The Sugar Camp Quilt

This is the seventh entry in the Elm Creek Quilt series and although the familiar characters from the other Elm Creek Quilt are missing, Chiaverini does return to Creek's Crossing, Pennsylvania, but the time frame is just prior to the Civil War. The premise is a very interesting one, and there is presently on going research to authenticate the use of quilts for use as markers along the Underground Railroad. Nineteen-year-old Dorothea Granger, is the niece of cantankerous uncle Jacob. Uncle and niece do not get along, although she respects his hard work and quiet devotion to his bible, so she is quite surprised when he requests that she make him a quilt to his exact specifications. Dorothea, along with her parents, has her farm duites to take care of, and she also teaches at the local school. Her dreams of education and career have been unfullfilled due to her parents financial failure and that's why they have come to live with Uncle Jacob. Her younger brother, Jonathan, is studying medicine in Boston and is seen as the likely heir to the farm, so Dorothea's parents must make the best of it. Dorothea knowing this, agrees to make the quilt for her uncle, even though it takes her away from her Library fund raising committee responsiblity. The committee is to raffle a fine quilt in order to raise funds to build the town a new library. The Granger family are staunch in their belief that slavery is wrong, and soon, through unforseen circumstances, they become embroiled in helping slaves through the Underground Railroad. I gave this book four stars only because the ending seemed a bit rushed to me, but the story itself is wonderful. If you like quilting, adventure, historical fiction, or just to read a good story, then pick up this book and enjoy!

It is clear from the start that Jennifer has done her homework. Her desciption of everything from everyday life, the quilting bees, the sugaring and the Underground Railroad ring true to the times.The book holds the reader's fascination with its mysteries and the complex family and neighborhood relationships. Each night brings the uncertainy of visits from either escaped slaves or worse still, the slavecathchers.In the beginning one never quite know whose side any of the Elm Creek population is on. Especially Uncle Jacob. He is the mysterious catalyst that changes the tone of the story from life with his constant rebukes to his relatives to the unraveling of the reasons he spent so much time in the sugar camp.Dorothea is the perfect central character. We see her world through her eyes and a confusing place it can be. Cyrus with his boasting and Thomas Nelson with his quiet fortitude. One pretending the court her only for the information to be obtained, the other admiring from afar until certain circumstances bring them closer to a promising future.I could not wait until I have some free moments everyday to reading this book. Now that I am finished, I look forward to Jennifer's next book which is due out in the winter.Her imagnination and attention to detail make all of her books a joyful adventure in reading and a constant inspiration to my quilting.

I sm a fsn of Jennifer Cheverini's books. Thid one is historical fiction furing the time of the underground railroad

This novel brings to life a period in United States history that tends to be overlooked in the drama and romanticism of the Civil War. Since I began reading those books in Chiaverini's series set in later years first, this one explained some events and family ties that influenced the course of events affecting today's characters.

I have not been able to engage with the Elm Creek books. I’ve tried to read the first three with little success. They’re boring. I don’t particularly like any of the characters in the original story.However, this book had dynamic and creative characters that I cared about. I cared about the uncle. I cared about the sugar camp, Dorothea, Dorthea’s parents, and the album quilt. I cared for the runaway slaves and I found the narratives of their plight to be truthful without exaggeration .Because of this book, I’ll try to read another in the series. Worth the read.

While there is a debate on whether or not quilts were used to help runaway slaves find safe passage to the North, I like the idea. What a great way to support an important cause of the time with an every day item. The quilts could have secret maps within their pattern and no one would be the wiser.

Jennifer Chiaverini has created a wonderful world, one I would love to be part of. If there is any probelm with her books it's only that there isn't really an Elm Creeks Quilts out there to be a part of. Sugar Camp takes you back to the beginning and shows the history and background of the home that becomes so important in the following novels. Ms Chiaverini very cleverly mixes the here and now with the past of her charcters and realized that the past sets the ground work for what we are today. And allows the past to explain some of the whys of today. By reveling the past as she has she allows us to assimilate it in a manner that isn't overwhelming. Her historical facts seem accurate with the knowledge we have today. And she makes you feel that you could have been there or at least wish you were. The Sugar Camp Quilt (Elm Creek Quilts Series #7)

All of Jennifer Chaiverinis quilt-theme histories have inbuilt fascination, but the Sugar Camp Quilt brought a new side to the legends of the underground railway and the quilts patterns that acted as maps to freedom for those seeking to escape slavery. Knowledge of the Pennsylvania slave escape routes comes about late into the plot, long after we have found there is more than one type of slavery in the story, and the parallel course of the two threads ultimately crosses over, revealed with as much surprising revelation to the central characters as it is to us, the readers. Old time worn themes of pride, prejudice and natural justice get a workout here. I only wish the conclusion had been less precipitous, as if the writer ran out of steam a bit. Nevertheless a good read and recommended.

Pleased to have found this book to complete my Elm Creek Quilt book collection.

Interesting how quilting was part of the Black slave underground railway to Canada.

Product exactly as described and arrived in a timely fashion.

Medium read

fun