Tanya Landman - Buffalo Soldier

The most recent winner of the Carnegie Medal (2016's winner to be announced later on in the year), Buffalo Soldier is the story of Charley, a slave who disguises herself as a boy and joins the army shortly after the American Civil War brings freedom to the plantations of the South.

Told entirely in the first person, Charley narrates a screed of vivid, action packed, shocking and occasionally amusing experiences, ranging from the brutal rape and murder of two fellow slaves near the beginning of the story, to battles and land reclamation issues with various Native American tribes, to more practical concerns such as the issues of having periods and needing to pee sitting down while maintaining the ongoing pretence of life as a boy.

Landman uses these devices to raise questions regarding freedom, prejudice (including Charley's own, initially narrow minded attitude towards the Native Americans), gender identity and expectations along with the aftermath and consequences of a war intended by the 'Powers That Be' to emancipate the African American population. Landman does not shy away from showing the more unsavoury effects such as the lack of opportunities available to emancipated slaves (effectively leaving the majority of freed slaves forced to continue working in menial or unskilled jobs), and how those in more powerful positions manipulated the situation to their own advantage.

Considering Tanya Landman is a middle aged white woman born and raised in Devon, I was impressed with the voice she gives to Charley throughout the book. Charley is a clearly written, engaging and resourceful character. Landman has obviously taken great pains to ensure that the tale, written entirely in Charley's own voice - including speech inflections and turns of phrase as though Charley is telling the story to a friend - remains consistent and true to the character throughout. It was hard to spot a wrong note when the deliberate choice of this style could easily have come across as gimmicky, crass or insubstantial.

It maintains a fast page-turning pace, there's a few nice little narrative descriptions and flourishes thrown in, and you do become reasonably emotionally engaged with Charley and care about what happens to her. On the downside, the book can be somewhat heavy going and relentlessly unhappy at times (true to life of course, but this isn't one for you if you like your books to provide you with a bit of escapism from the real world). I also found it  a tad too predictable and unrealistic that Charley would excel beyond the rest of her regiment in the battle and shooting stakes, and wasn't too convinced with the romance aspect brought in towards the end. And as well written and researched as it clearly is (Landman took inspiration from the true story of Catherine Williams, who joined the army in the 19th century as Private William Cather), it wasn't the sort of book I think I'd find myself picking up again to re-read.

All in all, a worthy winner, with an important message at its centre and a lead character that's easy to identify with, but for me, it lacked that 'X Factor' that turns a good book into a great one.