom, and each successive chapter, like a sprinter's pounding feet, propelled the plot toward its climax.

I read the book in three sittings, and when I was done I went online to check out some of the history of this fascinating man and the somewhat different slave-system in urban Virginia. I also enjoyed the book's inclusion of various Negro-spirituals from that time-period. Overall, it is more than just fast-paced entertainment; it is an eye-opening and educational reminder of the importance of grace, acceptance, and equality. Even as the lives of many slaves blew away like windswept leaves, those leaves spread seeds and life that continue on into today.

Unlike the previous reviewer I'm not a huge historical novel reader but based on a friend's recommendation read this book. Wow! Wasn't sure after I read about the author but it was extremely well done. Easy to read and rich in details. Never really knew about the city lives of slaves being that different from the plantation life. How confusing it would be to have your best friend to be a free black while you were a slave. I love the way Mr. Peterson went past the "box" story to really bring this man/family alive for me. Kudos Mr. Peterson and to Karwyn for making the recommendation!

Loving novels, I can't say that non-fiction is my first choice. That is, unless it is a good story, and then the story had better be written well. I had my suspicions about "The Disappearing Man," by Doug Peterson. Do you dare take a VeggieTales man who's a Larry-Boy expert seriously? Let's just put it this way...like God told Henry Brown, "God and get a box, and put yourself in it." Consider this book YOUR box as you see through the eyes of friends who cared more than simply about living life.

In the time of the Underground Railroad, slavery could be brutal. Henry Brown was one of those slaves, and he'd felt the crack of a whip a time or two. But when it came down to it, he wanted to be with his family. And to be with his family, he went to extremes with the help of friends. He allowed himself to be put in a box and mailed from Richmond to Philadelphia. And being a man who loved certain tricks, this could also be considered the ultimate disappearing act! When all was said and done, Henry Brown would no longer be a slave.

This really did read like a great novel. It was really written well, and it wasn't over or under done in any way! That's what I find amazing. Some authors get the experience of writing non-fiction, and ruin it for the reader by running with it for way too long. That isn't the case here. The case here is great work told about an amazing man in Henry Brown. READ IT!!!