Point of View

The story is written in third person from limited perspectives that vary, specifically depending on the time frame. The earlier story line focuses on Josephine Bell, a slave girl who lives in the mid-1800s in Virginia. In that story line, the reader sees everything from Josephine's perspective. The storyline that is set in modern times is presented from the perspective of Lina Sparrow, a young attorney doing research for a class action law suit. The changing perspectives are necessary for the reader to follow the story because of the years' difference in the settings.

The limited perspective means that the reader knows only what Josephine and Lina know, and only as they know those facts. For example, Josephine believes that her son died at birth and she goes on believing that until Mistress Lu Anne Bell finally tells her the truth. Lina believes that...