NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes a dramatic historical novel of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post–Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives.“An absorbing historical . . . enthralling.”—Library JournalBestselling author Lisa Wingate … Journal
Bestselling author Lisa Wingate brings to life startling stories from actual “Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, as newly freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones who had been sold away.
Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous era of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half sister. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following roads rife with vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of stolen inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery’s end, the pilgrimage west reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope.
Louisiana, 1987: For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt—until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, is suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled live oaks and run-down plantation homes lie the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.
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I loved the ending
A beautifully written story that weaves historical fact together with fiction into the best book I have read this year. Part of the book is set in 1987 and alternates with the era just after the Civil War. Be prepared with tissues– but know it has a satisfying ending. The racial injustices are a touchy subject, but Ms Wingate handled it well.
With a dual timeline— one set in 1987 small town Louisiana, the other set in Post-Civil War Reconstruction 1875—the modern story is told by inexperienced, struggling teacher Benny, in search of herself, while the past is brought to the present by fiercely loyal, strong, and capable former slave, Hannie, in search of her family. The Book of Lost Friends is an actual book filled with missing person ads for loved ones who were forcibly taken away from their families and sold off as slaves in another location, never to be seen again. Placed by people desperately searching to reunite with family members, these ads were read aloud by the preachers of churches throughout the South for about ten years. The story lines intersect with the discovery of this book among other historical documents. Benny assigns her classes to heart-felt research as they uncover the stories of their relatives in generations past. Readers learn of Hannie and her struggles from embarrassing, shameful documents hidden virtually in Benny’s backyard.
I connected with this book on a number of levels. Of course, the inhumanities and horrors of slavery in themselves are enough to invoke a gut reaction. Since the author presents her story from the point of view of heartbroken people, I found myself identifying with the anguish of slaves as their children and grandchildren cried and screamed to be rescued, as they were ripped from loving arms, powerless to interfere, as these precious little ones were sold off to an unknown fate.
As a former teacher, I certainly could identify with Benedetta (Benny) Silva’s struggles to be in control and relevant while in front of a classroom of openly hostile, mocking students with heartbreaking, unfixable lives and problems. That’s when we learn: We can only raise their self-esteem, hopes, and goals but we cannot take away their misery.
This award-winning book would be perfect reading for courses in social studies, civics, sociology, and women’s studies. Looking for primary source documents? See some below. The book also lists other sources for research.
“Go to “Lost Friends Exhibition.” https://www.hnoc.org/database/lost-friends/. Historic New Orleans Collection. Web. 2019.
“Check out “Piecing Together Stories of Families Lost in Slavery.” https://www.npr.org/2012/07/16/156843097/piecing-together-stories-of-families-lost-in-slavery. National Public Radio. Web. July 16, 2012.
“Try “Purchased Lives Panel Exhibition.” https://www.hnoc.org/exhibitions/purchased-lives-panel-exhibition. Historic New Orleans Collection. Web.n.d.”
I like historical fiction and this book is well done. I usually am not a fan of two timelines, but Ms Wingate’s book is done well. The characters are realistic, the story is engaging and the newspaper ads heart wrenching…
A good story with lots of research having been done. For me it was tedious. I finally finished it and was glad I did. I don’t know what could of been left out, it was all important due to the heart breaking story of slavery and what it did to families!
Lisa Wingate has become one of my favorite authors. Her stories take you back in time, and fill you with so much love and emotion for the wonderful characters telling their story.
Loved this! I had not heard of this story before…the searches. I learned something new!
It’s no wonder that Lisa Wingate repeatedly sits atop my list of favorite authors! Her stories are written with so much heart, making her characters and their stories burst with life, depth, and soul.
After reading Before We Were Yours in 2017, I wondered if it would be possible for Ms. Wingate to continue to entertain, enlighten, and touch her readers in such a powerful way. I’m reassured she can, does, and will. Such a talent. Her creativity and deeply rooted stories are unmatched in my book. (Pun intended.) When asked which of her books is my favorite, I can’t find an answer, for each one becomes another favorite as I finish the last page.
The Book of Lost Friends is inspired by true stories of the past making the characters that much more memorable and their stories that much more touching. As with this author’s previous books, the dual time periods are intertwined flawlessly, melting my heart and forever changing me. The inclusion of actual newspaper advertisements of the Lost Friends is exceptional and gives the stories an additional layer of spirit.
