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lovely_smiles's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast read. The different characters embodied different parts of slavery. It impacted everyone differently. They were strong, but all for different reasons and in different ways. The struggle between love, fighting for yourself, and kids. Do you save yourself or stay trapped to be with your family? They struggled with the same questions we struggle with today. What is right? What is wrong? What should I do?
Considering the title; we know wench is a very derogatory term, but this put a whole new look on the word. Just being an African American woman I would be considered a mistress. Especially being a young black woman. I couldn't imagine living the way not only these characters did, but the way life was in this time.
Lizzie gave an interesting point of view. She was trapped between love and her freedom. She was the only character that truly felt love for her master and that also felt obligated to return to her children due to the connection she had with Drayle. Her kids were treated well for the most part, she couldn't let them go like the other females. Reenie an older slave added a different view. She was relying on faith to make it through the rough times. Mawu the spunky slave. She was determined to move on, and not be trapped. She saw bigger than things than Lizzie, but she felt so connected to Lizzie that she waited and got hurt. Sweet, a good spirited person until she lost her children. She shows the deep depression that came along with slavery. She couldn't stand to live without her children.
Considering the title; we know wench is a very derogatory term, but this put a whole new look on the word. Just being an African American woman I would be considered a mistress. Especially being a young black woman. I couldn't imagine living the way not only these characters did, but the way life was in this time.
Lizzie gave an interesting point of view. She was trapped between love and her freedom. She was the only character that truly felt love for her master and that also felt obligated to return to her children due to the connection she had with Drayle. Her kids were treated well for the most part, she couldn't let them go like the other females. Reenie an older slave added a different view. She was relying on faith to make it through the rough times. Mawu the spunky slave. She was determined to move on, and not be trapped. She saw bigger than things than Lizzie, but she felt so connected to Lizzie that she waited and got hurt. Sweet, a good spirited person until she lost her children. She shows the deep depression that came along with slavery. She couldn't stand to live without her children.
k_wall's review against another edition
5.0
This was book was amazing. I chose this book for a February reading challenge in my book club. Little did I know how this book would change the way I see this part of history. I was a little skeptical at first thinking this was another book about slavery and all the wrong doing of whites to blacks in the 1850's, but it was so much more than that.
This is a story of a slave girl, Lizzie. She travels to the free state of Ohio with her master, Drayle, to a resort where southern men liked to take their mistresses. Lizzie meets other women there who are in the same situation as her. While they are in Ohio, they start to wonder what freedom would feel like. They are scared of leaving everything and everyone they know behind though.
There were sometimes in this book that I forgot that it was set in the 1850's. This book was so wonderfully written. It showed that women, especially slave women, were strong during this time and put up with so much. They had no rights, but they stood together. It was almost like the women in this story belonged to a wonderful secret club where anyone would do anything to help another member. The ending was not what I expected and was hoping that Lizzie would do things differently. However, I would recommend this book to anyone. It is not just your typical "slavery" book. This is truly a story that can change the way you see things forever.
This is a story of a slave girl, Lizzie. She travels to the free state of Ohio with her master, Drayle, to a resort where southern men liked to take their mistresses. Lizzie meets other women there who are in the same situation as her. While they are in Ohio, they start to wonder what freedom would feel like. They are scared of leaving everything and everyone they know behind though.
There were sometimes in this book that I forgot that it was set in the 1850's. This book was so wonderfully written. It showed that women, especially slave women, were strong during this time and put up with so much. They had no rights, but they stood together. It was almost like the women in this story belonged to a wonderful secret club where anyone would do anything to help another member. The ending was not what I expected and was hoping that Lizzie would do things differently. However, I would recommend this book to anyone. It is not just your typical "slavery" book. This is truly a story that can change the way you see things forever.
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
3.0
Focuses on four female slaves who spend summers at a resort in the north with their slave owners.
hellojoie's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ebbiev's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
mellabella's review against another edition
4.0
I've read many books about slavery. Many, of course addressed the issue of the plantation owners raping slave women. But, I never read anything like this. Slave owners taking their slaves on vacation for the summer alone? Told only from Lizzie's (Eliza) point of view but dealing with her and three other slave women's lives (Mawu, Reenie, and Sweet)the summers they meet at Tawawa. Lizzie has two children by her master. She yearns for freedom but, is scared for her children and what would happen to them if she did. She also feels (at least at first) that her master is good to her. I really thought towards the end Lizzie would try to run. I was sad that Mawu was caught after a year of freedom. I thought there should be some sort of epilogue. It ended a little abruptly for me. It would have also been nice to give the other women a voice.
esorensen22's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
maggienack's review against another edition
5.0
It is not an easy book to read, because one is in constant fear for the characters. It is well written and absorbing.