Inspired by historical
events, List Wingate brings to life the story of three young ladies as they travel
from 1875 Louisiana to Texas. Lavinia
is the pampered Southern heiress, Juneau Jane is her illegitimate free-born
Creole half-sister, and Hannie is Lavinia's former slave. Lavinia and
Juneau Jane are both seeking their rightful inheritance and Hannie is searching
for her mother and eight siblings who were sold to various individuals between
the two states. The three discover the book of lost friends; ads that were placed
in Southern newspapers by former slaves looking for lost family members. These
ads were then read to black congregations by their preachers in hopes that members
of freed slave families would recognize relatives and be reunited with them.
The Book of Lost Friends includes actual ads from this time period with some of the ads including
information of family members that were reunited through the ads.
“Colored Tennessean (Nashville), Oct. 14, 1865
information wanted of Caroline Dodson, who was
sold from Nashville Nov. 1st 1862 by James Lumsden to Warwick, (a trader then
in human beings), who carried her to Atlanta, Georgia, and she was last heard
of in the sale pen of Robert Clarke, (human trader in that place), from which
she was sold. Any information of her whereabouts will be thankfully received
and rewarded by her mother,
Lucinda Lowery,
Box 1121, Nashville, Tenn.”
As with all dual timeline books the stories of these four women must
come together and they do so in a compelling manner. Some readers might have trouble
getting into the story but those who love historical fiction from this time
period will find it well worth the read.
4.22 stars on Goodreads, 4.5 on Amazon
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