In 1863, Stella is a beautiful Black woman born into slavery. Her current owner Frye is so taken with her that he has set her up to live in a Creole cottage in New Orleans as his mistress. William is one of Frye's slaves and is a gifted flutist. He has recently escaped to join the Union Army with the help of Stella, his love, who has a talent for sewing escape maps. While part of the Louisiana Native Guard at Camp Parapet, William is befriended by Jacob, a Jewish man from New York City. They bond over their mutual love of music. Back at home, Jacob's wife Lily attends abolitionist meetings and has her own sewing skills, creating a quilt for her husband and other soldiers. The lives of these four characters become intertwined as the war rages on.
The Thread Collectors is a unique Civil War story. It was written by two friends, Shaunna J. Edwards and Alyson Richman, who bring their Black and Jewish heritages and perspectives to their characters. Richman is a seasoned author, and this is an impressive debut novel for Edwards. The two couples in this impactful book have touching love stories but the yearning of Stella and William to one day have the opportunity to love one another freely is the heart of the book. I enjoyed this story of resilience and love very much.
Rated 4.25 out of 5 stars.
Historical Fiction.
Publication Date: August 30, 2022.
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