In history class, we are all taught pretty much the same thing. The Civil War happened because the North wanted to free the slaves from the South.

But… what happened before that? How were the enslaved people shipped? Was it only the South that had enslaved people? How long did America actually had slaves? I realized I didn’t know.

In this gripping part-historical, part-memoir graphic novel, historian Rebecca Hall tells us the origins of slavery in America. She also goes into depth something I never considered asking. What were the roles of enslaved women? Hall brings life to women who had no voice for hundreds of years. Based on evidence and her scholarly background, she imagines what brought these strong enslaved women to revolt and decent.

A dark, but fascinating read into a history that is rarely told.