The Other Side of Freedom by Cynthia T. Toney

Toney for creating yet another wonderful, thought-provoking teen novel.Alzheimer’s is a cruel prison that held my dear mother-in-law in chains for approximately three years, taking her freedom and her mind until it finally took her body. Besides being a captivating story, this book provides plenty of discussion topics including the repercussions that can arise when trying to do what is right, as well as the issues of: prohibition, segregation and immigration. I didn’t know much about this interesting time in our history when Italian/Sicilian gangsters terrorized American communities, but was fascinated by this story and how these crime sprees affected law-abiding families of Italian descent. This intriguing, coming of age story focuses on the difficult choices and decisions one Italian immigrant family must face while desperately trying to keep their family together. She effortlessly delved into the mind of a young boy who lived in Louisiana during the tumultuous Prohibition years, weaving together a fascinating tale of hardship, corruption and the importance of family and faith. I knew of Toney’s flawless ability to write from a modern teenage girl’s perspective, so was curious when I heard her newest book is set in the 1920’s and told from the point of view of a middle school age boy - Salvatore. Sal's family, their African-American farmhand, and the girl who is Sal's best friend find their lives forever changed as dreams are shattered and attitudes challenged in a small community called Freedom.

Will Sal keep the secrets about that night as his father asks, or risk everything he and his family cherish in their new homeland, including their lives?Īmidst bigotry, bootlegging, police corruption, and gangland threats, Sal must discover whom he can trust in order to protect himself and his family and win back his father's freedom. farming community in 1925, thirteen-year-old Salvatore and his Italian immigrant father become involved against their will in a crime that results in the murder of an innocent man and family friend. Outstanding Fiction, Children's/Juvenile Fiction Historical crime drama with action for the whole family.įirst Place, Children's/Juvenile Fiction Ģ018 CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATION BOOK AWARDS:Ģ018 INDEPENDENT AUTHOR NETWORK BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS:

The Other Side of Freedom by Cynthia T. Toney