Yellow Crocus - Laila Ibrahim

Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim
Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Blurb (on back of book): 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 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.

MY OPINION: *****

*****MAJOR MAJOR SPOILERS*****

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I was "forced" to read this book for a Civil War unit in my history class and I didn't have much hope for it. I'm NOT a huge fan of historical fiction, and I possibly never will be, but I did enjoy this book very much.

This book started off... strange, to say the least. A baby is described as being born (rather graphically, I might say) and is immediately handed off to the wet nurse, Mattie, who we see is our MC. She is an African-American slave with a family of her own, though she is separated from them (though not greatly) in order to take care of the white baby, Elizabeth "Lisbeth".

We watch as they grow older together and we meet Mattie's family. Lisbeth and Mattie's family get along well with each other and Lisbeth does not see any difference between them. She knows that they are slaves but her parents tell her that they are treating them nicely and protecting them, which, to be fair, they do a better job of than some other places during the time of the war.

Samuel, Mattie's son, is sold to another plantation and is forced to leave. Mattie and her husband, Emmanuel, start thinking seriously about moving to a free state, Ohio, to be with their family. However, many slaves have died this way so they know that they need to be careful and plan ahead. They spend years devising a certain plan, and throughout this time, Mattie and Lisbeth form a special bond.

Then Mattie leaves one day without saying goodbye to Lisbeth because she knows that she wouldn't understand. Lisbeth is torn and confused but she learns to adapt to life without her wet nurse, though it's hard at first because now she's with a new housemaid, Emily, who helps her but "isn't the same".

Now, Lisbeth is older and her parents are following tradition and routine and pushing her to start thinking about her husband and who she should marry. Her parents want her to marry some rich and who has a large plantation, many acres of land, and many slaves. She is forced to go to dances early in her life (12) and she meets her prospective husbands. She and her friends gossip about the boys but she's brainwashed to pick Edward, a rich boy who she doesn't particularly like but instead tries to make up for his dullness by thinking about his "good looks and money". There is this other boy, Matthew, who she likes better and who she instantly connects with, but he's "off-limits" because he's not as rich, doesn't have slaves or land (or not as much as Edward), and is a "farmer boy".

Now, at 19, Lisbeth is engaged to Edward and is to marry him. Her friends are all paired off too, though Matthew never got a girl seeing as no one wanted him because of his status. She is "happy" with her marriage and is completely ready to go through with until she finds him one day taking advantage of a young slave girl. She feels compassion for the girl but Edward convinces her it is normal for a man to "pleasure himself" before marriage. Lisbeth is not entirely consoled but continues with the marriage, much to my own disbelief (though I do understand her decision).

However, days before the wedding, she can't stop thinking about the poor girl and she decides that she's going to go against everything in her life, risk her reputation and her family's status and break the marriage off with Edward and marry Matthew instead (I found that scene incredibly awkward). Her parents are angry, dismayed, and disappointed with her and she and Matthew run off to Ohio, which is, what do you know, where Mattie also is.

We know from Mattie's side that she made it safely to Ohio with her family and she's safe and now considered free.

Lisbeth and Matthew are happy newlyweds and build a home in Ohio. Then Lisbeth finds herself pregnant but at the time of labor, finds herself with problems with the baby. They call the best midwife in the county, and what do you know, it's Mattie herself! Lisbeth is too far gone to recognize her but Mattie sees Lisbeth immediately and knows that she has to save the body. After a long, grueling, graphic process of childbirth, the baby is born and Lisbeth is all right.

**We also find out that Emily is Lisbeth's half-sister, a stunning and almost-revolting revelation that I just couldn't believe. Her father did that!**

I won't say what happened at the end but that's the general gist of the book. I absolutely loved everything about it in its complexities and descriptions and effortless reading. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting historical fiction novel.

Main Character: Lisbeth, Mattie
Sidekick(s): Samuel, Jordan, Emmanuel, Emily, etc
Villain(s): Slavery, discrimination, rape, etc
Historical Fiction Elements: This book was based on historical events, though it was purely fictional.