‘Sunflower Sisters’ Stuns As A Work Of Historical Fiction

To masterfully craft a story that takes place in the middle of a tumultuous time in history is its own work of art. New York Times bestselling author Martha Hall Kelly has done precisely that with her newest novel, “Sunflower Sisters,” which hits shelves on March 30. Serving as the third installment in Kelly’s page-turning tales of the Woolsey Women, “Sunflower Sisters” takes place during the American Civil War. Similar to its bestselling predecessor, “Lilac Girls,” Kelly’s latest read takes its inspiration from true accounts, namely those of the Woolsey Women.

The Inspiration

Released in 2016, and with over 1 million copies sold, “Lilac Girls” tells the story of Caroline Ferriday, a former Broadway actress and liaison to the French consulate. During World War II, Ferriday dedicated her time and resources to help former prisoners at Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Kelly’s inspiration to pen “Lilac Girls” was summoned following a trip to Bethlehem, Connecticut’s Bellamy-Ferriday House, the former home of Caroline Ferriday. There, she came upon a black and white photograph of the group of Polish women whose cause Ferriday took up. The rest was history (or more appropriately, historical fiction).

“Sunflower Sisters”

The heroics of the Woolsey Women continue in the newly released “Sunflower Sisters.” In “Sunflower Sisters,” which follows 2019’s “Lost Roses,” The New York Times-bestselling author details the story of Ferriday’s ancestor, Georgeanna “Georgey” Woolsey. A Union nurse who finds herself moved to join the war effort during the American Civil War, Woolsey witnesses firsthand the unspeakable horrors of slavery as she maneuvers her way through this chaotic time in American history.

Like “Lilac Girls,” “Sunflower Sisters” intertwines the stories of a handful of other bold women, including Jemma and Anne-May. Jemma, a slave who lives on the Peeler Plantation in Maryland with her mother and father, finds a means of escape, but must make a hefty sacrifice to pave her way to freedom. Anne-May, on the other hand, finds herself unexpectedly at the helm of the Peeler Plantation when her husband joins the Union army.

Although the varying feats of this trio of daring women is set well over 150 years ago, the themes in “Sunflower Sisters” are strikingly familiar in 2021. Matters of racial injustice, relationships and more help foster a dynamic space for book club discussions and other pertinent conversations.

Learn More About “Sunflower Sisters,” Out March 30

The Importance Of Historical Fiction

“I looked for a book about Caroline, but there wasn’t one,” Martha Hall Kelly wrote as she recalled her inspiring trip to the Bellamy-Ferriday House. Although works of nonfiction are an excellent way to discover the necessary stories of the past, historical fiction gives life to history’s lesser-known heroes and heroines. With “Lilac Girls” and “Lost Roses,” and now “Sunflower Sisters,” Kelly ensures that the Woolsey Women and their extraordinary achievements are forever etched into the minds of readers across the globe.

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