Review: "The Indigo Girl" by Natasha Boyd

On a steamy plantation in South Carolina in 1739, a young girl of seventeen is left in charge of the family enterprise so her father can seek a position in the military. Unlike most young women of the time, she is well suited for the challenge for she loves botany and has been schooled in the business of running a plantation. Because of her father’s expenses, she tries many different ventures to increase profits but she knows if she can master the difficult task of growing, harvesting and producing Indigo from the indigo plant, their future will be set. Her name is Eliza Lucas and this is her story.

The author tells this story in the first person and it brings Eliza to life. You feel her frustration as she struggles to fulfill her obligation when her mother impedes her every step by admonishing her and expecting her to prepare herself for marriage. Her actions and morals fly in the face of convention as she works along with her slaves and treats them as equals causing ill will and conflict. Because of the author’s finesse at storytelling, Eliza’s exasperation with the difficult indigo process is palpable as she tries and fails and then tries again. This left me rooting for Eliza and turning pages to discover the outcome.

I enjoyed this story immensely. It is informative and gives you insight into the life of a young girl who lives her life as she saw fit, not as society dictated. It can be read by pre-teen to adult and each will take something different away from the telling. I especially recommend it for young teen girls. It is a wonderful example of what a young woman can do if she follows her convictions.