I will probably remember this book forever. The writing is excellent. Making the Underground Railroad into actual tunnels is a great narrative idea. It makes for a hidden world where I'm relieved to escape with the characters.
The book gives the impression to be built on top of a real erudition on the topic.
It gives a glimpse into the diversity of the atrocities of slavery. It draws the path from mere brutality to more sophisticated state violence (sterilization and medical experiments) and later systemic injustice.
Reading this reminded me how little I was taught about slavery in the US in French school.
I always have a hard time believing how all of this is so close to us in time. How is it possible that such medieval violence coexisted with all the scientific discoveries and innovations from the 18th and 19th centuries. It is sad to see that rationality doesn't prevent humans from committing atrocities, and can sometimes justify them.
The book is also good at showing how often courage doesn't look good. Slaves that believe they can be free (buying their freedom or escaping) are seen as fools. Abolitionnists are kind of excentric people and most get killed.
This world is not so far away from our world. It makes us wonder what are the atrocities that we see as "normal". I'm afraid they are pretty obvious and one must agree to look like a fool to acknowledge them and stand up against them.