Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Little, Brown and Company (First Edition)
Pages
232
Description
Number 47, a fourteen-year-old slave boy growing up under the watchful eye of a brutal master in 1832, meets the mysterious Tall John, who introduces him to a magical science and also teaches him the meaning of freedom.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2005-04-12
Physical description
232 p.; 7.75 inches
ISBN
0316110353 / 9780316110358
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User reviews
LibraryThing member MerryMary
Weird. Yes, definitely weird. But I liked it. This story of slavery and redemption is an odd mix of historical fiction and fantasy/science fiction that sits askew in my brain and won't settle down into a comfortable slot. 47 is the protagonist, a young slave without a name on a Southern plantation.
At first the visions seem mystical and dream-like, and they are, but gradually we begin to realize that Tall John is not a slave, not a black man, not a human. The author uses old legends of a mythical man called High John, to weave his Tall John character. But in this story, Tall John is an extraterrestrial who is searching for the human savior in the coming struggle with intergalactic evil. 47 is that savior, but he is not ready yet. Tall John tutors him with powers that seem magical, visions of another world, colorful creatures not of this earth, and ideas of freedom and dignity that seem utterly out of place to the young slave.
Since the story is told at least vaguely in flashback, we are given an idea of the outcome of the struggle, but this story begs for a sequel. The ending is a bit abrupt and there are many questions still to be explored. The juxtaposition of history and science fiction is a little awkward, and the world Tall John comes from is a little sketchy. But the characters are well-rounded and real, the picture of slavery is harsh and realistic, and the setting both mystical and painfully true.
I liked it. I don't exactly know why, but I did. Mosley's writing has always appealed to me. I would recommend this book cautiously, because I know it isn't to everyone's taste. But it goes in an interesting direction much different from anything I expected and I plan to watch Mosely's future titles for more adventure.
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He comes under the guidance of another slave called Tall John, who shows him a wider world than he knew existed...a world of freedom, a world free of masters and slaves. At first the visions seem mystical and dream-like, and they are, but gradually we begin to realize that Tall John is not a slave, not a black man, not a human. The author uses old legends of a mythical man called High John, to weave his Tall John character. But in this story, Tall John is an extraterrestrial who is searching for the human savior in the coming struggle with intergalactic evil. 47 is that savior, but he is not ready yet. Tall John tutors him with powers that seem magical, visions of another world, colorful creatures not of this earth, and ideas of freedom and dignity that seem utterly out of place to the young slave.
Since the story is told at least vaguely in flashback, we are given an idea of the outcome of the struggle, but this story begs for a sequel. The ending is a bit abrupt and there are many questions still to be explored. The juxtaposition of history and science fiction is a little awkward, and the world Tall John comes from is a little sketchy. But the characters are well-rounded and real, the picture of slavery is harsh and realistic, and the setting both mystical and painfully true.
I liked it. I don't exactly know why, but I did. Mosley's writing has always appealed to me. I would recommend this book cautiously, because I know it isn't to everyone's taste. But it goes in an interesting direction much different from anything I expected and I plan to watch Mosely's future titles for more adventure.
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LibraryThing member GaylDasherSmith
It begins as a tale of a boy growing up as a slave on a Southern plantation but turns mystical as he meets a runaway slave who speaks of freedom and a supernatural battle to come. Weird.
LibraryThing member kewpie
47 is a plantation field slave, forbidden to have a name of his own -- he is simply assigned a number. He lives a life of downtrodden misery until the mysterious Tall John arrives at the plantation. He refuses to think of himself as a slave and claims that freedom comes from within. This is not a
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typical historic account of slavery. Tall John has a mysterious background and odd magical gadgets he carries in a carpet bag. This is a very unusual hybrid of history and science fiction. Read-alikes: No idea -- this book isn't even like other Walter Mosely books. It seems unique. It reminded me somewhat of a movie from the 80's called "The Brother from Another Planet" I'd recommend this book as a cross-over between science fiction and history. Perhaps someone who likes one but not the other could be persuaded to read this book. This is one of the most original and strange books I have ever read. It was also fun to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
This was a bit strange with the fantasy element introduced through the character of Tall John from Africa. The slavery part was well done, but the Tall John part was a bit weird to me. The prolific use of the word n*gg*r was a bit disturbing; I know why Mosley chose to write in this fashion, but it
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was still disturbing. Show Less
LibraryThing member lynngagnon
This story began as other slave stories begin, with the introduction of a hopeful character who will change things. But it departs from an overdone storyline when the characters become mystical and have out of the body journeys that divert the path and guide the story through an unexpected end.
LibraryThing member MsLangdon
Historical Fiction HS
Mosley, W. (2005). 47. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
It is 1832 and slave number 47 lives on the Corinthian Plantation. All of the slaves on the plantation are assigned numbers. Some end up with names, except 47 has never been named. His mother died after he was born
In a mix of historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction Mosley creates a story that mixes the cruel realities of slavery and the magical hope of freedom. Mosley sets the historical scene with well-developed relationships and the use of Southern dialect adds to the story. Grades 8-12.
