First published 2014
On her 11th birthday, Sarah Grimke is given ownership of Handful, a young slave. Over the next 35 years, the two forge a complex bond as they each strive for autonomy in a world that constrains them. Hetty yearns for the freedom to choose her own path, while Sarah chafes against the limitations placed on women. As their stories intertwine, they face loss, betrayal, and the grueling quest for justice - all while forging a relationship that defies the ugly realities of slavery.
Genres: historical-fiction, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: South Carolina, Charleston (S.C.)
Period: 19th century
400 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books
Content warnings: slavery