Patience & Esther, by Sw Searle
Warm and intimate, Patience & Esther recounts--and celebrates--a story of unexpected love and tenderness between women during a time when such relationships were taboo. Romance blooms between Scottish country- mouse Patience and Indian-born ladies maid Esther at the Honeycutt Estate where they work. Together, the women dream about life beyond the confines of their stations and take care of each other through the various phases of their lives. The book also examines the social issues of the period, including race, class, gender, and colonialism. With vibrant illustrations, thoughtful dialogue, and an endearing cast of secondary characters, Patience & Esther is an absolute delight to read.