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The Healer's Daughter
Bethany Herbert, daughter of a legendary healer, leaves the South for the new black community of Nicodemus, Kansas. Despite the hardships, the community comes to love the prairie. Bethany's mother, Queen Bess, comes to Nicodemus, as does the handsome lawyer Jed Talbot, who galvanizes the settlers. Bethany resists the call of her heart because Queen Bess warns her the best healers are chaste and single. When the Herbert women's medical procedures are undermined, Bethany nearly succumbs to Queen Bess's call for total segregation from the whites Bess hates. Sinister forces come into play through white politicians seeking the black vote, and sabotage by a woman within Nicodemus who yearns for the old color hierarchy. The people of Nicodemus fight back and ultimately triumph.
413 pages, Library Binding
First published February 1, 2019
10 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Hinger
16 books16 followersCharlotte Hinger is a Western Kansas historian. She has a M.A. in history and lives in Colorado. http://www.charlottehinger.com/bio-me...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 16, 2019
I didn't have to even think for a moment about my rating for this novel. It was truly outstanding! Initially, I was interested in the novel because I have been to the tiny community of Nicodemus in Kansas where the book takes place and visited the National Park Service facility there. However, the writing style of the author hooked me from the very beginning and kept me engaged until the end. I found myself anxiously awaiting to see what was going to happen next to the characters in the novel.
In the current time, Nicodemus only has a population of approximately 21 people but it remains the only surviving community settled by African-Americans in the western United States. It was founded in 1877 and at one time reached a population of approx 500 people. However, the Depression and the Dust Bowl ravaged the town. The initial settlers came from Kentucky after being lured to Nicodemus with false promises. They were promised a town, trees, abundance of wild game, rivers among other things. When the first group of mostly ex-slaves arrived in Nicodemus, they discovered a completely different situation. There were no buildings of any kind, no trees, scarcity of wild animals, a river they considered only a small creek which was miles away. They had to create dugouts---basically a hole dug into the ground to live in. This was before soddies, homes made of sod blocks were built. These people barely had anything and certainly not tools. This book is fictional and the people in it are fictional as well. Some of the events are based on historical fact but others are not. However, it does portray an accurate picture of wht life was like for them as they established this new community.
The main character of the novel is Bethany Herbert, a young woman whose mother had been carried away from the plantation where both she and her mother were slaves after a fire broke out. Bethany had not seen her in many years and had no idea where she was. However, Bethany's mother was a healer and had established a reputation in her healing abilities. She was known as Queen Bee. Bethany also does healing using the knowledge she learned from her mother and is called on to deliver babies and for other medical situations. Her real dream, though, is to educate the children of the settlers so that they can go on to have a better life. Bethany had been able to learn reading and writing at the plantation where she lived so she sets out to found a school in Nicodemus. This is only the beginning of her ambitions. When she has a flyer printed and distributed inviting people to Nicodemus but with only honest statements, her mother comes across one of them and comes to Nicodemus. Queen Bee has a deep hatred of all white people and sees no need for the African American children to learn what she calls 'white' ways. Bethany has to pursue her dream in spite of her mother.
I had to read this book in doses because sometimes it was so painful to read. Some of the white people in the area were willing to do anything to stop the people of Nicodemus from succeeding and there were some horrible tragedies. However, the character of Bethany compelled me to keep on reading. Other characters were also well developed and they all came alive for me in this novel.
I highly recommend this novel not only to people interested in history, people particualrly interested in African American history in the United States but also to those who are inspired to read about people who persevered in their dreams and goals in the face of tremendous obstacles.
In the current time, Nicodemus only has a population of approximately 21 people but it remains the only surviving community settled by African-Americans in the western United States. It was founded in 1877 and at one time reached a population of approx 500 people. However, the Depression and the Dust Bowl ravaged the town. The initial settlers came from Kentucky after being lured to Nicodemus with false promises. They were promised a town, trees, abundance of wild game, rivers among other things. When the first group of mostly ex-slaves arrived in Nicodemus, they discovered a completely different situation. There were no buildings of any kind, no trees, scarcity of wild animals, a river they considered only a small creek which was miles away. They had to create dugouts---basically a hole dug into the ground to live in. This was before soddies, homes made of sod blocks were built. These people barely had anything and certainly not tools. This book is fictional and the people in it are fictional as well. Some of the events are based on historical fact but others are not. However, it does portray an accurate picture of wht life was like for them as they established this new community.
