Handful, a slave girl, is given to Sarah Grimké on eleventh birthday. Sarah is violently opposed to slavery but is not allowed to free her. The two of them grow to adulthood with this and their mothers hanging over them, coming together and falling apart as consciences and circumstances dictate their courses.

This was a well written, enjoyable, informative and gripping story with great female characters and an interesting perspective on history – but for me there were a few problems always nagging at the back of my mind.