The underground railroad is a very strong story about bring (un-)free. Cora escapes her cruel masters at the cotton plantation. She wants to live as a free women. Only to learn, how a whole society involved in upholding slavery will never allow her to be truly free. The character attempts to establish a live for herself in different states with different laws and narratives about slavery. She finds places and circumstances that make her feel hopeful (and somewhat safe) only for the next cruelty to strike.

Despite bring fictional I found this book very informative. It shows masterfully how the cruelty of slavery was not merely happening on the plantations but manifested through all institutions and even the thoughts and actions of ordinary people.