The Book Woman's Daughter

I loved this book, a beautifully written and emotionally engaging story that delves into fighting for independence and overcoming prejudice.

The setting is the 1950s Appalachia Mountains, where men rule, and women and those who are different are not treated kindly. Extreme poverty is everywhere, and working in the coal mines is the primary option for work - even when it has terrible health consequences and safety issues.

Honey is the main character. Her mother is one of Kentucky's "blue" people, and her father is white. They are imprisoned for miscegenation, which is interbreeding between people of different racial backgrounds. Since Honey is a minor, this leaves her in danger of being sent to the House of Reform, a prison-like institution with appalling conditions and horrible treatment of children.

The book covers critical issues, like forced medical experiments, unfair prison policies, and prejudice against those who do not fit the mold. It also highlights the rights of women and minors and the importance of female friendships.

Finally, the characters are hard to forget; you're sure to be thinking of them for weeks to come.