Golden Poppies: the Gilded Age and the continued fight for freedom

Golden Poppies by Laila Ibrahim is the final book of the Freedman/Johnson trilogy. It is 1894, Jordan Wallace lives in segregated Chicago and Sadie lives in the more tolerant Oakland, California. Their families have been intertwined since Jordan’s mother, Mattie, was nursemaid to Sadie’s mother, Lisbeth. Soon, the two women will be intertwined themselves as they face racial divides and social injustices of the Gilded Age. Jordan soon realizes that even tolerant Oakland has much work to do for all of their citizens. Jordan and Sadie discover that they must work together to overcome their personal and political challenges. At a time when courage, loyalty and the ties of family will be severely tested, will they find the strength to forge ahead as they fight for the rights that have been held back? 

Golden Poppies details the racial injustices of the time and serves as a harsh reality of how far we have come as a nation and how much more we need to go. One of my favorite quotes from the book is: “We must plant the seeds of a liberty tree so that they may eat the fruit of justice we will never taste.” Golden Poppies is a reminder that the work we do to better our lives and our country may not be a reality for us but it could be for future generations. Many reviews have complained that the relationship between Jordan and Sadie was unrealistic. While it may not have been the norm of the day, it was certainly possible. If you enjoyed Yellow Crocus and Mustard Seed, I recommend Golden Poppies. 

Golden Poppies is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook