Comments (14)

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Dec 26, 2023
Recommended by Mary, The Gardens. About Black immigrant and life in Ontario. See Mary's list of historical places to visit to commemorate these immigrants.
Apr 08, 2018Lotushead rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Very readable.
Sep 22, 2017vancouverville rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
As someone noted, this book can't compare with Book of Negroes. Any Known Blood lacks the compelling characters and gripping story. I could have stopped reading this book at many points. The book does bring to light some historical events,…
Dec 29, 2014ehbooklover rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
This title is the story of five generations of the Canes, an African-Canadian-American family. I liked this book but it just wasn't as engaging as Hill's "Book of Negroes". My main beef with this book was the constant jumping back and…
Dec 09, 2014WVMLStaffPicks rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A humourously sensitive account of a determined and successful black Canadian family. Through five generations the story unfolds, between present-day Ontario, the Underground Railway, two World Wars, and John Brown's Harper's Ferry. Hill…
Jun 17, 2013GLNovak rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Our hero, Langston Cane V, is very lovable. I liked his willingness to go with the flow once he makes the big decision to quit his job and "find his roots". Hill weaves the history of the previous four Langstons in with the current…
Aug 29, 2011MargaretMajewski rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I found this book to have a slow start, but eventually I really got into it! He's a fantastic writer.
Apr 30, 2010bobfrombob rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This is a book about a black man, or at least a partly black man writing, or at least researching, the history of his family. So you get his story, which is interesting, and the history of his family (see how I did that?). It’s a great…
Feb 11, 2010
I enjoyed the book in terms of references to black people in Canada. However, it falls short of the Book of Negroes, which I gave 5/5.
Feb 10, 2010Bells rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I feel bad for Lawrence Hill in a way- while this is an excellent book, it just can't compare to his masterpiece, The Book of Negroes. That aside, this is an excellent read. I enjoyed the story of 5 generations of Langston Cranes and their…
Nov 12, 2009lkel58 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Really enjoyed this book, particularly the historic references to Toronto and Oakville. Fact and fiction are nicely intertwined to create a great story.
Mar 17, 2008Trillium rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Thoroughly enjoyed this book; well crafted and local setting was fun.
Feb 11, 2008reviewer rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Well written and eye-opening.
Oct 27, 2007AnamCara rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I loved this book by Lawrence Hill. He weaved bits of Oakville/Toronto black history in with the US black history and made it more personal by the family he created to live the history.