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karenstory 's review for:
The Book of Lost Friends
by Lisa Wingate
Premise: 16-year-old Hannie’s part of the story takes place in 1875, 10 years after the Civil War. She works as a sharecropper on the plantation where she was originally enslaved. She hasn’t seen her family in the last 10 years. She is then on the road with the plantation owner’s 2 teenage daughters from his mistress. During the journey they take shelter in a church with a wall full of newspaper clippings on it. The clippings are called “Lost Friends.” For 50 cents, a person can publish the details of their family member to get a hold of the “seeker” if anyone had information.
We also find ourselves in 1980 with the character Benny in Louisiana. She has her first teaching job at a poor high school in a small town. Her students get involved in a research project about their ancestors. Benny is also living on the plantation where Hannie once lived.
How will these two stories connect?
Did you know that the Lost Friends column actually existed? It was sent to black churches, where the pastor would read the column to the congregation.
Some thoughts…
Hannie’s story illustrates the trauma of slavery and being separated from her family. But it also illustrates her bravery and strength. (She obviously was based on real people.)
Benny’s story showed that people are still struggling with poverty and prejudice, and that there is still an importance of knowing and preserving history.
Think about what kinds of decisions are being made in several states regarding what can be taught in the classroom – especially as it relates to black history.
There is much to gain from this book.