The Good Lord Bird by James McBride (2013) Riverhead Books

The telling of John Browns last few years from the point of view of a young negro boy rescued/kidnapped and mistaken for a girl because of his size.  It details the lives of John Browns’ sons and their faith-free following of the man who considered himself following God’s will.  

A feather from the Good Lord Bird (an extra-large ivory billed woodpecker) is considered good luck, but the bird does not save Fredrick Brown, who is a little slow, and ends-up dead from another preacher.

Masterfully done and turned into a movie.