Review of "Song Yet Sung" by James McBride

Set in the years just before the Civil War, "Song Yet Sung" tells the story of Liz Spocott, a young runaway slave in Maryland who dreams of a future where slavery is a thing of the past, but where African Americans still face a world of woe. She is captured by a criminal gang led by a brutal woman named Patty Cannon. Liz helps her fellow captives escape, but in addition to Patty Cannon's gang, her "owner" is also after her. As Liz meets other runaways, she shares her troubled visions with them. It all creates a tapestry of hope and fear as the modern world is reflected in the sins of the past.

Read by the talented Leslie Uggams, "Song Yet Sung" takes us on a journey through American history that we'd rather not face. But there is hope in understanding, and author James McBride excels at basing his stories on historical figures in a way that accentuates the issues he presents. It's a mix of tragedy and triumph that shows the best in us as well as the worst.