The House Girl Summary
Tara Conklin

The House Girl Overview

The House Girl, by Tara Conklin, is a novel about Josephine, a young slave girl who was taught to read and loved to paint whenever she had the chance. Her life was cruel and she found a chance to run away, taking only a couple of paintings, but killed herself when she feared she was about to be captured. Lina Sparrow is a young attorney in modern-day New York who becomes involved in a class action lawsuit aimed at reparations for families of slaves. As she researches Josephine's life, she learns about herself and sets out on a new path. The novel focuses on the themes of coming of age, hopes and dreams, the effects of slavery, and family relationships.