Kudos to Kim Vogel Sawyer for tackling such a hard topic as racism in this book set in 1895–thirty years after the end of the Civil War and over 150 years in our country’s past. Yet, still racial strife occurs in the United States as well as all over the world. As the song asks, “When will we ever learn?”
Ms. Sawyer’s thoughtful story uses the site of the Atlanta Cotton Exposition to portray the people who interact with several families–The Tates and the Sharps , both from poor families whose sons have grown up as best friends. And also the wealthy Rochester family who runs a steam-powered engine empire on exhibit at the fair, and whose son wants to woo the beautiful Laurel Millard who has grown up in a larger family whose father has now passed away.
Most of the brothers and sisters decide the youngest sister, Miss Millard should agree to take care of their mother since they all have their own families to see to. But, she and several other young people apply for and attain jobs at the Exposition, shaking up the social structure and opening up their opportunities.
I enjoyed this book, despite its more serious nature, plus I knew I could trust this author of over thirty books i have read and enjoyed to do thorough and honest historical research and handle this topic fairly. I hope you will read this book for yourself to learn about an interesting part of our country’s history, and to help you and others grow in fairness and love with people of all color and race.
