Book Description:

Bestselling author Lisa Wingate brings to life startling stories from actual
“Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the
Civil War, as newly freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones who had
been sold away.
Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous era of Reconstruction, three young
women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed
slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau
Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half sister. Each carries private wounds and powerful
secrets as they head for Texas, following roads rife with vigilantes and
soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau
Jane, the journey is one of stolen inheritance and financial desperation, but
for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery’s end, the
pilgrimage west reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family
still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the limitless frontiers of Texas and,
improbably, hope.
Louisiana, 1987: For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job
at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student
debt—until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine,
Louisiana, is suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely
comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled
live oaks and run-down plantation homes lie the century-old history of three
young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change
everything.
My Review:
Lisa Wingate has written an amazing story. I'd never read about the "Lost
Friends" ads that posted for folks to find family and friends after the
Civil War ended. I love the way she approached the story with a split-time
perspective. Benny Silva is the perfect character to guide her students into
the history of their town and their families. She has her own interesting
story, which you'll discover as you read. I absolutely love Hannie and her
spunk and courage. She's incredible. As I read each different time period, I
couldn't wait to get back to the other one. Both stories are told in rhythm with
one another, even though separated by 112 years. Being reminded how families
were split apart is heartbreaking and thought provoking. The struggle to find
their people took strength and an amazing amount of courage. If you read
historical fiction or contemporary fiction, you'll enjoy The Book of Lost
Friends. This is a 5++ stars story. I received a complimentary copy of this
book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.