Fortitude

I thought the idea of a white girl, Claire--not only being best friends with a Creole, Loretta--but whose aunt was employed by the family turned a stereotypical trope upside down. After all, this story takes place in the South during Jim Crow laws. I love that feisty Irish Claire didn't even see the color of folks' skin, but what was on the inside. This tolerance--and more importantly--acceptance is an important message for young readers today. Even though Claire got in trouble at the camp because of Jim Crow laws and suffered from intolerant social isolation once home, she stuck to her beliefs and people who were truly important-- not society as a whole, big, scary thing that it can be when it's against you.

I had never really read a historical fiction, but this one was awesome. I'm so glad a friend recommended this book to me. The characters and setting were so realistic. My children will also be reading this book when they hit this point in history.

I'm usually not a fan of historical fiction, but I'm always a fan of beautiful writing with characters that steal my heart. This book has just the right mix of facts about the Buffalo Soldiers and black volunteers in the Spanish-American War as well as the horrendous Jim Crow laws that polluted the South for much too long, blended perfectly with an emotional story of faith, forbidden love, and the kind of honor that lives on and on and is never forgotten. Although there's plenty of happiness in this book, it's certainly not all sweetness and light. But the ending is completely satisfying and left my heart filled with hope and joy.