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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the concept of this book - it's based upon the "Lost Friends" advertisements newly freed slaves would post in hopes of finding their loved ones after the civil war. Lisa Wingate tells two stories simultaneously - a freed slave named Hannie in 1875 traveling with two half-sisters and a teacher in 1987 who stumbles upon local history while trying to motivate her poor students in rural Louisiana. Unfortunately, the story dragged for me and felt very slow. However, I loved the newspaper clippings woven throughout the book of actual Lost Friends postings. I had never heard about this part of history before.
"Dear Editor — I belonged to John Rowden of St. Charles county, Missouri. I was called Clarissa. I was sold to Mr. Kerle, a planter. My other was named Perline. I was the youngest of my mother's first children. I had a sister named Sephrony and a brother called Anderson. I don't know much about my mother's second children... I was eight or nine when I was sold... I wish to inquire if I have any living kinfolk and exactly where they are living now, and their full names so I may write them... Hoping with the help of God to hear from some of my family. Mrs Ann Read, No. 246 Customhouse St., New Orleans." Lost Friends column of the Southwestern, Jan 19, 1882
Author Lisa Wingate intersperses her tale with such letters to impress upon her readers that her concept for this book is based on the true stories of those who searched for their family members who were sold and dispersed across America.
Told in a dual timeline through the perspective of Hannie, a former slave turned sharecropper in Louisiana 1875, and Benny, a teacher at a low-income school in Louisiana 1987. The century gap between the protagonists underscores how deeply embedded our histories can be and how much we can learn from our collective pasts—if we care to learn about it.
Poignant, adventurous, inspiring, and shattering, this "based on true events" story offers a slice of insight into the post-emancipation lives in the American south.
TW: violence against women, sexual assault, racism.
Author Lisa Wingate intersperses her tale with such letters to impress upon her readers that her concept for this book is based on the true stories of those who searched for their family members who were sold and dispersed across America.
Told in a dual timeline through the perspective of Hannie, a former slave turned sharecropper in Louisiana 1875, and Benny, a teacher at a low-income school in Louisiana 1987. The century gap between the protagonists underscores how deeply embedded our histories can be and how much we can learn from our collective pasts—if we care to learn about it.
Poignant, adventurous, inspiring, and shattering, this "based on true events" story offers a slice of insight into the post-emancipation lives in the American south.
TW: violence against women, sexual assault, racism.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, War
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I could not get into this, even though the storyline in itself is interesting and captivating. I found myself able to connect more with Benny and those characters than the characters of the past.
In all, I found it mostly boring and in-inspiring.
In all, I found it mostly boring and in-inspiring.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery
Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Pregnancy, War
I love that the author included many factual or based on factual details and characters. The story was a bit hard to follow due to the changing of the time frame and storyline from chapter to chapter. I’d just get back into the story for Benny and then that chapter would end and I have to readjust for Hannie. I get why Wingate wrote it like that, but it was somewhat frustrating/confusing.