The Pox Party

This powerful historical novel follows Octavian, a young African American boy, from birth to age sixteen, as he is raised in 18th-century colonial Boston by a group of philosophers and scientists. Octavian receives a classical education, but eventually discovers he is the subject of a horrific experiment designed to 'prove' the inferiority of the African race. As the American Revolution unfolds, Octavian grapples with his identity, the meaning of freedom, and the brutal realities of slavery and scientific racism. The narrative is presented through various manuscripts, diaries, and letters, offering a rich, complex, and often dark exploration of justice, betrayal, and the fight for self-determination. Parents should be aware of mature themes including slavery, violence, death, and scientific dissection.