Historical Fiction

The story demonstrates how a young immigrant woman and weaver who left Rattvik in 1930, was able to participate in keeping the interest in hand-weaving alive despite the dual counter-force of industrial production and colleges turning away from vocational training to the liberal arts.

Essence Lafontaine and Grace Woodson don't know each other, but soon Hurricane Katrina will force them together. Evacuated to Houston from New Orleans, Essence finds herself in the posh world of St. Catherine's Academy. She and her little sister, Chardonnai stay with the Woodson family as they fight bullying and racism in their new community. Buoyed by the lessons they learn from reading To Kill a Mockingbird, Essence and Grace leave old ties behind to forge a new friendship of healing and renewal.