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Title: Neptune's Honor
"This readable novel, based on a real person from the Georgia Sea Islands, tells the story of the inseparable friendship of a child slave and the plantation family's oldest son, showing how the Civil War changed the plantation culture in the South."
School Library Journal 2005
"Neptune's Honor is a wonderful story, even more so because it's based on history. Fascinating and compelling, Ms. Mueller did the time period justice. This title has plenty of conflict, accurate dialect and an interesting hook."
Writer's Digest 2006
"Pamela's moving writing style, influenced by historical fiction exemplar, Eugenia Price, is accurate in fact and alive with details."
Jeff Hoffman
Golden Isles Weekend
Nov. 24-Dec. 9, 2004 Issue 370
"It has wonderful appeal for those interested in local (Georgia) history as well as the antebellum and Civil War period."
Lynne Thomas
Jekyll's Golden Islander
December 2, 2004, Volume 33, number 24
"Neptune's Honor is a wonderful story, even more so because it's based on history. Fascinating and compelling, Ms. Mueller did the time period justice. This title has plenty of conflict, accurate dialect and an interesting hook."
Writer's Digest 2006
"Pamela Mueller writes the story of Neptune Small with determined detail and accuracy. Neptune's dialogue is written exactly as he would have spoken and adds greatly to the experience of reading about his life.
"Parents who want their children to learn about slavery will find Mueller's treatment of the subject moving and insightful. Neptune's Honor is a fascinating read for children and adults alike, allowing the reader the opportunity to ponder long afterward the profound themes illustrated in the book."
Miriam Austin
The Dahlonega Nugget
"With warmth and intelligence, Pamela Mueller has crafted a novel of Neptune's life and contributions to history."
Wendy Beeker
The Islander
November 1, 2004, Vol. 32 Issue 44
"An entrancing, well written and very moving read. Shows a side of slave population not often found."
In The Library Reviews March 2005
"It has wonderful appeal for those interested in local (Georgia) history as well as the antebellum and Civil War period."
Lynne Thomas
Jekyll's Golden Islander
December 2, 2004, Volume 33, number 24
"This respectful story of two true-life coastal Georgia charcters — a slave and his master — centers on loyalty and duty."
The HistoricalNovels Review
Spring 2005
"Pamela's historical novel about the slave Neptune Small captures many historical facts while weaving an interesting tale that keeps the readers entranced."
Krista Harris
The Brunswick News
"This beautiful story of devoted friendship, based on the history of this area, appeals to readers of all ages."
Cary Knapp
Georgia's Coastal Illustrated
Dec. 8, 2004 Volume XXX, Issue 883
Amazon.com Customer Reviews
Avg. Customer Review: 5 Stars
"As a descendant of Neptune Small and a student of coastal Georgia history, I'm delighted that this story has been written in honor of my great-great-grandfather's heroism. Neptune's Honor touched me deeply. I felt as though I were there with Neptune experiencing his life, listening to the subtle billowing of the atlantic, smelling musty earth oders of the island marshes and feeling the ocean breezes as they blew on Neptune's St. Simons Island. While Neptune's Honor is a very touching and powerful story of love, loyalty and honor, it is based on the life of a privileged slave, and in no way represents the level of intense bondage and deprivation endured by the vast majority of my enslaved ancestors."
William B. Barnes
Elgin, Texas
5 Stars
"Neptune's Honor is a book that is a must read. This story gives the reader a bird's eye view of how slavery was practiced in many areas of the south rather than the stereotypical master/slave relationship which is current popular belief. Although the practice of slavery is not ethical, it is a factual part of the history of this country. The founding fathers owned slaves and many raised slaves to positions of trust & honor within their households. Slavery was as appropriate for those times as was a lack of women's rights. We can't change history but we must know all of the facts of history in order to understand who we are today. Neptune's Honor affords us that opportunity since it is based on factual research. This book, based on actual documents of Neptune Small and his family, is a learning tool in the form of interesting reading. The art of 'slave-speak' was a common method of communication among the slaves and workers on the plantations because of the multicultural environments in which the slaves lived. It afforded them a sense of privacy and control. Living in the south, where slave labor was common during colonial times, there are still remnants of that sub-language. Ms. Mueller has done an outstanding job in her efforts to convey how life was on a specific plantation without encouraging us to think that slavery was acceptable to everyone. It was simply a part of history as it was lived. Her inclusion of characters who depicted the degrading side of the slave issue lets us remember how poorly some slaves were treated. Neptune's Honor brings all of that to us now in such a way as to show the horror of slavery as well as a glimpse of those individuals of color who rose above being slaves in their own right. Just as the uncaring slave owners & traders treated humans as beasts of burden, this book recalls the memoirs of a man who rose above slavery. He allowed love, loyalty and friendship to govern the character of his life. Neptune's Honor is a book I have felt good about reading. Bravo to Ms. Mueller for taking on such a project and giving us such enjoyment."
