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White Oak Plantation: Slavery's Deeper Roots
An enslaved young woman craves a family. Her young mistress desires status in society. Can an unlikely bond change their lives forever?
Most slaves long for freedom. Eighteen-year-old Spicey longs for a sister.
As an orphaned house slave, she’s desperate to belong to a family—even her mistress Caroline’s family. But Caroline is more concerned with courting John, the local preacher, than noticing Spicey’s devotion or caring about her needs. She doesn’t even think to look past Spicey’s skin color to see their relationship for what it is.
When Spicey meets Junior, an enslaved young man with an intact family, she yearns deeply to have what he has. But would they accept her? And would Caroline allow the match?
When the decision to protect a runaway slave causes the girls to risk everything, will the chains of slavery keep them bound to a world of lies and prejudices or be the catalyst that sets them both free?
Rich in authentic details and unforgettable characters, Caroline, John, and Spicey’s stories progress in White Oak A Story of Slavery’s Secrets. Inspired by the author’s own family events, the novel continues the struggles Caroline endures to overcome the scars of slavery. Look for White Oak A Story of Slavery’s Secrets on Amazon.
Most slaves long for freedom. Eighteen-year-old Spicey longs for a sister.
As an orphaned house slave, she’s desperate to belong to a family—even her mistress Caroline’s family. But Caroline is more concerned with courting John, the local preacher, than noticing Spicey’s devotion or caring about her needs. She doesn’t even think to look past Spicey’s skin color to see their relationship for what it is.
When Spicey meets Junior, an enslaved young man with an intact family, she yearns deeply to have what he has. But would they accept her? And would Caroline allow the match?
When the decision to protect a runaway slave causes the girls to risk everything, will the chains of slavery keep them bound to a world of lies and prejudices or be the catalyst that sets them both free?
Rich in authentic details and unforgettable characters, Caroline, John, and Spicey’s stories progress in White Oak A Story of Slavery’s Secrets. Inspired by the author’s own family events, the novel continues the struggles Caroline endures to overcome the scars of slavery. Look for White Oak A Story of Slavery’s Secrets on Amazon.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2022
24 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Ora Smith
10 books66 followersGet to know Ora, receive a free ebook, and sign up for her newsletter at www.orasmith.com
Ora Smith’s one of those people who always has a project she’s excited about. She’s an author, artist, genealogist, seamstress, lover of a good book, traveler, antiquer, upcycler, and history buff. Although she’s lived in Arizona since 1986, she spent her early life in Lake Tahoe, California, where her passion to write blossomed on a tranquil riverbank with a beautiful backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
As a genealogist, she spent thirty-plus years researching family histories. With her historical “Heritage Fiction” novels for both adult and young adult, she’s made a niche in writing about ancestors, creating fascinating stories based on true events. She loves nothing better than to be whisked off to past eras to meet those whose lives are worth sharing.
As an author and artist, Ora creates faith inspired stories and children’s books. She writes and illustrates her picture book Stories of Light series, hoping to help children understand what the Light of Christ can mean to them. Watch for her release of The Son and Sun: An Amazing Story of Light in early 2025.
Although she writes on many subjects, she’s sure you’ll find in her writings a book that’s meant just for you.
Ora Smith’s one of those people who always has a project she’s excited about. She’s an author, artist, genealogist, seamstress, lover of a good book, traveler, antiquer, upcycler, and history buff. Although she’s lived in Arizona since 1986, she spent her early life in Lake Tahoe, California, where her passion to write blossomed on a tranquil riverbank with a beautiful backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
As a genealogist, she spent thirty-plus years researching family histories. With her historical “Heritage Fiction” novels for both adult and young adult, she’s made a niche in writing about ancestors, creating fascinating stories based on true events. She loves nothing better than to be whisked off to past eras to meet those whose lives are worth sharing.
As an author and artist, Ora creates faith inspired stories and children’s books. She writes and illustrates her picture book Stories of Light series, hoping to help children understand what the Light of Christ can mean to them. Watch for her release of The Son and Sun: An Amazing Story of Light in early 2025.
Although she writes on many subjects, she’s sure you’ll find in her writings a book that’s meant just for you.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 27, 2025
"I can't do it. I say all the wrong things. You don't understand how hard it is to be brave."
- Ora Smith , White Oak Plantation: Slavery's Deeper Roots (White Oak series)
What an absolute pleasure to read such a beautiful and evocative story. Before I even go on, if you’re a fan of historical fiction, you’ve got to put this on your to be read list.
First off this story is true and the characters and events are based on the author’s Great -Great - Great- Grandparents.
When I read historical fiction, I want to feel like I’m in the middle of the pages, lost in the pages actually. And boy oh boy did I feel that way here.
Everything is described in finite detail. Oh, I’m sorry! I suppose I should tell you all what this is about.
Obviously, you can tell a little bit from the title. In a way this book reminded me of Sue Monk Kidd’s book The invention of wings.
Like that book, this book is about a slave, and the The girl she serves.
Both of them have their own POV‘s, so you can see the story playing out from the eyes of the slave, and the eyes of this white, southern girl.
Caroline is that girl. The slaves name is Spicey which I absolutely loved.
Caroline has four sisters. She’s getting to the point where she’s growing up fast, and is developing deep feelings for certain young man, who she is not sure, feels the same way.
Ultimately, Caroline‘s life will change, not just in whom she chooses to marry, but her views on life and slavery will be tested in ways She probably never expects.
In the meantime, Spicey is warm and lovable and aching with loneliness. She is deeply attached to Caroline and worries that if Carolyn marries, she will send her away.
In the meantime, there is another girl, a beautiful young girl who is on the run. I’m trying to be as ambiguous as possible, so as not to give away spoilers.
, I just want to say how lovely and unexpectedly poignant, I found this story.
This is definitely my type of historical fiction. I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction this year, and I thought I was kind of burned out on it, but this one was a pleasure to read. I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. I say that because I was in a bad mood when I started reading this and contemplated putting it away and bringing it out again in a few months.
I’ve been reading so much heavy stuff lately, but I didn’t know if I wanted to continue but I’m glad that I did.
So Caroline was a fascinating character. It was frustrating because she is so dignified, so restrained, so unaware of her own racism , as I imagine, many many many people were back then, yet at the same time, it was like, watching a stiff and upright mule, with an effervescent bird inside it, struggling to break free and fly.
John was easily my favorite character, and I can’t wait to read about him in book two.
Did I mention it’s a two books series which I didn’t even know until I got to the end of the This book? I mean you can read this is a standalone, but my guess is that you’re gonna wanna go on it’s only two books.
This book is about the way things were back then, a time period I can’t even begin to grasp nor understand .
The writing was so elegantly evocative, and , and it also made me nostalgic because I read a lot more of these type of books as a kid I think, then I do as an adult. I read historical fiction not exclusively, but a great deal more as a child than I do now. In fact, historical fiction is part of what really got me into reading in the first place.
So the book is about love and loss and pain and courting and society and family expectations, and surface things versus what’s real and what’s true and what’s deep and what’s soulful .
I’ve always loved stories of abolitionists, so this really appealed to me.
Reading it. I could picture myself there in North Carolina, gazing outside at flower gardens, sipping out of brightly colored tea cups, feeling that breezy warm afternoon daylight .
I’ll probably read part two in the next week This book flows quite smoothly.
I would really recommend it to everyone .
Not to be missed.
- Ora Smith , White Oak Plantation: Slavery's Deeper Roots (White Oak series)
What an absolute pleasure to read such a beautiful and evocative story. Before I even go on, if you’re a fan of historical fiction, you’ve got to put this on your to be read list.
First off this story is true and the characters and events are based on the author’s Great -Great - Great- Grandparents.
When I read historical fiction, I want to feel like I’m in the middle of the pages, lost in the pages actually. And boy oh boy did I feel that way here.
Everything is described in finite detail. Oh, I’m sorry! I suppose I should tell you all what this is about.
Obviously, you can tell a little bit from the title. In a way this book reminded me of Sue Monk Kidd’s book The invention of wings.
Like that book, this book is about a slave, and the The girl she serves.
Both of them have their own POV‘s, so you can see the story playing out from the eyes of the slave, and the eyes of this white, southern girl.
Caroline is that girl. The slaves name is Spicey which I absolutely loved.
Caroline has four sisters. She’s getting to the point where she’s growing up fast, and is developing deep feelings for certain young man, who she is not sure, feels the same way.
Ultimately, Caroline‘s life will change, not just in whom she chooses to marry, but her views on life and slavery will be tested in ways She probably never expects.
In the meantime, Spicey is warm and lovable and aching with loneliness. She is deeply attached to Caroline and worries that if Carolyn marries, she will send her away.
In the meantime, there is another girl, a beautiful young girl who is on the run. I’m trying to be as ambiguous as possible, so as not to give away spoilers.
, I just want to say how lovely and unexpectedly poignant, I found this story.
This is definitely my type of historical fiction. I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction this year, and I thought I was kind of burned out on it, but this one was a pleasure to read. I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. I say that because I was in a bad mood when I started reading this and contemplated putting it away and bringing it out again in a few months.
I’ve been reading so much heavy stuff lately, but I didn’t know if I wanted to continue but I’m glad that I did.
So Caroline was a fascinating character. It was frustrating because she is so dignified, so restrained, so unaware of her own racism , as I imagine, many many many people were back then, yet at the same time, it was like, watching a stiff and upright mule, with an effervescent bird inside it, struggling to break free and fly.
John was easily my favorite character, and I can’t wait to read about him in book two.
Did I mention it’s a two books series which I didn’t even know until I got to the end of the This book? I mean you can read this is a standalone, but my guess is that you’re gonna wanna go on it’s only two books.
This book is about the way things were back then, a time period I can’t even begin to grasp nor understand .
The writing was so elegantly evocative, and , and it also made me nostalgic because I read a lot more of these type of books as a kid I think, then I do as an adult. I read historical fiction not exclusively, but a great deal more as a child than I do now. In fact, historical fiction is part of what really got me into reading in the first place.
So the book is about love and loss and pain and courting and society and family expectations, and surface things versus what’s real and what’s true and what’s deep and what’s soulful .
I’ve always loved stories of abolitionists, so this really appealed to me.
Reading it. I could picture myself there in North Carolina, gazing outside at flower gardens, sipping out of brightly colored tea cups, feeling that breezy warm afternoon daylight .
I’ll probably read part two in the next week This book flows quite smoothly.
I would really recommend it to everyone .
Not to be missed.
September 26, 2021
Difficult to Rate. The story is fiction, and may have true parts, but it's dangerous to speak of slavery, even without "violence," or "atrocities " befalling the enslaved, as anything other than dehumanizing and wrong. Physical, mental and emotional abuses are present here, as well. (Example: Sleeping on a pallet on the massa's floor, being separated from field enslaved and never sure what will happen - to you - when the massa marries.) Especially scary in today's fractured times. 2 1/2 stars.
June 17, 2023
It was OK thanks for letting me read this free book.
April 9, 2024
I say, having a real, genealogical background to support a story will do wonders for my enjoyment--in this case, it added a whole star to my rating. (Really, who's surprised?)
Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and that's never reflected more than in a truth-based story. Take, for example, the part about Reverend Mattocks' opinion on the Jewish people. I confess I was rather skeptical--after all, Christians in that era usually didn't favor the Jews. But then I found out it was based in historical factual documents, so who am I to argue?? +1 in favor of Ora Smith.
The plot was a little jumpy (this could have been partly because I was unable to read the story consistently due to life busyness), and Caroline's attitude toward slaves/slavery felt less than smoothly consistent. However, it was eventually brought around to a nice complete arc. At first I didn't realize Caroline and Carrie were the same person (also probably due to extensive breaks from reading), so confusion reigned briefly in the beginning.
