Awards
2013 National Book Award for Fiction
Synopses & Reviews
From the bestselling author of
The Color of Water and
Song Yet Sung comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown’s antislavery crusade — and who must pass as a girl to survive.
Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When John Brown, the legendary abolitionist, arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry’s master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town — with Brown, who believes he’s a girl.
Over the ensuing months, Henry — whom Brown nicknames Little Onion — conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive. Eventually Little Onion finds himself with Brown at the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 — one of the great catalysts for the Civil War.
An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride’s meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
Review
"A magnificent new novel by the best-selling author James McBride...a brilliant romp of a novel....McBride — with the same flair for historical mining, musicality of voice and outsize characterization that made his memoir, The Color of Water, an instant classic — pulls off his portrait masterfully, like a modern-day Mark Twain: evoking sheer glee with every page." The New York Times Book Review
Review
"You may know the story of John Brown's unsuccessful raid on Harpers Ferry, but author James McBride's retelling of the events leading up to it is so imaginative, you'll race to the finish." NPR
Review
"A boisterous, highly entertaining, altogether original novel by James McBride....There is something deeply humane in this [story], something akin to the work of Homer or Mark Twain. McBride's Little Onion — a sparkling narrator who is sure to win new life on the silver screen — leads us through history's dark corridors, suggesting that 'truths' may actually lie elsewhere." The Washington Post
Review
"Absorbing and darkly funny." The San Francisco Chronicle
Review
"A sizzling historical novel that is an evocative escapade and a provocative pastiche of Larry McMurtry's salty western satires and William Styron's seminal insurrection masterpiece, The Confessions of Nat Turner." Booklist (starred review)
Review
"McBride delivers another tour de force....A fascinating mix of history and mystery." Essence
Review
"A superbly written novel....McBride...transcends history and makes it come alive." The Chicago Tribune
Review
"An irrepressibly fun read." The Seattle Times
Review
"A story that's difficult to put down." Ebony
Review
"Both breezy and sharp, a rare combination outside of Twain. You should absolutely read it." Kathryn Schulz, New York Magazine
Review
"As in Huck Finn, this novel comes in through the back door of history, telling you something you might not know by putting you in the heat of the action....It is a compelling story and an important one, told in a voice that is fresh and apolitical." Minneapolis Star Tribune
Review
"Exhilarating....McBride makes what could be a confusing tale clear and creates suspense even in a story whose end is well-known. Beneath the humor lies sympathy for Brown and all those whose lives were caught up with his." Columbus Dispatch
Review
"A sizzling historical novel that is an evocative escapade and a provocative pastiche of Larry McMurtry's salty western satires and William Styron's seminal insurrection masterpiece, The Confessions of Nat Turner." Booklist (starred review)
Synopsis
Winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Liev Schreiber and Jaden Smith
A Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Oprah Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year
Winner of the Morning News Tournament of Champions
"A magnificent new novel by the best-selling author James McBride." -cover review of The New York Times Book Review
"Outrageously entertaining." -USA Today
"James McBride delivers another tour de force" -Essence
"So imaginative, you'll race to the finish." -NPR.org
"Wildly entertaining."--4-star People lead review
"A boisterous, highly entertaining, altogether original novel." - Washington Post
From the bestselling author of The Color of Water, Song Yet Sung, and Kill 'Em and Leave, a James Brown biography, comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown's antislavery crusade--and who must pass as a girl to survive.
Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When John Brown, the legendary abolitionist, arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry's master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town--with Brown, who believes he's a girl.
Over the ensuing months, Henry--whom Brown nicknames Little Onion--conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive. Eventually Little Onion finds himself with Brown at the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859--one of the great catalysts for the Civil War.
