Clara starts off as a nearly eleven year old slave, owned by former president James Madison. As she grows up, she struggles to conform to the polite, obedient, and subservient ways of her mother and aunts, all house slaves in the Montpelier mansion. The inevitable and imminent death of President Madison means unclear futures for all of his slaves, field and house. Whispered questions like, 'when he finally died would they be freed?' 'Could they stay on the plantation, especially if it is all they ever knew?' scatter through hallways like runaway marbles on a tile floor. Would Madison's slaves even have a choice? What no one saw coming was Madison's awful stepson, Todd, taking over as Massa of Montpelier. His attraction to Clara sets off a terrible chain of events and life changes for everyone involved.
This is supposed to be the story of three generations of house slaves: Susie, Clara, and Susan. Susie is barely in the story, but Clara passes on her feisty nature to her daughter Susan. When Susan is sold away to satisfy a debt, readers follow her coming of age, growth into womanhood, and emerging sense of independence.
Aside from a great character story, A Long Way From Home is a fantastic historical fiction. Events of the Civil War described in detail color the fate of the south and give the story an interesting perspective. ( )

A family of slaves at the time of the Civil War works first to be "decent" people and then toward the dream of becoming free. When the war ends, the two young women who are still living make successful transitions to free life.