Freedom's Just Another Word

Sometimes the journey is just as important as the destination.The year is 1970. Biracial (black/white) aspiring blues singer Louisiana (better known as Easy) never feels quite at home in her Saskatoon neighborhood. One day, Easy is in the right place at the right time and meets her blues idol, Janis Joplin. When Joplin invites Easy to join her in Texas to meet some movers and shakers in the industry, the 18-year-old will do anything to get there--even if it means traveling across the U.S. with a pair of nuns. Race is a central topic in Stellings' book. While Easy is no stranger to racism and microaggressions in Canada, she is unprepared for the blatant racism she experiences in the States; in one chilling instance, she's threatened in a bar full of racists. Stellings also brings Joplin to life, capturing her vivacity without sugarcoating the toll that fame and addiction take on her. Still, although Stellings handles many sensitive issues such as race, tolerance, and addiction with care, parts of Easy's story are rushed, particularly given the leisurely setup, and the climax fails to deliver. Time spent with this strong, savvy female protagonist is time well spent, so long as readers focus on that journey. (Historical fiction. 14-18) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-Eighteen-year-old Easy lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1970. Hers is the only black family in town, and her father runs the local garage. She is a skilled mechanic, but her dream is to sing the blues. Her heroine is Janis Joplin. When Janis invites Easy to sing for her in Texas, Easy will stop at nothing to make her way to the recently desegregated South to chase her dream. The teen embarks upon a road trip accompanied by two nuns. While this setup sounds like the makings of a great novel, the story suffers in execution. The casual racism that Easy experiences during her trip does not create the expected responses of anger and sorrow but feels much more cerebral. This may be the result of the author's heavy reliance on telling rather than showing. There are lost opportunities in the narrative to evoke the sense of danger of traveling as a lone black woman in the South in the 1970s, even one who is somewhat naive about her situation. Easy's ultimate decision not to sing at Threadgill's in Austin will be confusing to readers because she doesn't seem overly concerned about racism until the moment when she might achieve her dream if she sings in front of racists. In spite of this, the well-researched setting makes for interesting reading. VERDICT A unique story about a fascinating place and time. Purchase where deep collections of historical fiction featuring people of color are needed.-Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

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