Having plumbed the archives for information about the nineteenth-century dancing sensation known as Juba, Myers pieces together a fictionalized account of his extraordinary life in this posthumous novel. Set in the Five Points district of New York City, the story begins with teenager William Henry Lane's dream of becoming a dancer. At a time when slavery is still practiced and black entertainers are expected to clown in minstrel shows, Juba, as he is called, wants to be known for his talent. Dancing with the speed and inventiveness of a young man possessed, he earns a reputation that eventually allows him the opportunity to tour Britain. Juba's passion, determination, and optimism d position as a free man ring a time rife with racial injustice make his story unique. (Note that period-appropriate use of the n-word may prompt classroom or dinner-table discussion.) Vintage illustrations and news clippings, and the incorporation of historic figures, further help to bring him to life. Though Juba meets a sad and premature end, his story offers an intriguing glimpse into America's past. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Among the last books written by the award-winning Myers, who died in 2014, this will surely receive substantial attention and interest from his many fans.

Myers's posthumously published novel imagines the life of legendary African American dancer William Henry Lane (approx. 18251854), better known as Juba, who toured Great Britain with minstrel group The Serenaders. Myers confronts head-on the racial realities of the preEmancipation Proclamation era. Appended are an epilogue clarifying fact from fiction and a note about Myers's research methods written by wife Constance Myers. Timeline.

Gr 6 Up-William Henry Lane, also known as Master Juba, was a famous dancer in America and England in the 1840s. Myers's final novel uses historical sources to piece together a picture of what his life might have been like. Juba grew up a free black man in the Five Points neighborhood of New York City, and his dancing was influenced by the Irish style. He encountered Charles Dickens after an early performance, who subsequently reviewed the dance in his American Notes . Historical images are provided throughout. Unfortunately, the author's choice to make this a first-person narrative makes some aspects of the exposition problematic. Young readers may not understand what minstrel shows were, and the context of the narrative is inadequate to convey why Juba would have been adamant about staying away from this form but ultimately began to participate in it. Richer back matter would have enhanced the overall quality of the book. VERDICT This will have appeal to readers who are interested in the history of dance or the antebellum period of American history. Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH

Dance is what drives seventeen-year-old William Henry Lane, whose friends and audience call him Juba. He has no interest in joining a minstrel show where a white audience expects him to "coon it up." When a club owner in his tenement neighborhood of Manhattan offers him the opportunity, Juba choreographs a show featuring local dancers. But it is he who stands out and catches the eye of visiting writer Charles Dickens. It is Dickens's review that kicks off Juba's career when he joins the England tour of a minstrel troupe aiming to bring authenticity to the act with actual songs and dances of the black community. In England, Juba finds fame, falls in love, and lives out the rest of his brief life.Myers draws readers into nineteenth-century New York with his wonderful characters, many based on real people, including Juba himself. Juba is engaging, passionate, and persistent, sympathetic even when arrogance and stubbornness show. The supporting cast is from all walks of life, from Juba's kindly Irish landlord to the opportunistic black club owner who overlooks slave traders in his audience if they bring a wealthy crowd. The complicated world Juba inhabits as an African American in the free North is naturally woven in with Juba's journey to fame. The pacing feels slow, and it is mostly a quiet story, which may make it a tough sell to teens. Actual newspaper articles and illustrations are interesting but sometimes make the book feel academic. Despite this, readers who follow through will root for Juba.Liz Gotauco.