The Secrets of Mary Browser by Lois Leveen

Set in the Civil War era, this is an eye opening story of how Black people, free and enslaved, lived and coped. Mary was born in slavery in Richmond, Virginia, freed, educated up North, associated with groups working to free slaves, helped with the Underground Railroad and eventually ended up right back where she started before she was freed. As the Civil War evolved she became more and more dangerously involved as a spy for the Union, as did her husband who was born free. Richmond citizens were starving as blockades prevented foods from coming into the port. Her relationship with her former owner is enlightening. It surely would have been like that. Black people had a curfew every night. Even White people who spoke and fought to free slaves didn’t want Black people to have equal rights. A great story. 9/10.