"Tad, a very clever slave boy, comes of age as the American Civil War intrudes on the tropical sea islands of South Carolina. But his desire to better himself is obstructed by the color of his skin, until Northern soldiers force the evacuation of white plantation owners, setting 10,000 slaves free in a single day. These circumstances seem like a dream, but the newly freed slaves have no money, no education, no leadership, and little hope for the future. This is the story of how a boy grows into a man facing the horrors of war and unimaginable prejudice - fighting the urge to run from the shame of his family and his past - to become the leader and deliverer of thousands of freed slaves. Award- winning author Peter Leavell explores new territory in the familiar literary backdrop of the Civil War, forging an unprecedented tale of tragedy and triumph based on true events."--Publisher's description.