Door of No Return Sarah Mussi

Door of No Return Sarah Mussi This novel was originally published in the UK in 2007. 15yr Zac Baxter was raised by his grandfather (Pops). The book opens with the two on the way to a club where Pops will prove that they are related to Baktu a Ghanaian King. Baktu's chosen son, Bartholomew was stolen into slavery when he was seven. King Baktu stuck a deal with the British to pay a ransom for the release of his son. The British double crossed King Baktu, Bartholomew was still taken into slavery, but the gold was hidden from the British. Now in present day on the way to the club to prove what he knows Pops is killed. Zac does not want his grandfather death to be in vain and starts to realize that Pops wasn't crazy. What I liked about Zac is he's an ordinary teenager who's trying to out think his enemy and stay one step ahead. I loved following Zac Baxter on this journey though his past. You could feel the change come over Zac as he got closer to his truth. When he gets to the Door of No Return that Bartholomew went though its almost too much for me. Time to Share

Zac talks of the Door of no Return

"Once through the door no slave ever again sets foot on African soul. The Door is a stone opening which is past through in single file. It leads straight out into the Atlantic surf. There are boats of the middle passage wait. From there the journey of the New World begins. After long imprisonment in the dark labyrinths, the sunshine is often too much for their weak eyes and many leave without setting sight on their motherland again. It was back through the Door of no Return I planned to pass. In some ways it was fancy. Hadn't Pops said "Until my son, the Lost Prince, come back through the Door of No Return and claims his ransom, my soul will never rest in the land in my ancestors.

Zac meets a lost (stolen) relative

I took Nunu's hand and pressed it. I laid my cheek on it and I think my eyes got a bit soggy. I'm beyond embarrassment. You have to realize. Bartholomew might have said a prince may not weep, but I disagree. If you can't weep for three hundred years of separation, then I guess you can't weep for anything.

I hate thinking about how many lives, families and futures were stolen thanks to slavery but it should not be forgotten. With the Door of No Return, Mussi has written a beautiful novel that encourages us to remember.

Mussi wins an award for The Door of No Return http://www.1888pressrelease.com/british-author-sarah-mussi-wins-international-children-s-boo-pr-333u1f4nh.html

More on the Door of No Return http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKL2121456420070319?src=032207_1519_FEATURES_&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0