Eleven-year-old Harriet Whitehead is hired to write letters for a blind woman on a Virginia cotton plantation in 1830. There, she meets 14-year-old Violet, a half-black and half-white girl who becomes her soul sister. Family abounds; Pleasant helps smooth out Richard's rough edges, and Baby William charms everyone with smiles and toddling cuteness.

There is talk of buying slaves because they "do a good day's work" or for any other reason. Abide by the treatment that slaves receive? Nat Turner begs to differ, and he spearheads one of the largest slave rebellions ever in 1831. Fifty people are killed by the out-of-control slaves, and there is an even harsher community backlash. Someone will hang Nat. Slitting people's throats, the few survivors hiding in mortal fear for their lives. Two-year-old William's cries reverberate in the house because babies turn into men who seek revenge.

Harriet has only her hope, her intelligence, and the cooperation of her staff to keep the family business afloat. Harriet learned how the plantation was run, from talking with staff and from the letters she wrote. Forty acres of cotton to be plowed in thirteen days. A pickup day to be determined.

The Letter Writer by Ann Rinaldi, 2008

I thought it was neat that the book consisted of letters interspersed with prose. I recently saw a PBS documentary about David Livingston, who sought to end the slave trade in Africa, and the horrid instruments of torture that were used on Africans.

• Ann Rinaldi's web site
• Books about Nat Turner
• Books about slavery