(2) YA Beneath the rubble of the recent Haiti earthquake lies a teenage boy, waiting to be rescued. He has had a bleak and violent life but draws strength from the story of the revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture, whose presence seems to visit him. Leisurely pacing allows Lake to develop his unforgettable characters and harrowing settings and lay the foundation for his timely and relevant themes.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2012

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. This book touches on sophisticated ideas of race, politics, and national identity that influenced the life of eighteenth-century Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture. Background information detailing the history of Haiti and international relations between France and England enhance this cradle-to-grave story. Christie's expressively shaded gouache illustrations handsomely decorate a lesser-known chapter of world history. An author's note and "Cast of Characters" are appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Betty Carter