Mosley, W. (2005). 47. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
It is 1832 and slave number 47 lives on the Corinthian Plantation. All of the slaves on the plantation are assigned numbers. Some end up with names, except 47 has never been named. His mother died after he was born
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and his father’s identity has been kept a secret to protect him. He is pushed out to the slave quarters at the young age of fourteen. He is branded and put to work in the cotton fields. Slave number 12 dies of pneumonia and there is a small burial ceremony. 47 runs off after an upsetting encounter with Mama Flore. He runs into the woods and senses that he is being chased. This is when he meets Tall John. Tall John is the character that travels from other galaxies and has magical powers to heal illnesses. He gets 47 to see what the world would be like beyond his life of slavery on a plantation. 47 begins to see himself as more than just a slave.In a mix of historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction Mosley creates a story that mixes the cruel realities of slavery and the magical hope of freedom. Mosley sets the historical scene with well-developed relationships and the use of Southern dialect adds to the story. Grades 8-12.
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LibraryThing member cammykitty
Called Baby by his adoptive mother and by his slave number by everyone else, 47 meets Tall John who teaches him to respect himself and reject the mental shackles of slavery, and then eventually the actual shackles. At first, the reader is lead to believe that Tall John is similar to High John, an
I really wanted to like this book. I usually like Mosley's writing, and respect him very much as an author. However, two things bothered me so much about the book that I'm surprised I finished it. First, the narrator's voice just didn't feel authentic to me. It was an odd mix of old one looking back, naive person in distress, and teacher explaining the institution of slavery. I never felt like the character was talking to me. Instead it felt like an author was talking to me, and the author hadn't decided which voice to use.
I could've forgiven that if it were the only flaw, but the fantasy/science fiction element clashed with the realistic depiction of slavery. We had an orange and purple being, shaped like a q-tip, and his people were rainbow people. He was solar powered, and so was his starship. He also fixed any number of horrible injuries and illnesses. Some characters died, but so many were healed that it seemed kind of arbitrary as though High John could have fixed any problem he wanted. He perhaps could have removed all our beloved characters from the situation and left the bad ones to rot, but who knows? We never got a real feel for the extent or cost of his magic. Then we get a moth-like devil, and *wait for this* a one-eyed zombie overseer! It had to happen someday, a zombie overseer. But... that makes me imagine this as a movie production, and sadly I'm seeing it on par with "Dead Snow" and its Nazi Zombies and duct tape medicine.
I hope other people love this book, but I couldn't.
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African trickster god, and maybe he is. But if he is, he is also an alien being from far away and far when. I really wanted to like this book. I usually like Mosley's writing, and respect him very much as an author. However, two things bothered me so much about the book that I'm surprised I finished it. First, the narrator's voice just didn't feel authentic to me. It was an odd mix of old one looking back, naive person in distress, and teacher explaining the institution of slavery. I never felt like the character was talking to me. Instead it felt like an author was talking to me, and the author hadn't decided which voice to use.
I could've forgiven that if it were the only flaw, but the fantasy/science fiction element clashed with the realistic depiction of slavery. We had an orange and purple being, shaped like a q-tip, and his people were rainbow people. He was solar powered, and so was his starship. He also fixed any number of horrible injuries and illnesses. Some characters died, but so many were healed that it seemed kind of arbitrary as though High John could have fixed any problem he wanted. He perhaps could have removed all our beloved characters from the situation and left the bad ones to rot, but who knows? We never got a real feel for the extent or cost of his magic. Then we get a moth-like devil, and *wait for this* a one-eyed zombie overseer! It had to happen someday, a zombie overseer. But... that makes me imagine this as a movie production, and sadly I'm seeing it on par with "Dead Snow" and its Nazi Zombies and duct tape medicine.
I hope other people love this book, but I couldn't.
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LibraryThing member lscottke
47, born a slave on a Georgia plantation, meets Tall John, who claims he has been looking for 47 for his whole life. Strange weave of fantasy/myth/historical fiction. Tall John actually comes from a distant planet and 47 is the hero who will save the Universe.
LibraryThing member edspicer
This book always keeps you guessing. It was very fun to read because it was constantly changing and kept getting more and more exciting. It had a very different mix of history and sci-fi that really kept me on my toes. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends. 4Q4P The cover art is
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awesome and I'd recommend this to middle school and high school students. I chose to read this book because the history and slavery mentioned on the back caught my attention. ThomasV Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Prometheus Award (Nominee — Novel — 2006)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers (Nominee — 2007)
Carl Brandon Parallax Award (Winner — 2005)
Read Aloud Indiana Book Award (Young Adult — 2005)
Call number
J4E.Mos