Yellow Crocus: Yellow Crocus, Book 1

Great characters and not as sad as I had anticipated due to the subject and timeframe. I recommend you read it.

Goodreads Description- Mattie was never truly mine. That knowledge must have filled me as quickly and surely as the milk from her breasts. Although my family `owned' her, although she occupied the center of my universe, her deepest affections lay elsewhere. So along with the comfort of her came the fear that I would lose her some day. This is our story...So begins Lisbeth Wainwright's compelling tale of coming-of-age in antebellum Virginia. Born to white plantation owners but raised by her enslaved black wet nurse, Mattie, Lisbeth's childhood unfolds on the line between two very different worlds. Growing up under the tender care of Mattie, Lisbeth adopts her surrogate mother's deep-seated faith in God, her love of music and black-eyed peas, and the tradition of hunting for yellow crocuses in the early days of spring. In time, Lisbeth realizes she has freedoms and opportunities that Mattie does not have, though she's confined by the societal expectations placed on women born to privilege. As Lisbeth grows up, she struggles to reconcile her love for her caregiver with her parents' expectations, a task made all the more difficult as she becomes increasingly aware of the ugly realities of the American slavery system. When Lisbeth bears witness to a shockingly brutal act, the final vestiges of her naiveté crumble around her. Lisbeth realizes she must make a choice, one that will require every ounce of the courage she learned from her beloved Mattie. This compelling historical novel is a richly evocative tale of love, loss, and redemption set during one of the most sinister chapters of American history.This book was gripping from the word go. A freebie on Kindle a few weeks ago, I thought this might just be another book following the theme of the popular 'The Help' published a book and a made into a hit movie. What I didn't expect was to be dragged into the story until I couldn't help but keep turning the pages until the end. This wonderful debut novel, Yellow Crocus, follows the story of Mattie, a slave in pre-Civil War Virginia who is taken away from her young baby in order to act as wet nurse to Lisbeth, the daughter of the couple who owns her. Mattie must trust the care of her own newborn to the other field slaves while she spends her time in the Big House raising another woman's child. I was amazed and saddened at the same time that Lisbeth bonded with Mattie, a field hand, than she ever did with her own mother, Anne. Amazed at the irony that these so called "non-humans" were good enough to nurse a white baby from their "negro" breasts and to care for them through childhood and then that same child would grow up to learn the ugly racism of society. I was saddened that Lisbeth never did bond with her real mother and that her real mother was just fine with that. I was shocked during a scene in the book when Lizbeth's mother saw what nursing was and grimaced and stated it was "unseemly" Mattie eventually has another baby and is returned to the fields and not a day goes by that Lisbeth desperately misses her nurse. As Lisbeth grows and learns the ways of being a proper young woman of the South, she realizes that she feels different than most of her friends about the issue of slavery and finds herself troubled by the tug of war between her true feelings and what society deems appropriate.Ultimately this is a story of heartbreak and loss, love and loyalty. Above all, it is a story of slavery. Laila Ibrahim works hard to stay true to the characters she has created without letting it turn into yet another story of a white lady swooping down and fixing the problem of racism (bookstores and movie theatres are already overflowing with that story, told a hundred ways). She has been compared to Kathryn Stockett (The Help) but, frankly, Kathryn Stockett wishes. Laila Ibrahim does not turn her black characters into caricatures and her white characters into heroes. If I do have a criticism, however, it is that she does not go far enough into the grim reality of slavery and racism. She loses her nerve, wishes too much for her characters to all have resolutions that leave the reader feeling comforted and comfortable. However, even now in the 21st century, maybe society still isn't ready to hear or be reminded of our country's terrible past. I don't want to reveal too much, but I do think the story would have been even more powerful than it was if some of the characters, particularly Lisbeth, hadn't turned out to be quite so sympathetic so easily. I am certain that in the late 1800's, Lisbeth's sympathy would be met with much more bitterness than what was told. But either way, I do urge you to decide for yourself and read Yellow Crocus. If this is the first work of Ibrahim, I can only imagine what other wonderful treasures she will provide readers with in her future writings! 5 stars!

This story pulls you in from the first sentence and then, I could hardly put it down because I needed to know what happened next. This story weaves something beautiful into a horrible story we know all too well.

