FIVE STARS! Review from READERS' FAVORITE by Viga Boland:

Dickie Erman’s historical fiction novel, The Adventures of Sunny Washington, wastes no words and spares no feelings regarding the attitudes and treatment of black people by whites. So many times, I shook my head in disbelief, beginning with the heartbreak of Sunny’s mother when she realizes her two young sons have been sold off by her master without her knowledge, after which she is sent packing, leaving little Sunny on the plantation.

“[T]he subplot about a good, Christian black slave, Thomas, falsely accused of raping a promiscuous white teenager that hits readers hardest. The injustice he endures in a court where the jury of 12 white men returns a guilty verdict because they are more concerned about explaining an innocent ruling that makes your skin crawl … The plot moves quickly, and the characters are relatable. Adults … in light of everyday current events, will wonder just how far society and white supremacists have come since the 1850s.

FIVE STARS! Review from READERS' FAVORITE by K.C. Finn:

Author Dickie Erman holds nothing back in this rich historical novel which will educate readers not only on the brutal facts of American history but also deliver a deep lesson in empathy as a result of its extensive emotional development. Sunny is a deeply likable character from the off, and her resolute nature carries her through some unspeakably rotten moments with a great deal of dignity, strength, and hope for the future despite the sorry state of affairs all around her.

I found the descriptive quality of the novel to be cinematic in its commitment to creating scenery, but it also goes beyond just the visual to give a real visceral sense of what it must have been like to feel your heart pounding in your ears as you fear for your life in every tense moment. Overall, The Adventures of Sunny Washington is an intelligently crafted work of historical fiction deeply rooted in cold hard facts, with innovative uses of description and narrative to bring a heartfelt tale to life. A highly recommended read indeed.

The Adventures of Sunny Washington is an African American historical fiction novel that chronicles the story of an escaped slave and her journey to find freedom. Set in the 1850s, it richly develops the characters of plantation owners (both black and white) and other runaways who face a myriad of encounters with slave catchers, the Fugitive Slave Act, the law, and harrowing encounters.