Book Review: Steering to Freedom by Patrick Gabridge

Author: Patrick Gabridge
Title: Steering to Freedom
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: ebook
First Published: May 2015
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

A troubled country, a courageous heart, and the struggle for freedom. 


In May 1862, Robert Smalls, a slave and ship’s pilot in Charleston, South Carolina, crafts a daring plan to steal the steamship Planter and deliver it, along with, the crew and their families to the Union blockade. After risking his life to escape slavery, Robert faces an even more difficult challenge: convincing Abraham Lincoln to enlist black troops. Based on a true story, Steering to Freedom tells the powerful and inspirational story of a young man who becomes the first black captain of a US military ship, while struggling to navigate a path to freedom for himself, his family, and his people. 

I was not aware that this was based off a true story while I was reading this. I guess I stink at reading summaries lately, because this is the third book that has thrown me a loop. Not a bad thing, but I'm getting lazy with the summaries, I just glance at it and start it.

Anyways...

This was good. It was a nice story and I had never heard of Robert Smalls before, but I have limited experience with the water battles with the American Civil War, most of my reading and knowledge relates to the land war, so it was a nice change to this genre. The author did an excellent job with not only bringing the world to life, but the characters to life as well. I felt so bad for Robert, but he was so brave. Kuddos to him for not only stealing a Confederate ship and freeing himself, his family, and others, but for enlisting as the first black captain of a US military ship as well.

There were a few dry spots, but the majority of the time I could barely put down my kindle. Its so hard to write this review, because there is so much I want to say, but I worry about spoilers. Of course I looked up the real story and the man was amazing. I am surprised I had never heard of him in the past.

The ending was good. Since I had no knowledge of the real story, it took me by surprise and I actually really liked it.

In the end, I really liked it. It was good. I recommend it for those that like historical fiction based on truth. I would love to see this turned into a movie or TV show. :D Out of five stars, I stamp this 4 stars.