'The Underground Railroad,' our next MashReads book, is a harrowing look at American slavery

"If you want to see what this nation is about, you have to ride the rails. Look outside as you speed through, and you'll find the true face of America." So writes Colson Whitehead in his latest novel The Underground Railroad.

The Underground Railroad follows Cora, a girl born into slavery on a Georgia plantation. After witnessing the cruelty of a new master, Cora and her friend Caesar run away, attempting to escape to a new life. But their bid for freedom quickly goes awry when Cora kills a young white bounty hunter during their escape attempt. Soon Cora and Caesar are fleeing a manhunt, led by the infamous hunter Ridgeway, as they struggle to make their way to freedom.

Harrowing and insightful, The Underground Railroad explores how the institution of slavery shaped America and what it took to free slaves from its grasp.

This month, Mashable's social book club MashReads will be reading and discussing The Underground Railroad! You can join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. And don't forget to use the hashtag #MashReads to let us know what you think of the book.

Also, Colson Whitehead will be chatting with MashReads IRL on Oct. 25, at 6:30 p.m. EST, at MashableHQ in New York City. We hope you can join the discussion. You can RSVP here.