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A review by nevertheless_she_reads
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I recently joined a local mom's book club, and last month the book was 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 by Kathleen Grissom. I had never heard of this book, and was unsure if I would enjoy it. But surprisingly, I ended up loving it!
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 is about Lavinia, a white 7-year-old girl who is orphaned while onboard a ship from Ireland. When she arrives on a tobacco plantation in Virginia, she is ordered to live and work alongside the slaves in the kitchen house. She grows close to the slaves as she grows up, and they become family to her. In many ways, she is treated like them. But time and time again, she is reminded of her privilege due to her white skin.
This book was fascinating. It was told from such a unique perspective, and in many ways, Lavinia was more mature and progressive than the time she was alive. She came to recognize her privilege and found her voice, which many women weren't allowed to share during that time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⚠️TW/CW: slavery, bondage, rape, lynching, murder, physical abuse
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 is about Lavinia, a white 7-year-old girl who is orphaned while onboard a ship from Ireland. When she arrives on a tobacco plantation in Virginia, she is ordered to live and work alongside the slaves in the kitchen house. She grows close to the slaves as she grows up, and they become family to her. In many ways, she is treated like them. But time and time again, she is reminded of her privilege due to her white skin.
This book was fascinating. It was told from such a unique perspective, and in many ways, Lavinia was more mature and progressive than the time she was alive. She came to recognize her privilege and found her voice, which many women weren't allowed to share during that time.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⚠️TW/CW: slavery, bondage, rape, lynching, murder, physical abuse
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Racism, Murder, and Physical abuse