I loved this book! A truly fascinating story and so well-written. I was living in Charleston when I read it, so I immediately headed to the Grimke sisters' house so I could see what I was just reading about. I've recommended this book to multiple people since reading and will continue to do so.

Powerful historical fiction. Kidd uses her storytelling to bring early 19th century Charleston South Carolina sisters to life. These two women, Sarah and Angelina Grimke, were real people. Daughters of a wealth South Carolina plantation family they owned slaves. Facing the wrath not only of their family, but the city itself, they became Quakers and moved north where they took on not only abolition, but woman's suffrage. Powerful reading make more powerful by the inclusion of a slave, Handful, and her struggles in the family and her eventual escape to freedom.

The Secret Life of Bees is on my top list of books of all time. Yes, it's that good. The movie is wonderful as well. For those of you wanting another Bees, The Invention of Wings is not. Now, don't go running away from it; it's brilliant. It is well-researched, well-written and a fantastic story. The women in this book are strong, even when they don't think they are being so. As in most historical fiction novel, these women are ahead of their time.

The thing is, Sarah Grimke is a true historical figure. It's not the events around this book that are fascinating it is her. It is her and Handful's story. It is a period in history that none of us like to read about because slavery makes all of us uncomfortable. What I was expecting was a story of forbidden friendship between a young girl and her handmaid, but it is and it isn't. They don't have the bond I would have thought would have developed but there is a deep caring and understanding between the two.

Sarah is on her own path that will eventually take her north to Philadelphia where she will want to claim her independence from her family and all that comes with the name. She is desperately trying to find her voice and her path in life. She sacrifices love as well as her family to pursue the thing she believes deep in her heart; slavery is morally wrong. She and her sister, Angelina, make it their lives work to end it.

Handful is smart and eager to forge her own path as well. The problem is, the path she has chosen just might get her killed. Her bond with her mother is touching and strong. They are built from the same cloth; strong and foolish. You want Handful to succeed but you also know her strong-willed temperament will do her more harm than good.

What I loved about The Invention of Wings, among many things, was the story quilt that Charlotte put together for Handful. It was a beautiful way to tell her story since she was illiterate. You could vividly picture it as you read about it. It was what kept Charlotte close to Handful for many years.

A stunning book I could not put down, I loved the characters, the setting, it was extremely emotional and so well written. I'm glad I picked it up.