The book opens from Hannie’s view of life, and I am quickly drawn to her. Her narration is unique and engaging, and I see and feel her emotions and desperation. Benedetta’s story is much different than I expected, yet equally as moving. These are fascinating key characters, as is the supporting cast. Everyone has a story to tell that touches and routes someone else’s life.
Dual time periods are some of my favorite types of stories, primarily due to Ms. Wingate’s brilliant storytelling. I’ve learned so much of the human experiences of the 1800s, the underprivileged, oppression, and more from this book. I connected with so many characters on many levels.
With remarkable scenes, soulful characters, and Ms. Wingate’s standard themes of faith, family, friendship, and freedom, this is another life-changing five-star read.
#LisaWingate #DualTimePeriod
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Very interesting
I’m always moved by the stories Lisa Wingate brings to print. She does a wonderful job with her research of the real and true stories from our history. She then weaves those stories into her writing by way of creating fictional characters that reflect some of the real life parts. She leaves me thinking long after I finish a book and then wanting to know more about the real people behind the tales. They’re so sad and make me emotional about things that really happened. My heart hurts learning of these things that really happened and how people could be so horrible. I highly recommend this tragic story. As always, the characters stuck with me and made me feel a deep connection to them.
A powerful saga not to be missed. The differing timelines and multiple characters pulled my heart in on so many levels. I loved the character development and seeing the slow unfolding of inter-connectedness between storylines. This story stayed with me for days afterwards, allowing me truly soak up the beauty offered in this redemptive tale.
This book was fascinating to me. Immediately, I became caught up in the split timeline and the characters and location of the story. History came alive as I read about Hannie’s experience as a slave and later after the slaves were freed. I also enjoyed reading the more present day tale of Benny Silva’s teaching experience in Louisiana. The Gossett family history was intriguing and kept me reading and entertained. I loved to see how it all tied together.
Lisa Wingate’s books have always been in my top favorites. She doesn’t disappoint. She knows exactly how to pull the reader in and tell tales you’ll never forget.
I highly recommend her books. Each of them has a history lesson to be learned. If you love history, you’ll love her books.
I received this book courtesy of Lisa, the publisher and her launch team. I was not asked to review this book in a positive way. This is my honest opinion.
5 stars
I finished Lisa’s new book, The Book of Lost Friends. I had to think about it for a few days before writing my review. Lisa Wingate is a masterful storyteller. She brought the lives of Hannie, Lavina, Juneau Jane, and Benny to life. This story is told in dual time periods. The first time period is set after the Civil War in 1875 in Louisiana. Lavina is the white daughter of a slave-owner and Juneau Jane is a mulatto half-sister who lives in New Orleans in a house her father set up for mother. Hannie was one of Lavina’s family slaves who is now a sharecropper. Her siblings and mother were sold. For various reasons thethree go on a journey to Texas. Along the way, while staying in a church, they find the wall covered in newspaper ads of previous slaves looking for relatives.
The second story, set in 1987, is about a young first year teacher, Benny, who Goes to Louisiana to teach at a poverty stricken school. As a former teacher, I loved how Wingate portrayed Benny who had a rough life growing up. Benny is having great difficulty trying to get the kids to buy into learning.
How these two stories come together is heartwarming after each character’s struggles in life. Wingate’s writing is exquisite, and I wrote down several quotes. The authors’s attention to detail and her evidence of historical research in the Author Notes is amazing. I think bookclubs will enjoy discussing this book. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lisa Wingate develops the most wonderful characters and then tells their stories with the most evocative language. (I kept quoting sentences to a writer friend because they were just too good to not share).
The two stories interwoven through this book are both intriguing, and play wonderfully off each other.
My only issue with this came because I read it on my Kindle Paperwhite. I could not get the type in the the old newspaper columns at the start of each chapter to enlarge. I needed a magnifying glass for my old eyes to decipher the stories in the newspaper articles. A book better read in book form, but if, like me, you prefer an e-book, you might want to ahve a magnifying glass handy. Because those old newspaper columns are important to the story. And well worth the effort.
