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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Lisa Wingate brings to life stories from actual "Lost Friends" advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, as freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones who had been sold off.
Louisiana, 1875 In the tumultuous aftermath of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now-destitute plantation; Juneau Jane, her illegitimate free-born Creole half-sister; and Hannie, Lavinia's former slave. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following dangerous roads rife with ruthless vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and eight siblings before slavery's end, the pilgrimage westward reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the seemingly limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope.
Louisiana, 1987 For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt--until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, seems suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled oaks and run-down plantation homes lies the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.
Review:
I received an audiobook copy of this book from the publisher, and really didn't know anything about it. I found the dual stories of 1885, and 1987 really compelling. Both happen in the same general area of Louisiana. But while the stories are separated by a hundred years, the struggle of African Americans continues through to yeas to the present.
What I Liked:
Settings:The book takes place in two timelines. 1885 Louisiana is a dangerous place for newly freed slaves. The war may be over, but many whites are still unwilling to treat former slaves as anything more than property. The book shows how hard the reconstruction period was on everyone, and how that led to bitter resentments. In 1987 Louisiana, new teacher, Bene, a naive white woman, confronts a class full of mostly African-American kids she can't relate to. She has to learn about the community to get a true sense of the behaviors of all the families, and develop a plan to engage her students.
Story:
Both time periods had compelling stories that kept me wanting to know more. Hannie, the former slave, feels compelled to look after her former owner, Lavinia, when she gets herself into trouble. Though their adventures, Hannie disguises herself as a boy, and at times, gets the other women in her group to do the same. This is for safety. I was constantly worried for Hannie, Lavinia, and Juneau Jane. They all were in constant danger of being raped, or sold back into slavery.
The story in 1987 was less exciting, but equally compelling. This story concerned itself with how the students (mostly African-American) were being deprived of their rightful history of their ancestors. Many of the white people in town are embarrassed by the past, and so actively try to conceal it from the younger generation. But Bene knows that learning about your past can be important to understanding the present. She also is confronted by some blatant racism as members of the school board automatically assume the students are not bright, and can't learn much of anything.
Narration:
I enjoyed the narration of this book. As there were several different points of view, there were numerous people performing the characters in this book. Each of them brought an honesty and dignity to their characters. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Robin Miles as Hannie. She brought the resourcefulness and intelligence of Hannie to life.
What I Didn't Like:
Ending:While most of the ending was well done, I was really disappointed with a small, but significant, detail about Bene that was thrown in at the very end of the book. It did explain some of her motivation for working with kids, but it didn't have anything to do with the story. It was unnecessary and muddied the story for the reader.
Rating:
Release Date: April 7th, 2020
Author: Lisa Wingate
Audio Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Audio Length: 15 hours, 6 minutes
Print Publisher: Ballantine Books
Page Length: 352 Pages
Source: Publisher
Format: Audiobook
Recomendation: A seemingly small story reveals a gem of a book. If you enjoy Historical Fiction, you will like this book.
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