Heartbreaking and moving novel! I didn't want to put it down. The plot was amazing and I found myself wanting the novel to continue after it ended. 
 Lavinia, when the novel opens, is a six or seven year old Irish white girl whose parents died on the ship over from Ireland. She becomes the property of the ship's captain and has to spend an unspecified number of years as an indentured servant. She is housed with the black slaves on the captain's plantation and eventually considers them her family. From here, a whole lot of ish happens to turn Lavinia's world upside down. Overall, it was one of the best novels I've read in a long time. The only thing that distracted me (and this was probably my own insanity or what have you) is that the characters' names became VERY confusing after awhile (the slaves, members of the plantation house, extended family, etc.) I highly recommend this book to ANYONE interested in a great story, but someone who is also ready to maybe cry a little.