The Honey Tree
An unforgettable tale of courage, compassion, and the pursuit of freedom.
Maggie has always accepted life’s constraints: that is, until she witnesses a breathtaking moment of liberation as a butterfly breaks free from a spider’s web. And this small, defiant act sparks a fire within her soul.
That’s a dangerous thing for a field slave in 1850 Missouri.
As her daughter ascends to the coveted position of personal maid to the Mistress, Maggie’s family is thrust into the intricate dynamics of power and privilege within the House.
But in the shadows, a chance encounter between Maggie’s sons and Preacher, a burly, escaped slave, sets the stage for a risky alliance.
Meanwhile, Lucy, the Master’s lonely daughter, hungers for the warmth and kindness that Maggie effortlessly exudes. The boundaries that separate them are as rigid as the times they live in, but the desire for connection and understanding defies the odds.
Maggie, recognizing an opportunity for freedom, finds herself entwined in a perilous dance between liberation and the relentless pull of her current station.
Will she follow in the path of the butterfly?
“In no time, these characters found a place in my heart.”
What People are Saying
“The story is about more than enslavement ... It is about compassion and hope and the yearning for more. It is about independence and how important that is in any life.
I would recommend it to anyone who is seeking a story of hope and the strength of the human spirit.
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“... something that spoke to my soul. ”
“Beautifully written.
I really enjoyed this book. Ms Sparkes delivers a gripping story.”
“... riveting historical fiction novel follows enslaved woman Maggie and her dreams of escape from a Missouri cotton plantation.
A chance encounter with Preacher—an enslaved man on therun—changes the trajectory of Maggie and her family, jumpstarting a desperate dash for freedom that is powerfully wrought in Sparkes’s capable hands.”
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