Book Review

The Invention of Wings

Sue Monk Kidd

Viking 2014

Reviewed by Diane Busch

I couldn't put this book down. The writing is amazing. Every detail. Everyone over the age of 14 or 15 should read this book. Hopefully America can continue to change for the better.  Slavery and the poor treatment of blacks enrage and sicken me. 

The book setting is early 1800's in Charleston SC and Philadelphia, PA.  Slavery in the south is a way of life. But some people are seeing the light and realizing that slavery is wrong and must be stopped. The main character Sarah Grimky, grows up in a well to-do family with many salves. Her father is a lawyer and a judge. Sarah is an educated, brilliant young woman but in her culture women don't have vocations. She wanted to be a lawyer like her father and brother but is not allowed. On her 11th birthday she is given a 10-year-old slave girl Hetty "Handful" as a present from her parents. She is against slavery even at that age.  Instead of treating her slave badly she befriends her and teaches her to read, for which they are both punished. 

Sarah does not get married but first finds her calling as a Quaker up north in Philadelphia because Quakers are against slavery. Eventually her younger sister and her who both are appalled by slavery decide that their calling is abolition. They write papers and speak to groups. 

Without wanting to give away the whole plot and the ending, they do eventually go back to Charleston to help free some slaves.  It is a riveting read well worth your time.