Worthy Brown's Daughter by Phillip Margolin 340 pages

Phillip Margolin was actually inspired to write this book after reading an article whose story began in Missouri.  The story was about two slaves, Robin and Polly, and the deal they made with their owner: help him establish a farm in Willamette Valley, Oregon and he would free the family.  He kept only part of the bargain and freed the parents, keeping the children as indentured servants. Robin and Polly had to find a white lawyer who would help them get their children back. 

This book is the story of Worthy Brown, a freed slave in Portland, Oregon, a riverfront town in a state less than a year old. Roxanne is his teenage daughter, still owned by the ruthless Caleb Barbour.  Worthy enlists the help of young attorney Matthew Penny to force Barbour to keep the bargain he made with Worthy.  Events rapidly spin out of control and the stakes become higher for these two men than anyone could imagine. 

The author began researching this book in the 1980's.  He kept setting it aside, then in 1990 dusted it off for a second look.  It is a fictional tale based on true events, well told and "worthy"of your time.