Moments after Lisbeth is born, she’s taken from her mother and handed over to an enslaved wet nurse, Mattie, a young mother separated from her own infant son in order to care for her tiny charge. Thus begins an intense relationship that will shape both of their lives for decades to come. Though Lisbeth leads a life of privilege, she finds nothing but loneliness in the company of her overwhelmed … overwhelmed mother and her distant, slave-owning father. As she grows older, Mattie becomes more like family to Lisbeth than her own kin and the girl’s visits to the slaves’ quarters—and their lively and loving community—bring them closer together than ever. But can two women in such disparate circumstances form a bond like theirs without consequence? This deeply moving tale of unlikely love traces the journey of these very different women as each searches for freedom and dignity.
Revised edition: This edition of Yellow Crocus includes editorial revisions.
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Do yourself a favor…READ THIS BOOK! Mattie and Lisbeth have a bond that transcends time, race, and culture. The story begins in 1837 in the height of King Cotton. How can the white child Lisbeth love the black slave Mattie with such intensity? How can Mattie love Lisbeth when she has been taken away from her own child to be a wet nurse for …
As a Southerner, and a Texan, I have had the unique and blessed experience to grow up in a culture rich with diversity and history. It is incredibly difficult to believe that the author of this novel is so attuned to the nuances that perhaps only my great grandmother could have so clearly articulated. From my experiences and knowledge of our …
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book about a white child, her black wet nurse, how that relationship might have developed, and what they might have meant to each other. In this story, the child, Elizabeth, or “Lisbeth,” as Mattie, her wet nurse called her, was born into a well to do family. Given the time frame – early 1800s to mid 1800s, …
This book was hard to put down. The emotions were real. As situation back in times of slavery that I never thought about. The lack of compassion for the family unit. Love between a nannie and a child that should be that of a mother and child. A Mother does not have to be biological – this book shows how being a mother to a non biological …
What a wonderful and endearing story! Yellow Crocus was such a beautiful, heartfelt book. As I was reading page after page I was filled with a warmth that was so satisfying right to the very end.
The story follows two main characters, Mattie, an enslaved wet nurse who is forced to leave her own infant son to care for Lisbeth, who is taken from …
Well written, and made you really care about the characters.
If you love to get lost in the story, this is one worth getting lost in. Go back in time to the times of slavery when many thought America was great. Follow the harrowing tale of a young slave as she’s brought in from the fields, into the big house and eventually her escape to freedom.
This wonderful story was set in Virginia during slavery time and focuses on the relationship between Lisbeth the daughter of the plantation owners and Mattie a young woman that they bring in from the slave quarters as her wet nurse. These two become very close through out the years, even though Mattie, also has a family of her own to think about. …
This book was so good that I’ve read it twice! It’s that good! The story tells of a young girl named Lisbeth who, from the moment she is born, is handed over to a wet nurse, a slave named Mattie. Mattie is forced to leave her own infant son in order to care for Lisbeth. The relationship that grows between Mattie and Lisbeth drew me in and never …
Was mandate reading. I felt important characters were dropped off abruptly only to be picked up much later, when its convenient. It would have been made a much interesting read if the lives of the two protagonists were narrated in parallel.
A tale of Southern life and slavery that will pull at your heartstrings. A daughter of a plantation owner and a slave navigate their way through a hostile world.
YELLOW CROCUS follows the poignant story of Elizabeth Wainwright born to prosperous plantation owners and her black nurse, Mattie. As Elizabeth grows up, she begins to learn what it means to own slaves and she has a difficult time reconciling her love for Mattie with the treatment that slaves endure throughout their lives. When she witnesses a …
This is a beautifully written true detail of a woman’s journey from a slave holding Family, from birth into adulthood. We see how the love and care between two people one black and one white can last a life time and allow both parties a chance to learn, grow and mature. This book offers A good view into plantation and society life, the pressures …
This is a wonderful book! I did not want it to end. It grabbed me from the first sentence to the end. One of the themes I got from this story, is that slavery comes in many forms. Mattie and Lisabeth were both slaves in this book. Mattie was a slave because of her skin color and Lisabeth because of being born a female.
I was given a copy of this …
Forever a Yellow Crocus
I will ever and always think of Lisbeth and Mattie when I see a Yellow crocus.I am so thankful for the courage of those along the way. I live near one such place. Were I to be so brave?
It’s a hard subject to read about and face our nation’s history but it was done well. I think that now is the time to read it.
I really enjoyed this. It is a good story with characters I cared about & had a very touching ending that made me teary.
Touched my heart, very moving!
Awesome portrayal of life as it was when humans were thought to be less so. Oh, if only we would learn from history instead of repeating it.
A real page turner. Most roads come through Ohio!