"The Kitchen House" by Kathleen Grissom is a gripping and emotional novel that takes readers on a journey through the lives of two women, Lavinia and Belle, as they navigate the complexities of race, family, and identity in the antebellum South.
The story begins with the arrival of seven-year-old Lavinia, a white orphan, at Tall Oaks plantation. She is taken in by the captain and his family, but ultimately finds herself living and working in the kitchen house with the black slaves. Lavinia forms a close bond with Belle, the head house slave, and together they navigate the challenges of their intertwined lives.
Grissom does a fantastic job of portraying the harsh realities of slavery and the complexities of the relationships between slaves and their white owners. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they follow the twists and turns of Lavinia and Belle's lives.
"The Kitchen House" is a thought-provoking and heart-wrenching novel that sheds light on the dark history of slavery in America. It is a powerful story of love, loss, and redemption that will stay with readers long after they have finished the book. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and those interested in exploring the complexities of race and identity in America.