Interesting story that reads like a movie script. Unfortunately we don\\\'t get the character development or narrative that makes you feel the scene. Also lacking was a realistic ending. Everything tied up nicely in the end. It could have been a Lifetime movie.

While there were elements of the story that fit with the historical time period, the author's imaginings did not hold together. In any other historical novel of the time period the main character would have been sold or killed. This became a distraction.
I loved Secret Life of Bees but have been disappointed with the author's books since. With so many good books out there about this time period, skip this one.