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A Light in the Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick

Going against what society sees as normal is difficult. Doing that as an African American woman in the mid 1840's was nearly impossible. But in A Light in the Wilderness, Jane Kirkpatrick tells the remarkable tale of a woman who did just that.

Based on the the actual events of the life of Letitia Carson, Kirkpatrick weaves a fantastic tale of a journey of a woman from slave to an independent land holder in the Oregon territory. Letitia was granted her freedom when her master died. She starts to earn money and soon buys a cow. She become quite the business woman selling milk and butter and soon finds herself in the company of Davey Carson, an Irish immigrant. Eventually, he asks her to come west with him to Oregon. While they fight to make it through the treacherous journey and start a life for themselves in the unclaimed lands of the west, Letitia is constantly trying to prove her worth to those around her and to herself. Can she be the one to break the stereotypes and set changes in course that will not only change her life, but the entire destiny of others like herself?

This is by far the best book I have read in a long time. Great story, great characters based on actually events. I loved reading about Letitia and her life and the impact it had on history. I am so glad that her story has been found and is now being told. I highly recommend this book.


Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
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