Ruth P Watson

Thank you to the author, and American Historical Novels FB page and the publisher.

I hardly read books set in the late 1800s but it was a good book.

It's based on Maggie Lena Walker's life in VA. She was one strong advocate of "coloreds" and fought for women's rights and other coloreds back when they were shunned.

She opened her own department store, and opened a bank also. What a life she led with her momma, her husband and her children. There was tragedy everywhere, both in her personal life and in life in general. Businessmen, mayors, governors despised her but she was a strong women and mostly got her way, being a colored woman though a lot of people said she wasn't colored because she had a white daddy that she never knew.

She died in 1934. I liked reading the authors notes at the end about her life.… (més)

This was a very interesting and in depth read about Maggie Lena Walker. I had not heard of her before and this woman was quite the trail blazer of her time. She defied all that told her no, or that she couldn't and really needs to be recognized for everything she did and changed for the better of her community and others during this time. With her mother having been a slave, Maggie knew she wanted better for herself and her children. Often going against what her mother tried to instill in her about being a hard worker and keeping your head down and out of trouble she asked questions, and pushed the boundaries with everything she did in life and often it proved to be successful for her. She quickly learned how to work hard like her mother, but how to also read people enough to know how hard to push someone, when no meant no and when she could just maybe get one more favor or ask. This novel follows Maggie through almost all of her life, and really gives a lot of details of all she did and accomplished and yet there is so much more that could be written about her. Maggie was a real hero and influence and needs to be placed among the others of that time who brought about changes for the better. Thank you to the author, publisher and Goodreads for the free novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.… (més)