This book is an amazing tale of a young woman who is a slave on a plantation. Her name is Mattie. The story starts about 3 months after she has had her son, Samuel and progresses all the way to when Samuel is in his twenties. Mattie, due to just having had her son, has milk to feed him. This may seem like a good thing, but this is what changes Mattie's life forever. Because she has milk still in her breasts she is called in to the white owners' house late one night to take over as the wet nurse for the woman of the house when she has her first baby. Mattie is to now live in the house caring for this new baby instead of her own baby. The tale takes the reader through the growing up of the little girl and how she attaches to Mattie in a way that is "not proper" in the South at that time. The little girl, Elizabeth, has deep feelings for Mattie and sees her as a person, not just a slave. She is told her feelings are wrong and to stop them. As Elizabeth grows Mattie is allowed to make visits to the slave lands outside to see her family and friends once a week. This gives Mattie the chance to still see and have a relationship with her son. As Elizabeth gets older and is in school she teaches Samuel the things she is learning in school and teaches Mattie how to writer her name. This is forbidden, but Elizabeth doesn't know any better and is happy to be teaching them. As the book progresses bad things happen and Samuel is sold and Mattie is beside herself. Elizabeth tries to help, but is too young to understand the ways of her family. Eventually Samuel goes missing along with his Father from another plantation. Mattie is taken to be questioned about what she knows of the runaways. Eventually Mattie decides, after having her second baby (a girl), to run too. She knows where her husband and son probably are, they always made plans for if they could run away, where they would go...to Ohio, the free state. When Jordan, Mattie's little girl, is big enough Mattie makes the decision and has the chance to run to freedom. It is a MUCH longer and harder journey than she imagined though. Will Mattie make it to freedom? If she does, will she find her family and be able to keep her daughter alive on the journey? And what about Elizabeth, what will happen to her? Will Elizabeth forget Mattie and just go along with her family's ways about slaves?I can not even begin to describe this book in a way that does it justice. There is so much that happens in this book and so much that makes you think about the way of the South back then (1800s is when this book is set). I was drawn into the setting and fell in love with the gentle, yet brave and strong character of Mattie. I also loved Elizabeth, and how you got to "see" her grow up into a wonderful young woman through the book. I started this book one day and the next day was up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it. It just amazed me and drew me in. I could not put it down. The writing was wonderful, the language just right for the characters. The story just flowed without seam until the end, where you were left feeling satisfied and with a sense of calm, yet wonder. The book depicts the way a slave was made to live and how they were treated. How they yearned for freedom, even if it meant running away and risking being caught again and punished. Yellow Crocus was a wonderfully written book that tugged at my heart strings and made me thankful for change. This book was fiction, but it had a lot of non-fiction base to it I would say. The situations of the characters throughout the book is phenomenal and there is no way, as a reader, you won't get drawn in and have feelings for the characters and what is happening in the plot.5/5 Stars! AMAZNIG book!**I got this book free from amazon.com**

The author gives descriptive and engaging relationship dynamics as I might imagine of that era....and her first novel! I intend to read the next 2 books and more.

Wasn't quite what I was expecting but judging from the length I knew it wasn't going to be a huge, in-depth book about slavery in the South. Considering the length the author did do a fairly good job developing the relationships between the main characters. It moved a bit quickly over important parts, I felt, but the point was made.I have trouble with books that span decades, like this one. I don't get the level of detail and involvement in the characters' lives that I prefer.The ending was wonderful. Good enough that I'm interested in reading to see what happens next.

I have had this book in my library for years, barely getting past the first page due to distractions. But, upon starting it, I was thoroughly enthralled - unable to put it down. This book took me through every emotion with its exquisite character development and imagery. Thank you, Ms. Ibrahim. As a side note, this would be a lovely movie.

So engrossing and yet heart breaking. But God moves in ways we cannot see nor understand . Superb reading. Thank you, I can't wait to start #2.

I’ve read this book twice.The story of a wet nurse taken from her own baby to care for a white child. The love and bond that grew between them. They thought each other things that would eventually save both their lives. There are 4 books in this series. Each one had me hooked. I’ve also learned more reading them then I did in any history books.

good

4 - 4 1/2 star read. I hadn't realized that this book was book 1 in a trilogy. I enjoyed this book so much, I ordered book 2 and 3. Set in Virginia before the Civil War, we meet Lisbeth as she was being born. Her Mother is the chatelaine of the plantation and does not expect to breast feed her child so a wet nurse was selected from amongst the slaves. Mattie had given birth to her son Samuel 3 months before and did not want to become the wet nurse as it would mean living in the big house and not seeing her son on a daily basis. She was unable to do anything but comply. But once she and Lisbeth (short for her given name Elizabeth) gaze into each other's eyes, a connection was made that was to last a long time. Lisbeth ended up loving Mattie more than her own Mother and was able to keep her as a servant even after her breastfeeding days were long behind her. We see Lisbeth grow up to a lovely young woman. We see Mattie chafing against the institution of slavery. Decisions need to be made by both women that will be difficult and life altering. A wonderful book about the love between two women as they meet the challenges that life gives them. I really liked this book.

