crafalsk264 's review for:

The Thread Collectors by Shaunna J. Edwards, Alyson Richman

3.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative 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

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 Stella is a slave/mistress to a cruel owner who visits her Creole cottage in New Orleans. But Stella’s feelings are all for a young slave called William, who is a musician and is determined to join the Louisianna Black Native Guards. When William decides to run away, Stella embroiders a map with information from her master that shows not only rivers, creeks, towns but also Confederate troops, camps and outposts. William is a talented flutist and is assigned to the company band.

Lily is a young Jewish woman whose husband, Jacob, is stationed with the Union forces in Louisianna. Lily is an ardent abolitionist. Lily creates a quilt for Jacob, then continues to make quilts with her sewing group and rolling bandages. When months go by with no word from Jacob, Lily travels to New Orleans. Lily and Stella meet and become determined to find the men. 

Jacob is also a musician and he and William bond over their music. Jacob and William escape from a battleground together. William saves Jacob’s life and gets them both away from the fighting.  They make their way through swamps, past patrols to an isolated cabin deep in the swampland.

Shaunna Edwards (African American) and Alyson Richman (Jewish) are long time friends. The story is loosely based on their own family histories. They have written a book that portrays a human side to the Civil War through a beautiful friendship. It tells the story of racism against both blacks and Jews. The characters are richly developed and the story is dramatic and absorbing. This provided a unique perspective through the friendships formed by these characters. It tells the story of the Civil War as the horror it was and the heartbreak of a war against friends and family. But the characters’ friendship, love, resolve, bravery, and courage is touching and memorable. Recommend to readers of historical fiction, romance and those interested in portrayal of ordinary people behaving extraordinarily.