I read this several years back (under the title of Book of Negroes, which I can't seem to find in Goodreads?!) and it moved me deeply. I learned so much; for example, I was not aware there had been pre-existing slave trade in Africa. I've just finished reading [b:1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created|9862761|1493 Uncovering the New World Columbus Created|Charles C. Mann|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327900945s/9862761.jpg|14754158], and that book adds to the picture by explaining that the word "negro" is a spanish word and was used to differentiate between the blacks who could traded and those who were free.

Even having read these two books, I find it almost impossible to imagine what it must feel like to be a person who can be bought and sold.

I'm grateful to Hill, because this book got me as close to understanding slavery as I can ever get. He writes with sensitivity, grace, and knowledge. He wrote about hard issues and difficult facts (I had no idea how much prejudice former slaves were faced with in Canada - that broke my heart) and he did it very thoughtfully and with great respect. I find him to be a wonderful storyteller!