Beneath the Draper Moon is a beautifully written novel and a genuine page turner. The characters are deeply developed and richly complex, and the author skillfully weaves their stories into a stunning tapestry of Southern and American history. While the tale told in Draper Moon is expansive, I finished the book in a few days - some parts were so good and moving, I immediately went back and read them again after I had reached the end. I've given several copies to family & friends. It's a book with something for everyone - a nation-forming adventure that spans a generation!- but beneath the action and the characters is a potent meditation on home, identity and human connection. I look forward to Mr. Parker's next book!

Parker's "Beneath the Draper Moon" effectively shines a light on the heart-breaking conditions that newly freed slaves endured after the Civil War, as well as the time of Jim Crow laws and unrest in the 60s. He smoothly switches the timelines between those two periods and gives you the hope that those histories would eventually converge, and that so many wrongs could possibly be made right.

I thoroughly enjoyed this walk through a sad time in our country's history, and want to believe that one day, we will move past such divisiveness as a nation. Beautiful writing, well-defined characters, and gripping story line. Great first novel, Julius Parker! Keep up the awesome writing!!