An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride's meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
Synopsis
Look out for McBride's new book, Five-Carat Soul
Winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Liev Schreiber and Jaden Smith
A Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Oprah Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year
Winner of the Morning News Tournament of Champions
-A magnificent new novel by the best-selling author James McBride.- -cover review of The New York Times Book Review
-Outrageously entertaining.- -USA Today
-James McBride delivers another tour de force- -Essence
-So imaginative, you'll race to the finish.- -NPR.org
-Wildly entertaining.---4-star People lead review
-A boisterous, highly entertaining, altogether original novel.- - Washington Post
From the bestselling author of The Color of Water, Song Yet Sung, and Kill 'Em and Leave, a James Brown biography, comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown's antislavery crusade--and who must pass as a girl to survive.
Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When John Brown, the legendary abolitionist, arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry's master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town--with Brown, who believes he's a girl.
Over the ensuing months, Henry--whom Brown nicknames Little Onion--conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive. Eventually Little Onion finds himself with Brown at the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859--one of the great catalysts for the Civil War.
An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride's meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
Synopsis
Winner of the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction Soon to be a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke
A Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Oprah Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year
Winner of the Morning News Tournament of Champions
"A magnificent new novel by the best-selling author James McBride." -cover review of The New York Times Book Review
"Outrageously entertaining." -USA Today
"James McBride delivers another tour de force" -Essence
"So imaginative, you'll race to the finish." -NPR.org
"Wildly entertaining."--4-star People lead review
"A boisterous, highly entertaining, altogether original novel." - Washington Post
From the bestselling author of The Color of Water, Song Yet Sung, Five-Carat Soul, and Kill 'Em and Leave, a James Brown biography, comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown's antislavery crusade--and who must pass as a girl to survive.
Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When John Brown, the legendary abolitionist, arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry's master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town--with Brown, who believes he's a girl.
Over the ensuing months, Henry--whom Brown nicknames Little Onion--conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive. Eventually Little Onion finds himself with Brown at the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859--one of the great catalysts for the Civil War.
An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride's meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
Synopsis
Soon to be a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction
A Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, Oprah Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year
From the bestselling author of The Color of Water, Song Yet Sung, Five-Carat Soul, and Kill 'Em and Leave, a James Brown biography, comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown's antislavery crusade--and who must pass as a girl to survive.
Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When John Brown, the legendary abolitionist, arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry's master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town--with Brown, who believes he's a girl.
Over the ensuing months, Henry--whom Brown nicknames Little Onion--conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive. Eventually Little Onion finds himself with Brown at the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859--one of the great catalysts for the Civil War.
An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride's meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
Synopsis
Coming in August 2020 as a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke and Daveed Diggs
Winner of the National Book Award for FictionFrom the bestselling author of Deacon King Kong (an Oprah Book Club pick) and The Color of Water comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown's antislavery crusade--and who must pass as a girl to survive. Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1857, when the region is a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces. When John Brown, the legendary abolitionist, arrives in the area, an argument between Brown and Henry's master quickly turns violent. Henry is forced to leave town--with Brown, who believes he's a girl.
Over the ensuing months, Henry--whom Brown nicknames Little Onion--conceals his true identity as he struggles to stay alive. Eventually Little Onion finds himself with Brown at the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859--one of the great catalysts for the Civil War.
An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride's meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
Synopsis
Now a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke and Daveed Diggs
Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction
From the bestselling author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, Deacon King Kong (an Oprah Book Club pick) and The Color of Water comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown's antislavery crusade--and who must pass as a girl to survive. Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1856--a battleground between anti- and pro-slavery forces--when legendary abolitionist John Brown arrives. When an argument between Brown and Henry's master turns violent, Henry is forced to leave town--along with Brown, who believes Henry to be a girl and his good luck charm.
Over the ensuing months, Henry, whom Brown nicknames Little Onion, conceals his true identity to stay alive. Eventually Brown sweeps him into the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859--one of the great catalysts for the Civil War. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride's meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.
About the Author
James McBride is an accomplished musician and author of the American classic The Color of Water and the bestsellers Song Yet Sung and Miracle at St. Anna, which was turned into a film by Spike Lee. A graduate of Oberlin College, he has a master’s in journalism from Columbia University. McBride holds several honorary doctorates and is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University.