Yellow Crocus is the first book in the Freedman/Johnson series by Laila Ibrahim. It is a story of two women in two worlds. At 19, Mattie is awakened one night and called to the main house. The mistress is in labor and she is needed as a wet nurse. She is forced to leave behind her infant son to change for the new baby. Moments from Lisbeth’s birth, she is taken from her mother and handed over to Mattie. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement turns into an intense relationship between Mattie and Lisbeth. From the outside, Lisbeth seems to be living the life as a privileged daughter of a local plantation owner. But inside, she is lonely and unsure around her overwhelmed mother, her distant slave-owner father and very traditional grandmother. As she grows older, Mattie is more her family and she begins to question the status quo even if it is quietly. Will Lisbeth be able to stay quiet for long?
Yellow Crocus is a beautifully written story of an unlikely love and bond between two women that society would deem separate and unequal. But through their connection, they will realize that they are more the same than they are different. Both women are searching for freedom and dignity and both women find their way to both with dire consequences. Yellow Crocus doesn’t shy away from the realities of slavery. Ms. Ibrahim realistically depicts the treatment of the slaves, the attitudes of the slave owners and the secrets they often hide in vivid details without being grotesque. Before reading this story, I wasn’t aware of what a yellow crocus was and the flower features prominently in the story. I love the imagery of the yellow crocus which is a hardy flower that blooms in the harshest conditions, just like Mattie and Lisbeth. As the story ended, I was eager to learn more about Lisbeth and Mattie’s lives. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend Yellow Crocus. Yellow Crocus is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook
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