The Kitchen House

In "The Kitchen House," Kathleen Grissom crafts a gripping tale set on a Virginia plantation before the Civil War, where young, orphaned Lavinia, an indentured servant, navigates the complexities of her new life under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. As Lavinia enters the world of the big house, she grapples with the stark divisions of race and class while forming relationships fraught with danger and loyalty. This poignant debut novel explores themes of family, secrets, and the struggle for dignity, all seen through the eyes of Lavinia and Belle.