Chincoteague, Virginia, present day. Rain soaks Tessa Scott as she runs from her car to the old, vine-covered property she has been called to survey. She’s too busy to accept a new job, but doing this favor for the grandmother of her childhood sweetheart delays a painful decision she must make about a future with her controlling boyfriend.
But when Tessa finds a tattered journal carefully hidden inside the house’s ancient fireplace, the tragic story of how Ona was ripped from her mother’s arms to live and work in the palatial Mount Vernon, and the heart-shattering betrayal that led her to risk her life and run, has Tessa spellbound. Could discovering this forgotten scandal at the heart of her nation’s history force her to confront her own story? As she races to reach the final page, will anything prepare her for the desperate moment when Ona’s captors find her again? Will it inspire Tessa to take ownership of her own life and set herself free?
A completely heartbreaking tale of love, loss and redemption, based on an astonishing true story from the founding of America. Perfect for fans of Before We Were Yours, Marie Benedict and America’s First Daughter.
My Review: Ona Judge is famous for being President George Washington’s and First Lady Martha Washington’s runaway slave who eventually found freedom. In this historical novel, a young woman named Tessa Scott stumbles across Ona Judge’s diary. Through her diary, Ona Judge tells her own journey to freedom. The journal entries inspire Tessa to find her own personal freedom and happiness.
Before reading this book, I rarely heard the story of Ona Judge. Therefore, this was a very enlightening experience. Ona Judge is a fully fleshed out character. This story shows how Ona Judge is treated like property. She could not even learn to read or write for fear of being punished. I found Ona to be a very sympathetic character, and my heart went out to her. I rooted for her when she embarked on her journey to freedom. Therefore, Ona Judge’s story was very moving. I wanted to learn her fate after she escaped the Washingtons.
Overall, this novel is about injustice, freedom, and choices. I found the historical storyline to be the most interesting and fleshed out. I like how the novel depicts the Washingtons and how they treated their slaves. It gave me a different perspective of President George Washington. Though I liked the paranormal elements, I found the modern storyline to be unnecessary and distracting. I did not get into Tessa’s character. Therefore, it would have been much more profound without the modern aspects. Nevertheless, I found the story to be very well-written. I also liked how it sheds more light on a forgotten figure. Therefore, My Name is Ona Judge is an important and inspirational read! I recommend this book for those who are interested in Presidents and First Ladies! I also recommend this for fans of The Secret Wife of Aaron Burr, Sally of Monticello: Founding Mother, and Chains!
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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