Golden Poppies: A Novel

This is the 4th book in the series. The entire series is an excellent depiction of 2 families intertwined from their beginnings in Virginia before the Civil War to northern California as World War I ends. Both families have very strong women who make decisions which hold their growing families together through a tumultuous time in history. I was born in 1951 in Chicago, IL and was taught from a very different experience. Our history texts taught that this country was founded on religious freedom. European settlers came here to have freedoms that they didn't have at home. But, they brought with them captured African peoples who they then enslaved, and treated them as their own property. They bought and sold them, forever separating families and decided it was ok because these "civilized" European settlers believed the African peoples were subhuman. Even after the end of the Civil War one race decided they were superior and continued to pass laws to take away the rights of anyone who was not white. I was taught that these settlers were peaceful and had to also annihilate the Native Americans and enslave them to protect the rights of the ruling white race. I grew up seeing signs that certain water fountains, bathrooms, stores, parks, etc were "white only" I could not understand why this was. It was appalling to witness this. This country may have come a long way, but it still has a long way to go. This series is a depiction of what a family can be when they respect all people regardless of skin color, religion, mental or physical capacity, economic status, etc and are loyal to teaching others what love really means.

The third in Ibraim's series of historical novels that follow two families, one black and one white, Golden Poppies picks up the story with the second and third generations. The characters are empathetic and the realities faced by black Americans in the 1890s are accurately presented through the lives of family members as they move to Oakland, CA. Also accurate are the depictions of w omen's disadvantages according to law and popular culture. I read this in a little over one day. Ibraim tells a good story generally effectively. My only criticism is the over use of certain descriptions--of tears, of how emotion tastes or effects the body. I've read 4 of her books so far and that small annoyance will not keep me from reading. We need to be reading about black and white families' interactions historically and to see positive if tentative ways people connected as peers. I loved the inclusion of Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Fredrick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, the Pullman strike, historic Oakland.

Right now America is in the throes of a deadly virus pandemic and Black Lives Matter. That I happened to choose this book by the title I did not read what it was about.Most of the history of Women's Suffrage I've learned in school. I also lived during John Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King assassinations! I am so enlightened from this story. I grew up in a small town in Westchester County which was a melting pot of races, Africa Americans, Cuban, Puerto Rican, italian, irish, Slavic etc. We All lived in areas that were know to share the same culture. But outside we kids played as a team we didn't see color of where you lived it just didn't matter. We slept over each other's house with out a thought! I was twelve the first time I saw segregation. On our way to Florida we stopped at a rest stop and I passed a bathroom that the sign said was for colored only! I got mad and went to go in and my Brother-in-law grabbed my hand and said "Are you crazy? You'll start a riot!" I was so mad and hurt that people could be treated like that. I'm glad I lived and grew up in a small town where people didn't hate each other because of their ethnicity . I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how it made me reflect on what the Black Lives Matter movement an it's frustration in trying to bring us all equal as God created us.

It’s a good read. It took too long to get to the interesting part of the book. It pick up half way through and it became a good read.

I have read other books by this author and this was not my favorite. I have southern roots, and the dialogue didn’t feel authentic. It seemed stilted and too formal. I did find the California setting interesting as well as the historical information about railroad travel and the Pullman strike.

When I started reading this book, I did not know that it is part of a series. I am glad I didn’t as I would have passed on this book. If you are reluctant to jump into the middle of a series (as I am), I assure you that this book did fine as a stand-alone. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the story – the Pullman Strike, women’s suffrage, the anti-lynching campaign, and the fight for racial equality. But the best part of the book were the two families at the core of the story. At the beginning of the book, Lisbeth and her daughter Sadie journey from Oakland CA to Chicago so Lisbeth can be with her childhood nanny and wet-nurse Mattie. Upon arrival in Oakland Sadie meets other members of Mattie’s family – daughter Jordan and granddaughter Naomi. It is now the 1890s and these two families – one from a wealthy plantation owner, the other slaves on that plantation – have a long history with each other. I truly cared about the characters, holding my breath when some of them were threatened and endangered. The story invoked a wide range of emotions within me – grief, joy, fear, anger, triumph, pride. I enjoyed Ibrahim’s smooth style of writing and will be reading more of her books. If you love a story with strong female characters, I highly recommend her books. My favorite quote: “You set your fear right next to your hope until you know which one is your truth.”

Great book

I am so enjoying this series of books. They make one wonder at the cruelty of the human race although this has ever been so. Historically correct, this series is a work of fiction and extremely readable. Highly recommended.

Great read! Love the richness of the story and characters!

I'm so glad I realised there were two books prior to this before reading this one. I love the continuation of Lisbeth and Matties stories, and how their families remain intertwined despite everything that changes.

This story touched my heart more than I expected. It only seems yesterday that women were fighting to get the right to vote. It seems poignant that we still fighting discrimination when we are all God’s children. The scene where Heinrich is dangling his child by the window really touched me that a father could do that to his child! I hope that we can live long enough to see discrimination be wiped from the earth. Beautifully written!

The book is unique.It traces the racial disparities in America and the social life of those days.It ends on a positive note.A well written book.