It was 1837 in Virginia when the plantation owner, Jonathan Wainwright's wife, Ann, gave birth to a daughter named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was immediately taken away from her mother and handed over to an enslaved wet nurse named Mattie. Mattie, a young mother, was forced to leave her son, Samuel, who was born three months earlier. He was left to the care of her Grandpa, Poppy, and her sister, Rebecca. Mattie was given permission to visit her son on Sundays. In the meantime, Mattie's husband, Emmanuel, told her that he has decided to run away and free himself. He would be going to Ohio, if he wasn't caught. He would make home visits when he was able to. When their son was older, they would make a run for it and join Emmanuel. Mattie was feeling sad to leave her son. Mrs. Gray, the Big House housekeeper, told Mattie that becoming a house slave "was a privilege."Mattie's mother was sold when Mattie was only eight years old and she was never to be seen again. Mattie's ancestors were all slaves. It was in 1705 that the Virginia Assembly passed a law clarifying that once and for all, the status of Africans "all servants" imported and brought into the Country, who were not Christians in their native Country would be slaves. All Negro, Mulatto and Indian slaves shall be held as real estate within this Country. You would be a slave if your mother was a slave.Lisbeth, as she was known to Mattie, felt lonely in the company of her mother and a coldness from her father and Grandmother. As she grew older, she was very attached to Mattie. When her parents, her grandmother and brother Jack were out of the house, Lisbeth would go over to Mattie's cabin on the plantation, where she found friendliness and joy. She was welcomed into the family. There were days that she would go with Mattie to the willow tree, where she could hide. Samuel would meet them and it was there that Lisbeth taught Samuel how to read and write. It was shortly after that Samuel learned that he was sold to another plantation owner. Mattie had tried her best to stop this but to no avail. The only thing she could do was pray for her son's health and well-being. Samuel was frightened to leave. On one of Emmanuel's visits, Mattie became pregnant and later gave birth to a daughter named Jordan. Mattie knew that very soon, she would be called to go to work on the plantation.Mattie taught Lisbeth everything she knew about life. She taught her love, songs and prayers and eating black-eyed peas. She has shaped the woman Lisbeth became. There is so much more to this gentle, tender and heartbreaking story as you will come to learn. Can the love between two women from two different backgrounds survive?The Yellow Crocus blooms in the most adverse conditions. It grows best in gritty soil and blossoms in early spring. This flower is a symbol of happiness, hope, survival and strength.Laila Ibrahim's writing is so beautiful and touching. We are reminded on how cruel and hateful slavery was and the ugly realities of the American Slavery System of the past.Yellow Crocus is a first novel for Laila Ibrahim and for certain, it won't be the last. I give it FIVE STARS and highly recommend it.

The setting is a nineteenth century Virginian plantation. Mattie is the wet-nurse slave assigned to care for the privileged newborn Lisbeth (Mattie had her own baby, but her new charge was deemed more deserving of her milk and care.) A strong bond is formed. Lisbeth and Maddie love and interact with each other as only a 'mother' and child can. As the story continues, Lisbeth becomes a young woman, with all the challenges that that circumstance brings.While this book is not a difficult read, it's complex. The characters are deep and richly developed. Ibrahim is able to create an atmosphere that feels alive, like something is developing and has the potential to erupt. I enjoyed the poignant, thoughtful scenes, like how Lisbeth compares her smooth pale skin against Mattie's dark, weathered, scarred skin in a moment of reflection rather than a moment of criticism.The other characters present readers with many opportunities to add to the depth of this narrative.Why the title? The yellow crocus apparently rivaled the sun in it's brightness. Of course the flower produces valuable saffron and it's a beauty that can grow in a hostile environment. Maybe, this all represents Lisbeth and Mattie's relationship and how they both grew in the unlikely company of each other.I feel this is an excellent read providing food for thought. It's engaging and an exploration into the history/behaviours of the times. It's also a narrative that focuses on the characters and their make-up.