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I came across this book on the shelf as part of one the librarian's displays for Black history month.
There is a television show by the same name, which I hadn't realized was based on this novel.
This was a captivating and emotional story. Whitehead masterfully depicts the underground railroad as a literal locomotive rumbling beneath the southern states with the purpose of capitalizing on the premise that "all men are created equal."
Although it's a noble intention, it's a criminal enterprise in light of the Fugitive Slave Act. Those who ride it's rails endure peril after peril.
The central character is Cora, a passenger on the train whom we ride along with as she seeks her freedom.
We also hear the stories of Cora's mother, another escapee, and grandmother, who was stolen from Africa.
I would definitely recommend this one. Whitehead wrote in such a way where even though it's a creative historical take, he preserves the plight and struggle of African Americans.
It's an important perspective, because it's ignorant to pretend that over a century of injustice, bondage, and disenfranchisement wouldn't leave it's footprint on the African American community to this day.