The Wedding Gift

Starred review from August 19, 2013
In this stunning debut, Marlen Suyapa Bodden effortlessly transports the reader to 1852 Alabama, where slavery and racism may rule the day, but everything isn't as black and white as it may seem. Sixteen-year-old Sarah Campbell is a housemaid to her half-sister Clarissa. Both daughters of plantation owner Mr. Allen, they secretly reject the roles they are expected to play. Sarah yearns for the day when she can escape slavery, while Clarissa is disinterested in her father's wishes for her to marry young and become mistress of her own plantation. But then Clarissa unexpectedly becomes pregnant before she's wedâchanging the trajectory of both girls' lives. Bodden weaves a page-turning tangled web of misogyny, greed, scandal and violence in this powerful story about races colliding against the backdrop of America's darkest era.

March 1, 2014

Set in Alabama in 1852, this story is told from the points of view of Theodora, the wife of plantation owner Cornelius Allen, and Sarah, a slave and Cornelius's daughter. Since Theodora taught her to read and write, Sarah has plotted to escape and become free. Her plans take on greater urgency when Cornelius gives Sarah to his daughter--and her own half-sister--Clarissa on the occasion of Clarissa's marriage. Bodden's debut is rich in detail, and the listener is quickly caught up in the lives of both the slaves and the master's family and the complicated relationships between them. Jenna Lamia and January LaVoy provide skillful narration. VERDICT Highly recommended for public libraries with popular audiobook collections and for historical fiction lovers. ["A good choice for readers who like a fast-paced historical story with a clear and relevant theme," read the review of the St. Martin's hc, LJ Xpress Reviews, 9/6/13.]--Michele Lauer-Bader, Half Hollow Hills Community Lib., NY

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