 Complaints were filed against the use of the book in a Manitoba classroom in 1998 and in a Nova Scotia classroom in 2002.Those who disagreed with the novel being taught in their children's classrooms disliked the image that it gave black people and argued that it spoke too lightly of slavery.Lawrence Hill, the introductory speaker in the 25th Anniversary Edition of the book, agreed that it was a lighter speculation of a racist history, but that it also was written in a way for young readers to understand the barbaric situation.