Promise Bridge

Schwab's promising debut puts an uncommon spin on a runaway slave story. Hannah Blessing has had a privileged upbringing at Hillcrest, her aunt's Virginia plantation where slavery has been a fact of life she never gave much thought to—until Hannah and best friend–turned–potential suitor Colt encounter a group of runaway slaves in the woods. Among them is Livie, a wounded girl about Hannah's age. When Livie's unable to continue traveling, Hannah and Colt integrate her into Hillcrest's slave population, and soon she's Hannah's personal servant, and Hannah begins to understand the horrors of slavery. After some time, Hannah and Colt, with the help of some unlikely allies, send Livie north, but the overseer at the neighboring plantation has different plans— and a hidden personal stake in the matter. Though the dialogue ranges from florid to cheesy ("I never knowed a white heart and a colored heart could beat together in friendship"), readers who are won over by the strength of Hannah and Livie and can wait through a slow start will be rewarded by some surprising twists and an eventually riveting narrative. (July)