Lisa Wingate follows up her New York Times bestselling Before We Were Yours with another exquisite and deeply affecting fictional story inspired by actual events. The story opens in 1875 with Hannie, an eighteen-year-old former slave, still residing on the Louisiana plantation, Goswood Grove, where she was held against her will. She and her fellow former slaves are close to completing the ten-year sharecropper contract with “Old Mister” Gossett and then the little plot of land they have farmed will be theirs. Growing up, Hannie watched over Missy Lavinia, Old Mister’s spoiled, petulant daughter, while trying to stay away from her cruel mother.
Nights are especially hard for Hannie because when she closes her eyes she sees her mother, hears her voice, and relives being ripped away from her. Hannie and her family were stolen by Jeptha Loach, a nephew of Missus Gossett, en route to Texas where the Gossetts planned to establish a new plantation during the war. Loach sold off Hannie’s siblings, cousins, aunts, and mother to different buyers along the way. Eventually Hannie was returned to the Gossetts. All Hannie has left of her beloved family members are three blue beads that she wears around her neck — remnants of her grandmother’s necklace from Africa that was divided and distributed to every family member. Three beads each to wear as a sign of their identity should they ever be lucky enough to see each other again. “Blue means all us walk in the true way,” her grandmother said while sharing stories about Africa where their ancestors were queens and princes, and the origin of the invaluable beads.
One night Hannie is surprised to see a visitor arrive at the plantation. Juneau Jane is the fourteen-year-old daughter of Old Mister and his placage wife in New Orleans. In those days, it was not uncommon for plantation owners to have more than one family, maintaining a separate home for a mistress and children. Old Mister has been away for four months, ever since he received word that his son, Lyle, was in trouble again, this time in Texas. The arrival of Juneau Jane indicates that Old Mister may be in trouble himself — or worse — and his absence means Old Missus may not honor the share cropper contract. Hannie sneaks into the main house to get information about Juneau Jane’s sudden appearance, and attempt to locate the contract so that it can’t be destroyed by Old Missus or anyone else. That sets in motion an epic and dangerous journey that has dramatic and permanent repercussions for Hannie, Lavinia, and Juneau Jane.
In 1987, Benny Silva arrives in the little town of Augustine to commence her career as a high school English teacher. She loves books and words, and wants to instill a love of reading in her students. But she finds there are no resources available to her except a few dilapidated copies of Animal Farm and her students are not engaged. Many of them arrive at school hungry and she spends part of her modest income buying snacks to give them so they can attempt to focus for a little while. Unlike the privileged students who attend the town’s other high school, many of her students have unstable home lives, including absent or inattentive parents and younger siblings they must care for. Benny wants to help her students rise above their circumstances and believes she may have found a way when LaJuna Carter reveals the huge collection of books in the house at Goswood Grove, “an amalgamation of the generations of residents” of the home. The house is owned by Nathan Gossett, following the death of his sister, Robin, two years earlier. She was in the midst of a mysterious project. Nathan wants nothing to do with the house, choosing to spend his time operating a shrimp boat on the coast, while his uncles operate the companies that employ most of the town’s residents. Benny seeks Nathan out and gets his permission to begin cataloguing the collection, hoping she will amass enough books to set up a classroom library. Benny also gets acquainted with Granny T, the plainspoken operator of the local diner, the Cluck and Oink barbecue. She becomes so enamored with Granny T and her wisdom that she invites her to come speak to her students. Granny T tells a mesmerizing story about her ancestors and how the local Carnegie Library was established — in costume. The students are inspired and excited to undertake a project — they will research local history and present, in costume as a local historical figure, their findings. But some of the town’s residents prefer that history stay buried.
Wingate has been heralded a “master storyteller” for good reason. She employs alternating first-person narratives from Hannie and Benny set one hundred and twelve years apart. Interspersed are actual Lost Friend ads that were published in the Southwestern Christian Advocate, each of which is a heartbreaking story of a family ripped apart by slavery, war, and the aftermath of both. Both narratives are fast-paced and thoroughly engaging. As Hannie, Lavinia, and Juneau Jane, disguised as boys, travel deep into Texas in search of answers, they survive numerous close calls and encounter some surprising allies. Hannie experiences an awakening when they happen upon the Lost Friends ads. Because she can’t read, Juneau Jane must read them aloud to her and they create a book in which they keep the information. Word spreads about the book, and they add entries as former slaves beseech them to note details about their lost family members. Hannie dares to hope that she might find her beloved mama and other relatives.
