When two Union soldiers stumble onto a plantation in northern Georgia on a warm May day in 1864, the last thing they expect is to see the Union flag flying high—or to be greeted by a group of freed slaves and their Jewish mistress. Little do they know that this place has an unusual history.Twelve years prior, Adelaide Mannheim—daughter of Mordecai, the only Jewish planter in the county—was given … county—was given her own maid, a young slave named Rachel. The two became friends, and soon they discovered a secret: Mordecai was Rachel’s father, too.
As the country moved toward war, Adelaide and Rachel struggled to navigate their newfound sisterhood—from love and resentment to betrayal and, ultimately, forgiveness.
Now, facing these Union soldiers as General Sherman advances nearer, their bond is put to the ultimate test. Will the plantation be spared? Or will everything they’ve lived for be lost?
Revised edition: Previously published as Slave and Sister, this edition of Sister of Mine: A Novel includes editorial revisions.
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Historical fiction about the racial tensions leading up to, and during the civil war. Very well written and emotional at times. Highly recommend this author and this book.
A complex and layered story that drew me in to the point where I couldn’t put the book down. What happens when emotions come in conflict with a system that rationalizes and perpetuates a cruel and inhumane practice? Can you be enslaved and yet allow yourself to love and commit in a world where you cannot call your body your own?
It amazed me that a first-time author, Sabra Waldfogel could weave these strands together so well and create a story that’s both moving and disturbing.
The main characters, Rachel, Henry and Adelaide are locked in a triangle. Bound by family ties and (in Rachel’s case) literally bound in slavery. Rachel is enslaved and at the mercy of the owners, which include her father and sister. The memory of her mother’s death haunts her and she’s left to determine what the relationship could have been between her slave mother and slave-master father.
Adelaide is, in her way, bound to convention and tradition — both the tradition of the culture and her religion. She must marry in spite of her own desires, and she’s faced with a match that may lead to disaster, only to chose one that might deliver the same fate. Henry is conflicted between his own heritage and religious beliefs, and the customs of the country he now inhabits and wants to succeed in.
Though Adelaide and Henry could make the choice to walk away – and risk everything that comes with rejecting religious and social mores – they do have the choice. Rachel does not. So the ties that bind depend on where one is in the hierarchy.
In a heartbreaking scene at a slave auction, slaves try to make arrangements for their own sales in order to stay with family and loved ones. This shows that the enslaved were not mute, passive victims. They were actively working to make a way out of no way, and taking charge of their survival the best they could within the constraints that imprisoned them.
Rachel’s story reminded me of stories from my own family, particularly when it came to slaves making deals (or using trickery) to learn to read and write. Yet, at the same time, they had to hide their intelligence and strength lest they incurred the wrath of the slave-master. Rachel must hold her own feelings in check, and try to navigate between staying in her “place” while reserving the right to call her soul her own (even if she can’t say the same for her body). It’s a precarious path that could lead to death, or even madness.
The author did a great job of showing the conflict within the slaves who must stay subservient, hiding their true feelings and thoughts under the “slave mask.” Their need to work to keep Henry’s place going comes mostly from their desire not to be sold off. Working to keep him successful keeps their families intact, and lessens the chance they’ll end up in an even worse situation.
As the story continues, each character must face various trials as their relationships are tested. Adelaide’s growth comes at a price, but she is able to finally come to terms with the world as it is after the war. In fact, it just might be a world where she can finally stop being subservient to her father’s bidding. Her growing acceptance of the real nature of her relationship with Henry, also frees her to connect with Rachel, woman-to-woman.
This realization is put to the test when they’re threatened by people who see their success (and freedom for the slaves) as a threat that can’t be tolerated. Adelaide finally comes into her own and shows she is not the person we saw in the beginning. In addition, the author shows how the seeds for present-day racist resentments were sown as the various social and economic classes of whites clashed at war’s end. Once the veil of order and gentility is ripped away, a new reality must be faced.
Henry’s letters give startling and horrific glimpses of war, and his transition also comes with a price. Although he still maintains a bit of idealism, it also reflects his new found awareness.
Rachel’s transition, for me, is about her acceptance of her positions as sister, sister-in-law, lover, daughter, mother. Through it all she keeps her sense of self while navigating a landscape filled with danger. She’s at the center of a knot of family ties that are also master/slave ties, tangled and almost impossible for a reader in the present day to comprehend.
The author’s research is evident, and it gives the story richness that never makes it ring false. It’s not an easy read, and there are questions asked that are still being answered today. This is not a sweeping saga with larger than life characters, but an intimate look at people whose fates are intertwined for better and for worse during a time in this country’s history that is still resonating today. (Received a review copy.)
One of the best books I’ve read in a long time! I couldn’t put it down!
Great characters! Loved, loved this book, COULD NOT put it down!
Somewhat predictable, but engrossing at the same time. Gave a view of the South nd slavery through a Jewish lenses. Found it rather interesting.
One of the best “human connection” books I’ve ever read. Love and loyalty in the hardest circumstances.