The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom

'You must not become too friendly with them,' she said. 'They are not the same as us.'

'How?' I asked. 'How are they not the same?'

When seven-year-old Irish orphan Lavinia is transported to Virginia to work in the kitchen of a wealthy plantation owner, she is absorbed into the life of the kitchen house and becomes part of the family of black slaves whose fates are tied to the plantation.

But Lavinia's skin will always set her apart, whether she wishes it or not. And as she grows older, she will be torn between the life that awaits her as a white woman and the people she knows as kin.

A compelling, powerful and poignant coming-of-age story about the fragility of family,and where love and loyalty prevail.

Published by: Transworld Publishers -Fiction

Year: 2013 Paperback/Kindle Edition

Pages: 399

ISBN: 978 0552 779128/0857521543

The story begins in 1791 when Lavina is orphaned upon a ship. Captain James Pyke decides to take her back to his plantation to work in the kitchen with his black slaves.  Lavinia remains part of the slave population until adulthood when her life changes again but not necessarily for the better.  This was a full on book with many highs and lows.  Definitely a good read but has to be read when you can give your full and undivided attention in order to keep up with the never ending changes to the characters and their stories.   Would recommend as a good and compelling read.