Fragments of the Ark

"Here is a gripping, unbearably sad, yet irresistible and enriching work of historical fiction."—Booklist

"First and foremost, Fragments is a powerful testimony to the spirit of a people who would not be denied their freedom."—San Francisco Chronicle

"In telling this true story of African-American heroism, the author paints a detailed portrait of the neo-African Gullah culture of the Carolinas and allows us to see how African-Americans not only endured the horror of slavery but triumphed over it."—Daily News

"Books like this enrich our lives by expanding our pantheon of heroes."—Library Journal

"Incredibly moving. . . . Fragments of the Ark explains why the Civil War remains positioned in the American psyche as bitter race memory. In Louise Meriwether's capable writing hands, the conflict becomes as real as the odor of freshly spilled blood, and the suffocating presence of gunpowder in the air."—Maya Angelou

"A marvelous Civil War story told from an African American point of view. . . . Based on the life of Robert Smalls, this novel portrays one man's struggle, the emotional impact of slavery, and the determination to be free at all costs. Packed with historical facts, it shows how economic, social, and political forces affected the characters' lives. . . . A fascinating read."—School Library Journal

"Impressively researched. . . . Meriwether's portraits of a wide range of black Americans and their struggles to free themselves are a welcome window into a crucial part of America's past."—Kirkus Reviews