Runaway Home

Runaway HomeIt is 1816 on the Cedar Grove Plantation in southern Georgia. Facing financial hardship, plantation owner Walter Pike has decided to sell several slaves. He chooses his own biracial son, Jeremiah, as well as two young brothers, James and Thomas. Following the advice of a wise old slave known as Old Papa, the three boys set out on a journey southward into the swamps of Florida in search of freedom among the multitude of runaway slaves who had joined

Facing financial hardship, plantation owner Walter Pike has decided to sell several slaves. He chooses his own biracial son, Jeremiah, as well as two young brothers, James and Thomas. Following the advice of a wise old slave known as Old Papa, the three boys set out on a journey southward into the swamps of Florida in search of freedom among the multitude of runaway slaves who had joined native Seminoles in a vast network of towns, farms, and villages hidden in the thick forests along the Suwannee River.

Runaway Home is a story of historical fiction about the brutal oppression faced by Blacks during one of the darkest periods of American history, but the story is also filled with bright moments of joy, newfound family, and love among those who found freedom.

About the Author

Michael Henson is a retired public school teacher who now enjoys life on a small farm nestled in the heart of central Oklahoma. Surrounded by a lively mix of animals—many of them rescues—he finds inspiration in the land and the creatures that call it home.

A lifelong lover of history, Michael is especially drawn to the rich and complex stories of the Old West, the Civil War, and Native American heritage. His passion for the past is matched by a deep appreciation for the natural world. When he's not writing or caring for his animals, he can often be found exploring the beauty of America’s national parks, always on the lookout for new stories waiting to be told.