by Kathleen Grissom
Listened to audiobook. Finished in May 2020
The author was inspired to write this book when she was restoring a plantation house with her husband. She talked to local people to gather stories about their ancestors and used them for the starting point for her tale. It follows the life of a young Irish girl who is orphaned on the ship ride from her homeland to the United States. As per parents still owed payment for the trip, the captain took her into his household to be raised by and to eventually work with his slaves. As her story unfolds, she sees life from both sides of servitude and to her surprise, her interactions change as her position does. This unique situation offers an interesting perspective on the relationships that develop between slaves and their owners. A gripping and emotional story, this book is worth the read.