Mustard Seed

I AM THERE. It’s difficult for me to describe my feelings right now, what is possessing my mind as I begin this novel. The characters, good or not-so-good, have in a few moments become intimate friends. And I am THERE, in 1868 America, experiencing the inner lives of former slaves, their children and families, and the inner lives of honest and caring people with no slavery background but life-forming connections. ALTERNATING FIRST PERSON, THIRD PERSON narration blends into an easy flow, keeping me present with the characters. I've rarely felt so much a part of folks like these and cheering for them, even praying for them. I know that sounds weird since they're fictitious; and if not fictional, they're no longer living. But yes, they are living in today's world and folks. CARING ABOUT THE CHARACTERS. Jordan Freedman, 19 years old, is a teacher in a racially diverse one-room elementary school. Her family'a heritage is being slaves. You got to love her and sympathize with her devotion to her students: “God, help me to be a worthy guide for these hearts, souls, and minds. Amen.” Lisbeth, 30-years-old, was born into the privileged class in the antebellum South fo slave-owners. Her beloved nurse from babyhood is Mattie, Jordan’s mother. All these women develop a bond deeper than just being friends. But that bond is tested when Lisbeth returns to her former home, a plantation in Virginia. There she faces smothering animosity from her Confederate family who feel she betrayed them by marrying an abolitionist. TENSE AND TENDER PLOT. So too Jordan and her mother Mattie return to their former home. They want to save their family who still are being oppressed by their former owners and other whites. Will young Jordan and Mattie be able to bring some liberation for their beloved family? This is both a tense and tender novel as both families seek to come to terms with the past and free themselves from lingering hatred and present fractures. The author writes from her in-depth research plus her own background as founder and director of Woolsey Children’s School. Both her heart and experience enrich this amazing story she shares. I’m sure this book's people will invade my emotions for many years to come, as it likely will yours. I look forward to reading more books by this very human and skilled author.

Firstly I must admit that 'Yellow Crocus' is one of my favourite books from a lifetime of being an avid reader. I smiled and cried with Mattie and Lisbeth, as they formed a loving and complicated relationship in a time of great cruelty and injustice in the American South. They had become like dear friends by time I finished reading that book. Perhaps, my expectations were too high when I began this sequel. It is a story covering a much larger landscape and highlighting far more characters. Sometimes the long list of landowners and slaves became confusing; especially as some shared the same name or had several different names. It is beautifully written, as only Laila Ibrahim can write; but I missed the intimacy of the previous novel. The historical setting, at a time when America was supposed to be a Union and all slaves freed, was drawn with stark realism. Laws can be promulgated, but the implementation of those laws rely on the adherence of the public officials and leaders. I did not realize that even after the abolition of slavery some landowners in the South still kept men and women in conditions of cruel slavery. I learned a great deal about the plight of the black and coloured population in the Southern States from this book. I was horrified by their treatment and sickened by a situation of children left hopelessly adrift with no means of uniting with their families. This story was fascinating and appealed to me intellectually; whereas Yellow Crocus moved me emotionally. I would definitely recommend reading the latter before reading this book. The relationship between Mattie and Lisbeth requires understanding to avoid reader confusion.

This story will have you transported back to the era of slavery and the unimaginable suffering slaves endured for so many years. Words fail me to express the impact that this beautifully written, yet heartbreaking, story had on me as I read the accounts of the inhumane injustices that were allowed during that time. Although the actual description of physical mistreatment of slaves was excluded, the author was very effective in expressing through the characters how the destruction of the human spirit that slavery fostered was much more permanent. There is also included an uplifting element of the ability of the human spirit to rise above the suffering through sheer human will and faith which brings the reader to an elevated level of admiration for the people who lived the life of a slave and the years of oppression that followed after the 13th Amendment and Emancipation Proclamation were passed and lived to tell about it. Definitely worth reading so we never forget!

This book is a continuation of the book Yellow Crocus. The story of Mattie and Lisbeth, a former slave who escaped to freedom, and Lisbeth, the daughter of the man who "owned" Mattie and who herself escaped from that horrible life. Again, Paula Ibrahim displays the kind of writing that makes you feel as if you are present in the moment. You feel the horror of that time, the excitement, the pain and joy and the hope. Just as with Yellow Crocus, this book was difficult to put down, I managed to read both books in 3 days and was left wanting more. It is difficult to comprehend how one human being can believe they have the right to 'own' another human being, and treat them in the most inhumane, disgusting, sadistic and torturous way. I found myself shaking my head in disgust and terror. The author gave just enough details to leave this story in your mind and heart. I was left wanting hear more of the characters success, but in the case that this is the final book, the ending was well written. These two easy flowing nooks are a must read!

