The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman is a well written and understandable novel. Reading it felt natural and it was easy to relate to Sophie while she struggled to succeed. There was a lot of dialogue in a more Southern slang style, but it made sense and wasn’t too obscure or confusing. It is difficult to write a novel combining so many elements; time travel, history, growing up, and regional details and language; but Sherman managed to do it and create a cohesive, enjoyable tale. I personally enjoyed the historical aspect of Sophie’s journey with all of the excellent insight to one of America’s toughest times. It is unlike any book I have ever read with both history and fantasy, although I found that the history stood out above the fantasy. Therefore, I would recommend it to 7th and 8th grade girls who enjoy historical fiction; it really is written more towards girls than boys. Also, it is currently an advance copy novel through Candlewick Press, but it has been published before through a smaller company. The Freedom Maze was an excellent and well written historical novel that should definitely be considered by middle school girls.
