Book Club: Book Review of Carved in Ebony

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I am always looking to expand our daughter's library collection of books featuring Christian women. Having the opportunity to read and review the young reader's edition of Carved in Ebony: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shape Us by Jasmine L. Holmes was a true blessing! The short, paperback nonfiction book features the stories of ten Black women whose lives spanned the 1700s to the 1900s. 

About Carved in Ebony 

The 117-page paperback book is divided into an introduction, note for adults, 10 chapters on the women, notes, and pages for reflection. Each of the chapters on the Black women includes discussion questions and opportunities for further research. There is an emphasis in the early part of the book on distinguishing between primary and secondary resources (this history teacher loved this!).

The Black women featured in Carved in Ebony are: 

• Elizabeth Freeman
• Maria Stewart 
• Sarah Mapps Douglass
• Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
• Charlotte Forten Grimké
• Sara Griffith Stanley 
• Amanda Berry Smith 
• Maria Fearing
• Lucy Craft Laney
• Nannie Helen Burroughs 

For a quick glimpse into the book, let's look at Sara Griffith Stanley. She was born in 1837 in the South. She grew up in New Bern, North Carolina, but she and her family would eventually move to Oberlin. She wrote and gave speeches on the evils of slavery, referencing the Bible and other contemporary works. The chapter also discusses her work as a teacher and how she was a servant of Jesus. Before the discussion questions, the chapter closes, "There are always faithful people doing the work of the Lord in obscurity. And it is better to be a servant of the Most High God in the hidden places than visibly doing anything else. Let Sara teach you this." (71). I love this message to young readers.

My Thoughts 

As an adult, this is a very easy read. I was able to read several chapters at one time and completed the book in about a week. The text is clearly written but does not leave out 'big words.' Those words that might be difficult for young readers are bolded so they can go back to them and perhaps define them. 

I really love the fact that the author, Jasmine L. Holmes, brings all the women's hard work back to God. Even where they faced difficulties, they persevered because of their faithfulness. "They each have something to teach us about what it means to live fullheartedly as someone created in God's image. And whether that image is carved in ebony, alabaster, or some shade in between, his purpose is steadfast." (111) 

So many of the women featured taught in schools at one time or another. While I understand their reasons for being teachers, and I agree that they were needed in the field of education, as a homeschooling mother, I do wish that Holmes had included something that emphasized the learning that some of them received before they were able to go to public or private schools. Quite a few of the women were taught by their families how to read, many were taught the Bible, and I wish that home education had found a stronger foothold in Holmes' work. 

I think this book would be an excellent addition to your homeschool. I can easily see my daughter and me on the sofa, reading Carved in Ebony aloud and discussing the vocabulary and the questions. Even if you don't homeschool, I think this book would make a nice addition to your home so your children can learn more about Christian Black women and how they shaped America and the world around them. They are wonderful role models to share with your children. 

Interested in reading more book reviews? Please check out my reviews of 3-Minute Devotions to Laugh and Reflect, When the Day Comes, or The Deadly Shallows.