It is clear that the two storylines are related since Benny lives in a rented house on Gossett land which has passed through generations to Nathan. Wingate cleverly weaves a cohesive tale that is vividly and richly evocative, allowing her readers to effortlessly alternate their focus on the two time periods. She has taken care to remain faithful to the dialects of the regions and employed terminology relevant to the particular era. As a result, her characters’ voices are distinctive, authentic, and credible. Inclusion of the Lost Friends ads provides emotional power to the narratives, serving as an ever-present reminder that, although Hannie, Benny, et al. are fictional characters, their stories are based on historical occurrences.
The Book of Lost Friends is a beautiful story told beautifully, inhabited by characters whose experiences evoke strong emotions and readers will remember long after reading the last page. Not surprisingly, the book debuted on the New York Times bestseller list immediately after publication and is rightfully destined to join Before We Were Yours as a classic and beloved volume of articulately-crafted historical fiction that resonates with and moves readers.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
Love American historical that touches on really important social problems? Big fan of The Help? The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead? Or if you’re just a huge admirer of outstanding writing, this is my standout recommendation of the week. Stunning research brought in full colour and sound into your brain through these pages. The Book of Lost Friends is one of those tales that will endure and be read for years to come. I thought it was amazing!
Lisa Wingate has written another masterpiece. In her new book, “The Book of Lost Friends” she brings to life the stories of two women a hundred years apart, yet so close that they merge into one. Hannie and Benny are masterfully brought together as they search for identity by looking at pasts that are filled with pain, desperation, separation and insecurities. Their dysfunctional lives find hope in their relentless pursuit for “lost friends”.
The two lives converge in a story that will have you crying, laughing and reflecting on the importance of family legacies and traditions.
I lived their lives in my mind as if watching a movie. Lisa’s descriptive writing and her historical knowledge brings the characters alive like no one can. She brings back to life those long lost histories that need to be retold.
To borrow from a line in the story “if there is magic in this world, it’s contained in books”. This is definitely a magical heartbreaking and also encouraging work that will stay with you for a very long time. Five stars and more.
Where to start??? Lisa Wingate does it again with her latest book, The Book of Lost Friends. Lisa has an ability to take the readers into the world of the characters in a way that no other author I have ever read, and she does it again with this book. Like with her previous book, Before We Were Yours, she writes about a time in history that I never knew about. I am familiar with the Reconstruction period but never really thought about the freed slaves who were searching for their families they had been so cruelly separated from as they were sold to different owners and now in a time with no internet they would have gone about trying to find their loved ones. I love time slip novels, and the parallel story line set in 1987 was also intriguing. Being a teacher myself, I could empathize with new teacher, Benny, and her struggle with relating to this group of low income students. It brought back memories of my first few years of teaching when I was in a similar situation. I loved the way the two story lines come together in the end. My favorite quote from the book is, “You know, there is an old proverb that says, ‘We die once when the last breath leaves our bodies. We die a second time when the last person speaks our name.’ The first death is beyond our control, but the second one we can strive to prevent.”
Lisa Wingate is one of my all-time favorite authors. Her new book, The Book of Lost Friends, is an eye opener based on the advertisements placed in Southern newspapers after the civil war. Free slaves placed ads searching for loved ones that had been sold away. The stories of Hannie, a freed slave in 1875 and Benedetta, aka Benny, in 1987 are intertwined in this thought provoking book.
Benny takes a job as an English teacher in the tiny, out-of-step town of Augustine, Louisiana. With classrooms of uninterested , apathetic students she struggles to find a way to spark their interest until she runs across old papers she found hidden away in the Gossett family home with a story that opens up a whole new window of history and awe for her and her students.
Buy it, read, love it! You won’t be disappointed!
Lisa Wingate does not disappoint in her her newest release. You are drawn in from the first page and then reticent to turn the last page. As you find yourself dinning deeper into the story line between 1800’s and 1987. It gives a deeper understanding of the human tragedy that slavery was and the generations of pain passed along as you walk with her characters. But also brings you hope in the human spirit and what love can heal. You always finds inspirational treasures in Lisa’s writing. I dare you not to leave this book without holding onto one quote or another to apply to your own life.