An Emotional Slave in The Slave Dancer I found The Slave Dancer, by Paula Fox, to be a truly commendable historical novel. When I finished reading the final sentence, I was left with a feeling of appreciation. I felt imperfect. Because it could easily have been my ancestors torturing the multitudes of defenseless slaves. The Slave Dancer was a difficult book to get into, but it soon captured my interest and turned into an excellent, yet emotional, piece of literature. The Slave Dancer was such a real story and yet so powerful. It was such a perfect work that it should be read by everyone. I really liked the main character, Jessie. Over the course of the story, he is slowly transformed from an innocent boy, captured and taken aboard a slave ship to play his fife and "slave dance," into a man who realizes the true meaning of friendship, of life, of survival, hardship, and love. Paula Fox's writing style is truly admirable and she sincerely demonstrates it in this Newberry Honor winning book. There were few things I didn't like about this book. I didn't like the beginning of The Slave Dancer because it was a very difficult book to understand. I didn't like the lack of detail in describing the crew members aboard the Moonlight, which is the name of the slave ship. The book kept referring to crew members and I couldn't make them out. I couldn't imagine anything different in each of them. I believe The Slave Dancer would help everyone understand the misfortune that all African slaves went through. I predict there will be some who won't like this book, however, I think everyone should read The Slave Dancer. I would definitely read this book again and still benefit from its text. I recommend this book to anyone who has lost the true meaning of appreciation and wishes to grasp it once again. After reading The Slave Dancer I felt transformed into a different person. I was more aware of every person's opinions and every loved life. I took a lesson again; a sad lesson. I was reminded how precious every person's life is and how even one experience can change one's perspective on life.