What do books represent?

In this novel, books symbolize a means of imaginative escape, as well as a way of preserving the stories and wisdom of others. They help Aminata understand the world, and they provide her with knowledge that allows her to navigate the world and, eventually, achieve freedom. Aminata also enters information into the Book of Negroes, which becomes part of the historical record. Olaudah Equiano shares his story of enslavement through his own book, which Aminata reads and uses as a model for her own story.