The Colored Garden

by Oscar H. Bennett

The Colored Garden is a story about a boy called Sarge and his grandmother, Ruth, whose farm he visits in the wake of his parents’ separation. On the farm is an old slave cemetery that Ruth tends as a beautiful flower garden. It is a remnant from the days when their land was a small patch of a great tobacco plantation. Residing there, from generations long past, are slaves who were laid to rest under the ground they once worked. One marker tells a far different story. It is the marker of an infant that reads, “Kate. Born and died the same week. Budded on earth to blossom in heaven.” And the baby is not all that lies buried in the garden. As Sarge struggles to understand his parents’ impending divorce, he no longer knows who or what to believe until Grandmother Ruth begins to tell him the adventures of the dead slaves. These spirits become heroes to the boy during this pivotal summer in his life, and the faith he once had in his parents is transferred to them. Listening to Ruth and observing the behavior of the adults around him, Sarge learns that some secrets we keep, while others keep us.

264 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

Reviews

[Jukka]

The Colored Garden - O.H. Bennett

A great read. Combination of coming of age stories with a multi-generational fiction. The ending is a whirlwind of emotion and revelation. Some tiny rough edges, but Bennett has a gift for making the story live. Definitely read this one.

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from an interview of O.H. Bennett:

Q. What do you think your story tells readers about Black Heritage in America?

A. Endurance. I've thought about this a lot. The Colored Garden was the best way I could express it. The future is lost without the past. I remember only a couple of years back a young, black woman told me she didn't like to read stories about American slavery because they only angered her and why bring up such a terrible time? Certainly she misses the point. Our ancestors, black and white and the rest of the rainbow had it harder than we do. The slaves had challenging days that attacked their spirit and their humanity. My ancestors were treated like and were thought of as cattle. They endured without succumbing. What strength! I think that Cakes Huntley and Tommas and Hattie May demonstrate the greatest kind of strength there is because they got up for the next day and the next and the next. How can any African-American, who feels the bite of discrimination or poverty today even think of giving up, even think of losing heart, if she is mindful of her ancestors, if she calls on them, and knows their stories? They will lead by their example. I firmly believe they will rescue us. I believe they want to. Parts of the story of Cakes Huntley are loosely based on a story my grandmother, Katherine Hale, told me about her father, who was born a slave. As she told me about him, I was in awe. A heritage of endurance is a noble thing and a measure to live up to.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm using this review to again register my shock the fantasy/incorrect version of the underground railroad written by Colson Whitehead has favorable reviews. This book is much better and more honest. The first series of chapters are pretty much stand-alone stories, but a good weaving of past and present relationships through an old cemetery plot. The writing style is clunky; a good editing would have helped significantly.

[Lucille GaGivens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked story and how subplot info intertwined.
Creative thought provoking lines of writing within that I had to stop, reread and even shared favorite with family.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this gem on the "recommended by librarians" shelf in our library and I'm so glad I did.
The story is so well told and I liked it more as I read further along. I enjoyed the tales of a 10 year old boy in the middle of the life altering event of his parents divorce. He is moved away from Germany where his father is stationed to a farm in KY where his mother's parents live. She leaves Sarge and his sister to live with his Grandparents while his mother looks for work. Sarge has trouble adjusting to country life and his grandmother helps him make a connection by having him help her tend the garden in the slave cemetery on the property. The book weaves stories of the past and the present in such a wonderful way! The end of the book reveals the mystery of the baby Kate stone in the cemetery. I was so emotionally involved by the end that it took a few days to recover.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing novel – reads like a storyteller’s best. It’s about family and faith and history. It’s told by a 9 year old boy and it begins the summer his parents separate. He goes to live on his grandparents’ farm and gets close to his Gramma who tells amazing stories about the slave cemetery she has turned into a flower garden. Wonderful writing!! Best book I read all year!!

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely told. Powerful without being obnoxious. Recommended.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, at times it was a bit rough but it was a great read.