William Craft was a slave who worked 100 hours a week in a carpenter's shop. Ellen Craft was his wife, who had been conceived by her mother's master, and raised as a house slave. Because of her biracial background, Ellen could pass as Caucasian--- much to the chagrin of her mistress, when guests made the mistake of thinking she was *her* daughter. They concocted a plan whereby Ellen would masquerade as a young Southern planter, and William would attend "him" as his slave, and together, they would escape to Philadelphia and freedom. This book details their adventure, which did not stop simply when they reached the North. Rather, they became celebrities amongst the abolitionist community, and their celebrity attracted attention from those who would like to re-capture them and take them back South. Eventually, they had to escape to England... and their journey brought them full-circle to the South after the Civil War.

It is inspiring to hear a story about a subject so many of us take for granted. Contrary to fiction, real life doesn't always end happily ever after, or with all the loose threads tied up neatly. Their escape was just the beginning; the consequences led to an adventure they had to deal with for the rest of their lives. If you think biographies are boring, give this book a try.

In medieval Wales, a tiny kitten is born, and a trio of witches begin to brew a spell so that he can bring destruction to the Irish missionaries who have recently returned to their abbey, which had been destroyed several years ago by Viking raiders. But the kitten escapes with the spell only half-complete. Through an accident, the kitten has the power to alter his shape--- into a hare, a trout, a bee, and so on--- but the witch pursuing him has a similar power. Can he escape their power? Will he bring disaster to all those who try to help him? Will the abbey's inhabitants be able to do their work, or will the abbey be destroyed again?

I decided to read the book for the kitten on the cover--- but I enjoyed it for its interesting setting, Britain's Dark Ages, and the way it easily juxtaposes historical fiction with fantastic elements. Some of them are obvious; other parts are subtle and easily missed. The prequel to Simpson's Pangur Bán Celtic fantasy series, if you are interested in reading a book set in a land torn between its pagan heritage and its Christian future, it's a fast, easy read.