The Glory Field

Walter Dean Myers's epic story spans the generations of the Lewis family dating back to Muhammad's arrival in America on a slave ship in the eighteenth century. Although narrator Ezra Knight's performance begins with a jarring, almost staccato, cadence, his delivery smooths out as the characters move toward the twentieth century. Knight's voice is deep and strong, and, when matched with a more natural delivery, lends additional gravitas to the story. His gift, however, is dialogue and characters. Knight's emotional range is impressive, especially since it's continually tested throughout each generation's struggle to define, defend, and celebrate what it means to be a Lewis. A.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

Starred review from October 3, 1994
Spanning nearly 250 years of African American history, this emotionally charged saga of the Lewis family traces an ongoing battle for freedom and equality. Beginning with young Muhammad Bilal's journey from Africa in 1753 and ending with a 1990s family reunion set on the plantation where Muhammad was a slave, this series of resonant stories shows how each generation comes of age by taking a stand against oppression. All through the Civil War, Great Depression and civil rights movement, the family's strength and determination continue unabated. In his typically taut, economic prose, Myers (Somewhere in the Darkness) illuminates shadowy corners of history and reveals the high cost-and the excruciatingly slow process-of justice. The obstacles facing the Lewis family will be remembered as clearly as their triumphs, and readers will come away from this novel with both a broader perspective on social conflicts and a more profound understanding of the past. Ages 10-up.

June 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-This moving saga of an African American family covers a span of 250 years. The book is divided into five parts, beginning with Muhammed Bilal being captured in Sierra Leone in 1753. He survives his journey on a slave ship to America. Listeners then meet Lizzie, a teenage slave on a plantation on Curry Island, SC, in 1864. Lizzie joins two other slaves in their escape to freedom. Years pass and listeners gain insights into the lives of several other teenage family members. The work's final part introduces Malcolm Lewis, who leaves New York for Curry Island to attend a family reunion. Ezra Knight narrates, and while his rich baritone is put to good use in many of the scenes featuring male characters, his female vocals are somewhat lacking. While this work may at first glance seem to be a YA version of Roots, it is a powerful story about civil rights struggles, racism, and poverty that's well worth recommending.-Sheila Acosta, San Antonio Public Library

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