Readers' Advisory Matrix for The Bone and Sinew of the Land, by Anna-Lisa Cox

1.Where is the book on the narrative continuum? - Highly narrative, it reads like fiction.
2.What is the subject of the book? - The subtitle tells it best; America's forgotten black pioneers and the struggle for equality.
3. What type of book is it? - History
4. Articulate appeal -
What is the pacing of the book? The story is leisurely paced, but it is moving forward.

Describe the characters of the book? The main characters' story we are following is Keziah and Charles. They are free black land owners, in the beginning of the story they are working their land in southern Indiana. The book goes back and picks up the time before they were free and goes forward to their family, other free-families, and people they come in contact with - abolitionist, those who are working against blacks owning land.

How does the story feel? The story is moving, these frontiers people struggling and working to establish home and community and then there is some tension due to the clash of values and danger, racism and violence.
What is the focus of the story? The focus of the story is on the lives of these people  - free blacks who struggled and pioneered and established communities despite the odds being against them, when most people don't realize they existed.
Does the language matter? No

Is the setting important and well described?Yes, the setting is important and the author gives detail as to the political landscape of the time as well as the physical as they travel across the country and
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? Yes in the beginning of the book there are maps of the Old Northwest Territory so you have a clear idea of the area that is covered - as well as indications of where these settlements existed , the sizes, the counties.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding or experience? Yes the reader is learning of the dates and facts of a very important time in our country's history 1775-1865. Facts such as dates and laws enacted are interwoven through the story so they are not just dry facts. The author also provides understanding of the hardships of this group of individuals, facing not just the land and Indians, but their fellow US citizens who didn't believe they were equal.

5. Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?
1. History/experiencing 2. Historic Detail 3. Moving/Thought provoking