Steering to Freedom Audiobook By Patrick Gabridge cover art

Steering to Freedom

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Steering to Freedom

By: Patrick Gabridge
Narrated by: Mark Cyr
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A troubled country, a courageous heart, and the struggle for freedom

In May 1862, Robert Smalls, a slave and ship’s pilot in Charleston, South Carolina, crafts a daring plan to steal the steamship Planter and deliver it, along with, the crew and their families to the Union blockade. After risking his life to escape slavery, Robert faces an even more difficult challenge: convincing Abraham Lincoln to enlist black troops.

Based on a true story, Steering to Freedom tells the powerful and inspirational story of a young man who becomes the first black captain of a US military ship, while struggling to navigate a path to freedom for himself, his family, and his people.

©2015 Patrick Gabridge (P)2025 Penmore Press Action & Adventure African American Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction War & Military Freedom Heartfelt Abraham Lincoln

Critic reviews

"In Steering to Freedom, Patrick Gabridge has intertwined history with a meticulous and moving narrative of Robert Smalls—Confederate steamboat pilot, family man, and slave—whose daring vision to claim freedom against all odds will grab the reader from the first page." — Jessica Maria Tuccelli, author of Glow
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Intelligent, well-written and thoroughly-researched, this novel tells the true story of Robert Smalls, a slave and riverboat pilot who became determined to make his way to freedom. With a crew of fellow slaves, Robert stole the Confederate steamboat, Planter, and piloted it up the southern waterway toward the Union blockade. He managed to take all his family members and those of his crew along with him! I’ve read many Civil War narratives and this compelling book by Patrick Gabridge, engaged me from start to finish. I’d never heard of Robert Smalls and after reading his incredible—and important— story, I think it deserves to be made into a movie as well as being taught in the schools. The narrator, Mark Cyr, was perfect for the book. His reading made each character’s voice come through clearly while bringing out the emotions in every situation. I never had any trouble knowing who was speaking or what was going on. Many thanks to Patrick Gabridge—and Mark Cyr—for bringing us this fascinating story.

An excellent Civil War story! Don’t miss it!

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