The main character of the novel is Bethany Herbert, a young woman whose mother had been carried away from the plantation where both she and her mother were slaves after a fire broke out. Bethany had not seen her in many years and had no idea where she was. However, Bethany's mother was a healer and had established a reputation in her healing abilities. She was known as Queen Bee. Bethany also does healing using the knowledge she learned from her mother and is called on to deliver babies and for other medical situations. Her real dream, though, is to educate the children of the settlers so that they can go on to have a better life. Bethany had been able to learn reading and writing at the plantation where she lived so she sets out to found a school in Nicodemus. This is only the beginning of her ambitions. When she has a flyer printed and distributed inviting people to Nicodemus but with only honest statements, her mother comes across one of them and comes to Nicodemus. Queen Bee has a deep hatred of all white people and sees no need for the African American children to learn what she calls 'white' ways. Bethany has to pursue her dream in spite of her mother.
I had to read this book in doses because sometimes it was so painful to read. Some of the white people in the area were willing to do anything to stop the people of Nicodemus from succeeding and there were some horrible tragedies. However, the character of Bethany compelled me to keep on reading. Other characters were also well developed and they all came alive for me in this novel.
I highly recommend this novel not only to people interested in history, people particualrly interested in African American history in the United States but also to those who are inspired to read about people who persevered in their dreams and goals in the face of tremendous obstacles.
February 13, 2020
This was an inspiring story of a young black woman making it into the world Charlotte Hinger can write. Bethany Herbert is healer under her mother as a legendary healer Queen Bess. At church one day in Kentucky a preacher speaks of a new promised land where every one can be free called Nicodemus Kansas. Bethany is unsure at first but can't stand taking care of her mistress and her fits anymore so she sets off but when she gets there there's nothing no grass really just Plains dugouts for homes. Where can she get plants and herbs to heal people? What I love most about Bethany is her pride she is stubborn and caring and just wants to do get job on her own. Teddy one of the main characters wants her to set up a school as well for children but she's not done yet she wants to write in the newspaper for help on land titles and food supplied plus medicine she needs more and more people show up wanting to start over and be free but the limited supplies they have will be hard but things get better until some mean white people think their better then everyone else plus Bethany and her mom who finds her along the way they help people but they couldn't say one and for a little while it hurts Bethanys reputation she also meets a young lawyer man named Jed she falls for him but healer women aren't suppose to marry besides with things she's seen and went through she doesn't trust any man however Jed acts to court her she agrees and soon they marry after her mother got injured by a white man and they soon start their new life together "Her prairie beckoned. Her green pastures after all. They had not forsaken the memory of green when they left the south". "That's what the Lord had meant. Steal away to a land where there was no fog steal away to a state where a man could see into infinity under a sky so blue it hurt their eyes. Steal away to Nicodemus" it was very moving there's a authors note in the back about what was real and what wasn't♡
August 30, 2019
Great book. It shows that after 400 years of slavery African Americans can build strong communities. They are educated, skilled, clean, well mannered, civilled and more. They also understand that they have to maintain some connections with other communities.
They started from nothing. But there is always someone, one of their own, from within to betray them, a Judas.
And there are always some who feels that African Americans cannot/should not be anything, have anything and don’t belong or that we are beneath them, such as Sinclair and Potroff.
But there are very few who feels that we are a capable race and are honest and trustworthy, such as Bartholomew, Governor St. John and Meissen.
But as Jed Talbot showed, in one instance things can change if you react without thinking about the consequences.
Even today African Americans are still talked about
As an issue and not considered as part of the collective whole of a nation.
They started from nothing. But there is always someone, one of their own, from within to betray them, a Judas.
And there are always some who feels that African Americans cannot/should not be anything, have anything and don’t belong or that we are beneath them, such as Sinclair and Potroff.
But there are very few who feels that we are a capable race and are honest and trustworthy, such as Bartholomew, Governor St. John and Meissen.
But as Jed Talbot showed, in one instance things can change if you react without thinking about the consequences.
Even today African Americans are still talked about
As an issue and not considered as part of the collective whole of a nation.
March 12, 2021
Bethany Herbert is a free slave living with her mistress in Kentucky. One evening, she goes to her church and hears about how Kansas is trying to get a township started, but they need people....and being known as "The Healin' Woman" she is approached by Theodore Sommers and he encourages her to join the group. They leave Kentucky on a riverboat before boarding a train that will take them to Ellis, Kansas. A couple days of traveling by wagon and the site of Nicodemus, KS comes into view...but it looks nothing like the group was expecting.