This is a gripping story of life in the troubled South after the Civil War. It really portrays so many conflicts within families, slaves who are still on plantations fearful of their masters, yet not sure there is a free future elsewhere. Families have lost their homes, their livelihood as plantation owners as been reduced. Many families have experienced the loss of loved ones fighting in the war, and some families fought against one another depending whether choosing to fight for the North or for the South. Though "free", there are still problems with voting, with the law, and equality for all. Jordan, a former slave, is now a teacher and wants to become a suffragette, yet the plight of the South pulls her back. Though we are "familiar" with the Civil War, this personalizes the experience as a slave family returns South to search for loved ones separated by being sold to different plantations. Another family returns home, as Lisbeth's father is dying. She chose to leave plantation life, married to an abolitionist , now living in Ohio. Her children are being raised with an openness about the world needing kindness, education, freedom.

I enjoyed reading this book but the culture and language rang inaccurate, as if the author was more interested in pushing an idealistic agenda than being accurate to the times. The setting is soon after the U.S. Civil War, but the way the characters spoke, thought, and interacted was very PC, with modern day phrases and dialogue. My favorite genre of books is historical fiction and I've noticed when a book of that category emphasizes an agenda over accuracy, the moral of the story is ironically undermined. Because of this I was never able to imagine the characters as real people or the story as something that could have actually happened.

Ms. Laila, If you see this - I want you to know that I started to worry about my lack of emotional connection when reading. I have held many books that pulled at my heartstrings, but wouldn’t evoke my expected reaction. I was worried that I’ve become desensitized to humanity. Was it the constant trauma exposure through media?! I panicked. Then I fall in love with Mattie and Lisbeth’s relationship…this story had me sob crying. As a black woman who is deeply rooted in my identity, I thank you. In the climate of our country today, politically and economically, I cried. I cried for my ancestors and I cried for my elders. I cried for the future of my people…as our fight as a race is never-ending and it breaks my heart. I am the audience you were looking to touch. Thank you!

I actually read the first 3 books out of sequence 3,1, 2 and it still ended up being a wonderful read!

This is not the sort of book I usually read but I thought it was a wonderful story and very well written. It was very informative for me as well about conditions for the slaves who were supposed to be free and how difficult life was for them. Well worth reading.

Amazing combo of facts and fiction.. it has been long since a book enchanted me so much.a must read for people who want to get a glimpse of past

Mustard seed è il proseguimento della storia di "il primo fiore di zafferano". Dopo la guerra civile Lisbeth e Mattie oramai stabilite in Ohio decidono inconsapevolmente l'una dall'altra di ripartire per la Virginia: Elisabeth per raggiungere il padre morente; Mattie per rintracciare e salvare il resto della sua famiglia rimasta alla piantagione .......non aggiungo altro perché la storia è assolutamente da assaporare passo per passo, altrettanto meravigliosa ed emozionante come il primo libro. Adoro la grande sensibilità e semplicità in cui questa scrittrice rappresenta fatti e personaggi. Non credo purtroppo che il libro sia stato tradotto in italiano, lo consiglio però vivamente a tutti coloro che comprendono la lingua inglese.

This book is so well written! It is the 2nd book in a series by this author. Character & plot development are so well done, you'd think the author herself experienced life during & after the civil war in the U.S. regarding slavery. Both sides of the civil war suffered greatly of course, and families were split apart. I never realized just how heroic were efforts required for former slaves to get free and make a life for themselves. I felt the emotions of the characters. I im am now on the 3rd book in this series.. Laila is my new favourite author.

Equilibrando uma narrativa romântica e focando o olhar na perspectiva das personagens femininas que lutam pelas suas crenças e buscam construir sentido para suas batalhas em um mundo em lenta transformação. Com o risco de romantizar a relação entre uma escrava e a criança que ela cuida a autora constrói a história revelando as limitações nas interpretações que temos do mundo.