Evelyn M. Kennedy
Register, GA
5 Stars
"Neptune's Honor is a moving tale for all ages, and is based on a true story! Neptune comes to life as he exemplifies the real essence of the human experience through endurance, commitment, bravery, devotion and, most of all, HONOR! This story of bondage, courage and ultimate freedom in the plantation south is told with great passion, energy, accuracy and wonderful readability."
Buddy Sullivan
Coastal Georgia Historian
Award Winning Author
"Lovingly and meticulously crafted, Neptune's Honor captures a compelling history of the old South, a love of family, and the dignity and humanity of a remarkable man in this sweeping story of two cultures that shared a special bond. Pamela Bauer Mueller has brought to life these troubled times with a richness of detail and depth of character that lends a real sense of time and place."
Victor DiGenti
Author of Windrusher and
Windrusher and the Cave of Tho-hoth
"I really value how you have handled a potentially volatile situation (slavery) in a tender way. It is not sensationalized, yet it also doesn't avoid the dilemma that Southerners faced with their 'people.' I would have loved to have known Anna and Neptune!"
Kim Belt
Former Educator
St. Simons Island, GA
"Neptune's Honor is a treasure just waiting to be discovered. It opens another door of understanding about the history, struggles, and lives of African American people. It is unique in that it can be read and appreciated by all ages and all people."
Lee Hooper
Reader
Dallas TX
"The nicest gift I received for Christmas was your latest book. I have read it twice — what a beautiful love story! The people of St. Simons owe you a debt of gratitude. Your many hours of painstaking research certainly paid off in a beautiful story of the South reeling in agony during the Civil War."
Polly Perkins
Reader
Bend, OR
"I wanted to thank you for writing Neptune's Honor. We've shared this story with every friend who has visited and always longed for a book with the complete story, perhaps even told from Neptune's perspective. Now you've written it! This reminds me that even though situations and relationships can be very complicated, we need to be slow to judge without seeing a more complete picture. Thank you for being careful to present this thought respecting the feelings of all."
Mary Lou Farmer
Reader
St. Simons Island, GA
"This book is wonderful and a joy to read! A great story, and told with warmth and creativity by you. Knowing so much of the history that I do, I am impressed with your dedication to the historical facts that give structure to the story. I know how much you tried to be faithful to what information there is out there.
"I am also impressed that as a stranger and perhaps even (gasp) a Yankee, you told this historical slave story from the human side that reflects the reality of people living among people, black and white, all together on this island."
Edwin MacKethan III
Author and Editor
St. Simons Island
"You have done an outstanding job of putting a slant on the subject of love and loyalty in a setting where few have ever understood the relationship of slave and owner. Although the subject of slavery is a difficult one, this book shows a side of humanity that did exist even under those conditions because not all owners were self serving and abusive. And not all slaves allowed even the most abusive owners to intimidate them, the character "Tigerhead" being an example."
Evelyn Kennedy
Educator
Statesboro, GA
"Neptune's Honor was a great read. I pray that we all should have friendships as strong as your characters."
A.J. Legault
Reader
U.S.A.
"This was a story that needed to be told, and I think Neptune would also agree that you have done him justice in the telling of it! I enjoyed hearing his story as well as re-meeting old friends from Eugenia Price books set on St. Simons Island. Keep on writing!"
Anne Amerson
Reader
Dahlonega, GA
"This book was a very well written book. When you read it you could imagine these things happening right in front of your eyes. It was amazing to use your imagination to see these things. Neptune's Honor taught me how to look at slavery. I always thought slavery was bad and that the slaves were forced to do stuff. Sometime they were, but this book shows how there were some good slave owners. Neptune's Honor taught me a lot: not just about slavery, but about life. When life is hard and you have a friend like Neptune was to Lordy you can really get through anything. I think everyone should read this book because of the lessons you can get out of it. I would greatly recommend this book, because it is really worth reading."
Pamela McKamey
Freshman
Brunswick High School
Brunswick, GA