If you have ever been to Graham or Rooks County in northwest Kansas, you will understand what the group moving to Nicodemus might think. I believe Wade City is what we know as Hill City. Millbrook is a township. Several other towns that are still around are mentioned, as well. Nicodemus is now on the National Historic Registry as the first all-black town established in Kansas.
If you have ever been to Graham or Rooks County in northwest Kansas, you will understand what the group moving to Nicodemus might think. I believe Wade City is what we know as Hill City. Millbrook is a township. Several other towns that are still around are mentioned, as well. Nicodemus is now on the National Historic Registry as the first all-black town established in Kansas.
January 20, 2020
I've read other novels centered on the settlement of Nicodemus, Kansas, and find them interesting. This one is also, but it definitely in its own way. The story of Nicodemus is actually an inspiring one and a plus for those of us here in Kansas. Hinger's rendition of the tale definitely show the good, bad, and the ugly of how both blacks and whites dealt with the idea of an all black community. I sometimes was frustrated with MC Bethany and her wide mood swings, but it does all come together in a rather believable fashion. I'm not sure how I'd react in the same situations and life experiences.
The style of the writing started bumpy for me, but it either smoothed out or I adapted. Well worth checking out for its inspiration, historical background, and the relationships involved.
The style of the writing started bumpy for me, but it either smoothed out or I adapted. Well worth checking out for its inspiration, historical background, and the relationships involved.
October 10, 2020
Bethany, a former slave, finds herself on the way to Nicodemus, Kansas, the first all black settlement for freed slaves. What she, and others find, is not a town, but a Grand Prairie with few trees and little water. The white man had lied to them again. Just surviving the first winter was a feat. Determined to make their town survive, they banded together and figured ways to bring money to their community and to educate their children. Very interesting and engaging tale that keeps you hooked until the end.
January 16, 2023
Having recently spent some time in western Kansas the story of the settling of Nicodemus is particularly poignant. Everything about the setting is accurate: the wind, the heat, the cold, the grass, lack of trees, lack of water. The west including western Kansas was truly wild and lawless at that time. The serious story is well written with the vocabulary and some of the style and phrases of the time.
Now a national historic site: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicod...
Now a national historic site: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicod...
May 25, 2019
The author is a former Kansan and a historian, so her knowledge of the state and its history are obvious in this gripping and poignant novel. The story of Nicodemus and the politics and lies that brought the first black settlers to the site to build a town after the Civil War caught my interest immediately and held my attention throughout. Charlotte Hinger is an excellent writer of historical fiction (in addition to her previous mysteries).
September 21, 2019
This was an interesting though at times heart-breaking story about a part of history I was unfamiliar with, the establishment of the first all-black town "on the High Plains" and the kinds of political fighting that happened over county seats and railroad lines. Parts of the story were nail-biting. The story was riveting. The characters not so much. Never felt like we got to know them all that well, though well enough to glimpse particular character traits.
August 7, 2019
I really liked this book, in part because it exposed me to history I should have known about but did not. Given current events, the racism after post-civil war reconstruction was important to read about.
March 5, 2021
Ireally enjoyed reading this book for our book club at the library. I fell in love with Bethany and Queen Bess. I only live about an hour away from Nicodemus. Next I go thru there, I am going to stop and see museum etc.
April 19, 2021
I am glad to see in the acknowledgements that the author consulted with Angela Bates on the history of Nicodemus. This novel was intertwined with many story threads and told well. Plan to visit Nicodemus and find out more history.
September 21, 2023
Another aspect of history not far away but about which I knew nothing. Nicodemus KS was a real place and a trailblazing home to freed black Americans. Fascinating how they overcome white men’s greed and typical racism to form a thriving community.
June 4, 2019
loved it. wish there were more. need a follow up.
June 10, 2019
Loved this book - I loved the details of the hard prairie life and of the people who survived unimaginable horror. Great book.
July 1, 2019
The history presented in this book is compelling, but the fictional characters are a bit predictable.
July 3, 2019
I really enjoyed The Healer’s Daughter. There was so much history in these pages. The depth and true heart that was put into this is evident.
August 19, 2019
From slavery to starting a new way of life. All the tribal and tribulations of getting there. It was an interesting journey and a hard journey. A great read.
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October 18, 2019an interesting story
February 21, 2020
I like books that introduce new topics and ideas to explore. A trip to the Kansas Exodust town of Nicodemus national history park is on order.
July 26, 2021
This is so good! While this is historical fiction, this story is well- researched by someone from Kansas with the input from her friends from Nicodemus, Kansas.
September 15, 2022
Historical fiction about the town of Nicodemus, Kansas.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews