Trouble Don't Last

Samuel is the novel’s 11-year-old protagonist, and he provides the novel’s first-person narration. After Samuel was born into enslavement, his mother, Hannah, was sold off when he was still a baby. After that, he was raised by Harrison and Lilly, two older enslaved people on the plantation. Samuel is loyal, humble, and curious, always asking more questions than Harrison is willing to answer. Despite Harrison’s reluctance to share the whole truth with Samuel, the boy persists in his efforts to learn it and ultimately discovers that Harrison is actually his grandfather. As Harrison and Samuel flee the plantation and head north to join Hannah in Canada, their journey is long and harrowing, and it also represents an emotional upheaval for Samuel. To escape to freedom, he must question everything he has ever known. At first, Samuel struggles with the idea of running away because his enslavers have taught him that doing so is shameful. This tactic is meant to discourage Samuel and other enslaved people from running away, but Samuel has internalized the idea and needs some convincing from Harrison in order to go along with the escape plan. Additionally, Samuel worries about leaving Lilly behind since she is like a mother to him.