Reason read: ROOT, western
I was encouraged to read this book a few years ago. It is a work of historical fiction set int he early 1900s, Chicago and the Badlands. Rachel is a black woman who works at the boarding home of Mrs DuPree. She marries Mrs DuPree's son, Buffalo Soldier, and moves to South Dakota where they take advantage of the Homestead ACT. A train connected Chicago and Interior, South Dakota. The land they obtained is in the Badlands which is an infertile land and there is a drought. Farming is harsh, they're barely surviving.

I was not immediately drawn into the book. The language is appropriate for black homesteaders. It was not scary but there was tension. There is a constant questioning by Rachel of her husbands intentions. It seems she doesn't quite trust him. The themes would be the harshness of the land, the harshness of the husband, motherhood and protecting children and of course racism. But this book shows both racism against the DuPree's but also racism against Indians by the DuPree's.

The book was historically accurate. There was homesteading in the Badlands and black people did take advantage of the homestead act. They usually lived in settlements together but in this book they are isolated from others. Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Paul Laurence Dunbar were real people during this time in history. I liked Mrs Fills the Pipe and she probably is my favorite character because she was true to herself and she did what needed to be done for Rachel. My least favorite character might even be Rachel. The ending did not agree with me though I accepted the ending and it even fits I guess but it just felt like Rachel gave up. I thought she could be stronger but it also took strength to do as she did. ( )

This book was recommended by an Intern at the Homestead National Monument near Beatrice, Nebraska. Like the Intern, I rarely read fiction but after reading this one, I agree with the Intern that this is an exceptional book and I'm glad I read it.

Ms. Weisgarber is a master of plot and character development through flashbacks and winding it into a cohesive, page-turner!

It is the story of a black couple homesteading near Interior, South Dakota, and their life goal challenges and differences. ( )

A striking novel about a Black woman and her husband living in the South Dakota Badlands in the early 20th century. This novel is full of tension, hard choices, and unspoken conflict. I also appreciated the theme of women helping each other, especially in a setting where few women are to be found. Highly recommended. ( )

A "survival" story about the DuPree family living in the Badlands in 1911-1917. Rachel was a strong woman, both physically and in character, and I admire her. The tone of the story reminded me somewhat of The Color Purple. The DuPree's were the only African-American family in the Badlands when this story takes place; although the story did not focus on racism. I switched between reading this and listening to the audio. The reader, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, was among the very best. I understand there is a sequel and also a movie to this book. 324 pages ( )

Seizing an opportunity, Chicago maid Rachel talks Buffalo soldier into marrying her so he can purchase two homestead act claims in the Bad Lands of South Dakota. 14 years later, Isaac is land hungry and cash poor, as Rachel tries to keep the homestead going with 5 children, 3 dead and no supplies for the winter when Isaac leaves for a mining job. In the end, she leaves two white teenagers in charge after she finds a letter that Isaac was intending to marry off 13 yo Mary to a widower in another state. ( )