Diverse, rich with history and meaning, Saving Savannah is can't-miss YA historical fiction and amongst the best of 2020.



The story of an African-American girl becoming a woman on her own terms against the backdrop of widespread social change in the early 1900s America. As a daughter of an upper class African American family in Washington D.C., Savannah is lucky. Feeling suffocated by the structure of society, Savannah meets a working-class girl named Nell who introduces her to the suffragette and socialist movements, inspiring her to fight for change. 


As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.

Such a beautiful story. I'm in awe. Saving Savannah is one of those novels that reminds me why I've always adored a good piece of historical fiction. You can't go wrong with historically based novels when they are portrayed like Saving Savannah. It is simply breathtaking. (And so is that cover! Wow!) Tonya Bolden is here to show us how it's done and you definitely should be listening.

Admittedly, the era in which Saving Savannah is set within, isn't one I typically reach for. That would be why the synopsis alone piqued my interest. It's not a story we see told often enough. But, it's a story that we needed to have in the world. You can certainly feel the ache and echo of the history that is covered throughout Saving Savannah. Not a single page goes by where time isn't used wisely.

As for the characters, the importance and development is all there. Savannah herself is a character that you won't soon forget. Watching as she explores life outside of her privileged upbringing and growing into the young women she was always meant to be was an absolute pleasure. As she is able to learn the life and times of her era, we, too, learn.

Saving Savannah is many things: well researched, well paced, full of life, rich with history and absolutely stunning to read. Tonya Bolden's writing is almost hypnotic in quality; the type of writing that you could easily get lost in. Grab yourself a warm drink and curl up to this novel--you won't regret it.