Borderland by Greg Hunt

[starwood5000]

A fantastic novel about slavery in Kansas and Missouri. Story surrounds 3 brothers and their families. Some violence and many deaths during the time the issue is being debated. Families and towns are divided.
A large age difference is between the sister and the 3 brothers that carried this novel. The oldest by many years is Charles, a abolitionist store owner with his own large young family. He is being influenced by the notorious Jim Brown. He has been away from his siblings for many years.
George is for pro-slavery with his own 20 and large farm. He encouraged his younger brother and sister to move without telling them of the danger. Sister Molly is eager to leave because of the death of her boyfriend. The younger brother wants to remain neutral owning no slaves. This is a problem because no one trusts him until he starts to fight back after his family is threatened.
Poor Molly's next boyfriend is killed by a crazy preacher that is preaching to both sides. She and a friend begin searching for this preacher while the raids and killing continue. They do manage to rescue her uncle after he had returned 2 young nephews he couldn't save from lynching.
Finally government intervenes putting a stop to the mayhem but only after much destruction and death. The store gone, the oldest brother and 2 teenage nephews killed. The book was great, interesting with touching family connection. Best of all free. [*]