Set in antebellum Virginia, a poor, white Southern girl encounters a girl who is a runaway slave. The two young girls dare to escape their painful lives, in this lively, moving narrative.

The story is narrated by a 12 year old white girl who is so abused by her single father and two brothers that she doesn't even have a name. She is just "girl." When her hateful family is out hunting one day, a runaway slave about her own age show up hoping for a bite of food. "Girl" ends up running away with Zenobia, and two become fugitives together.
The entire book is the story of their running away, making a few friends, and encountering a few enemies.
The story is well told, and gives a good sensation of slavery and the time persiod, and Lark (as Zenobia names "girl") and Zenobia are sympathetic, likable characters. I would have liked a little more in the way of plot development. ( )

Hard to follow at times. And her language changed in the middle? Not s big fan but intriguing story!! ( )

Decent work of historical fiction, but way too violent for the target audience. ( )