Spicey's character was also a little jumpy, and her desires and goals didn't seem to have one focus. Her perspective was of course very interesting, and a little bit of romance started popping up, but she had no complete plot arc attributed to her. Her slave dialect was very prevalent, as it was for every Negro in the story, and it carried over to even the non-dialogue narrative from her perspective.
I liked Reverend Mattocks' character and the presentation of his abolitionist leanings; the escape scene was certainly interesting, although I felt too much information between too many people was being shared. And I understood the need for secrets to be revealed to wrap up the story and relationship between Caroline and John (although her faith is in a sad state of tatters ...), but I balked a little at how readily he revealed his secret. All of it.
My favorite part was the afterward: the explanation of what was real, what was fictional, and what was derived from the historical sources of the author's family. Add that to your story, and you'll make me happy at the end.
Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, and that's never reflected more than in a truth-based story. Take, for example, the part about Reverend Mattocks' opinion on the Jewish people. I confess I was rather skeptical--after all, Christians in that era usually didn't favor the Jews. But then I found out it was based in historical factual documents, so who am I to argue?? +1 in favor of Ora Smith.
The plot was a little jumpy (this could have been partly because I was unable to read the story consistently due to life busyness), and Caroline's attitude toward slaves/slavery felt less than smoothly consistent. However, it was eventually brought around to a nice complete arc. At first I didn't realize Caroline and Carrie were the same person (also probably due to extensive breaks from reading), so confusion reigned briefly in the beginning.
Spicey's character was also a little jumpy, and her desires and goals didn't seem to have one focus. Her perspective was of course very interesting, and a little bit of romance started popping up, but she had no complete plot arc attributed to her. Her slave dialect was very prevalent, as it was for every Negro in the story, and it carried over to even the non-dialogue narrative from her perspective.
I liked Reverend Mattocks' character and the presentation of his abolitionist leanings; the escape scene was certainly interesting, although I felt too much information between too many people was being shared. And I understood the need for secrets to be revealed to wrap up the story and relationship between Caroline and John (although her faith is in a sad state of tatters ...), but I balked a little at how readily he revealed his secret. All of it.
My favorite part was the afterward: the explanation of what was real, what was fictional, and what was derived from the historical sources of the author's family. Add that to your story, and you'll make me happy at the end.
September 2, 2025
This was a well-written story, and I like how it was told from both Caroline's and Spicey's viewpoints. However, I think it was a little "soft" on slavery; it didn't really show how frightening trying to run away was. That actually seemed to take a backseat to the love stories of the two girls, especially Caroline's. I don't particularly like love stories. Inspirational fiction seems to be love stories without all the sex, so I don't find them particularly interesting. Thus, I gave it a 4. However, I do feel it was well-written and would be good for someone who is more interested in love stories.
January 21, 2024
This book has a unique perspective of a very small group of southerners a few years before the Civil War. I found the story, which is based on a real family, very interesting and the characters realistic of that era.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
September 24, 2023
I read this book in a few hours. It was engaging and flowed well. The characters were very interesting and kept you wanting to know more. I wish she would have included the second book into this book and made it one but I will definitely be reading the second one!
November 9, 2025
Received this book from the author through Book Funnel.
This historical story describes life on a plantation before the US Civil War, when people owned slaves still.
The author's relatives are among the characters, and are described as well as possible based on research.
This historical story describes life on a plantation before the US Civil War, when people owned slaves still.
The author's relatives are among the characters, and are described as well as possible based on research.
December 27, 2023
over already!?
The book started off really strong for me then at some point i realized the love story wasn't from the slave perspective. As soon as it started getting good it ended
The book started off really strong for me then at some point i realized the love story wasn't from the slave perspective. As soon as it started getting good it ended
April 8, 2025
Ora has a way with making the reader feel like they are inside the story. Her description of the Christmas party made me feel like I was there. This is such a heartbreaking but important look at the past.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews