I enjoyed this a lot, though I felt pretty conflicted about a slave narrative written (with a lot of period creole/dialect) by a white person. The characters are by turns lovely, fun, and loathsome, as called for by the narrative. It's based loosely on an actual slave revolt in/on Granada in the Caribbean, and it felt well researched (not that I know much about the period and place, but it did not reek of hand-wavy "history" as lots of books of this sort do). ( )

I don't know where to start. Harris has created a wonderful narrative. The story is heartbreaking and compelling. I can't wait to read more of her work. ( )

Based on actual events, Sugar Money by Jane Harris introduces me to a history I did not know and brings to life yet another aspect of the brutality of slavery. The narrator's language scattered between French, English, and Caribbean Creole makes the book a challenge to read at times. The voice of an adolescent narrator also superimposes on the horror of slavery a certain innocence. It is an interesting contrast at times and accentuates the brutality when the descriptions do come.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/07/sugar-money.html

Reviewed for NetGalley ( )

Set on the island of Grenada in the West Indies this is an absolutely gripping tale of a few weeks in 1765 AD. Two mulatto slaves who are owned by a French religious order, are sent from the plantations in Martinique to Grenada to persuade the slaves there to run-away with them back to Martinique, The slaves had formerly belonged to the Fathers of Charitie's plantation on Grenada but who had been taken by the British military when they wrested control of the island from France.
All this has to be done in secret without the plantation overseers and military on Grenada getting wind of the planned escape. Needless to say this is not easy and there were fmany moments when my heart was in my mouth as it seemed they would be discovered and subject to the brutal treatment the British were feared for.
The two main characters are brothers, Emile and Lucien; Emile is in his late 20s, Lucien is 12-13yrs old and desperate to be thought of as a 'man', he often defies instructions and takes foolhardy actions endangering himself and others.
Ultimately the scheme fails, and only Lucien and one other slave actually get away.

The first European settlers in the West Indies grew indigo as a crop, but then changed to growing sugar cane, a far more profitable enterprise, as the sugar was in great demand overseas, and could also be turned into rum, another commodity that made good money.

What I found of great interest was the life of the slaves - different from the slavery that was practiced in the Southern States of America 100 years later - far darker and more brutal.

Jane Harris writes beautifully, you feel you are really in that place at that time, and the language is a lively mix of French, English and the creole patois. ( )

”Cane is sugar. Sugar is money.”

Lucien is a thirteen year old slave boy in 1765 and lives on the island of Martinique when the head friar that he tends to the livestock for gives him and his much older brother Emile a task: travel by boat to (now English) Grenada and bring back the slaves that rightfully belong to the friars. They are especially suited for the task because Lucien speaks very good English and Emile knows the slaves very well, having been one of them.

Jane Harris’ new novel is based on a true story and it’s really a very good historical fiction. In Lucien, she has once again created a unique narrative voice with the lilt of the Caribbean and the innocence of a child. These two loving brothers face the daunting task with courage and great skill but the obstacles are extreme. A true adventure story develops as Emile explains the dangers to the slaves who would like nothing better than to return to Martinique and a plan is developed.

The descriptions of atrocities inflicted upon the slaves by the English are abominable and hard to stomach. Harris does not hold back. But it helps to explain the desperateness of these people who are willing to attempt an escape. Not that their life on Martinique will improve immensely. They will still be slaves, toiling in the cane fields for the friars who urgently need to increase their coffers by making the very profitable commodity, sugar, but apparently the French were preferable to the English.

So an adventure story ultimately. And that makes it very different from Harris’ two previous books, which had a bit of the unexpected, a bit of the surprising, a bit of the shocking. And while I enjoyed this story, for which she did meticulous research, (although she will undoubtedly be accused of appropriation) it’s not the Harris I have come to expect. Still highly recommended. ( )