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London 1800. Jupiter is young, black, living at the African Academy in Clapham with other boys from wealthy Sierra Leonean families. His life is a mixture of privilege and dispossession as he copes with the cruelty of his teachers, the rivalries and tensions among his schoolmates, a sense of duty towards his younger brother Robert and guilt over the death of another brother in Africa. Throughout, Jupiter strives to maintain his dignity, his Christian faith and pride in his roots.
But beyond the relative ease of Clapham lies another London, where poor black communities struggle for survival along the squalid reaches of the Thames. A world where Jupiter’s education and background mean nothing and skin colour alone determines fate. Into this world his younger brother Robert vanishes, and Jupiter is obliged to follow …
But beyond the relative ease of Clapham lies another London, where poor black communities struggle for survival along the squalid reaches of the Thames. A world where Jupiter’s education and background mean nothing and skin colour alone determines fate. Into this world his younger brother Robert vanishes, and Jupiter is obliged to follow …
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Reviews
Historical fiction at its very best
A gripping historical thriller ... a fascinating and exciting tale with a well rounded believable and immensely likeable hero
Masterful storytelling with a constant undertone of menace
'Historical fiction at its very best. ... intelligent, engaging, and exciting.'
'Exciting and tense ... Super stuff.'
'Masterful storytelling with a constant undertone of menace. Well written, it succeeds as a story about a young man who finds himself, as much as a story about slavery.'
'... provides plenty for readers to think about - the questions it raises are still pertinent today.'
Exciting and tense ... brings early nineteenth century London to life in a vivid, earthy and very realistic way
A truly fascinating and historical adventure
'Exciting and convincing ... Highly recommended.'
'Authentic ... gripping historical thriller.'
'... perfect for children ... who are interested in social history and adventure.'