I have to admit that I knew very little about the Grimke sisters when I started reading The Invention of Wings. I had read Angelina Grimke's An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South and found it to be well-argued and convincing. I haven't read anything by Sarah Grimke, but now I feel like I know both sisters very well. They are officially my favorite pre-20th century suffragettes (sorry, Susan B. Antony!).

What I loved about The Invention of Wings was how it truly showed the struggle of the Grimke sisters to not just be abolitionists in a family of slave owners but also women in a movement filled with men. They end up being more notorious than anything, and they are bared from returning to their hometown of Charleston. It is not an easy life for either Sarah or Angelina, but it is still a life they pursue. Though the novel is centered around Sarah and Hetty, Angelina ended up being my favorite character. She was bolder than Sarah, less scared of herself, and relentlessly pursued what is right. I liked Hetty's narrative, but it didn't seem to stick with me. I think Hetty serves as a catalyst for Sarah's abolitionism more than anything.

Overall, The Invention of Wings was an excellent novel with the exception of the unnecessary romantic subplot. I felt like it diminished Sarah as a character and made me like her less. I feel so strongly about this that I got into an argument about it with my English teacher. She said it was a subplot intended to show what Sarah had to give up to live the life she chose. I still think that it's stupid, but I guess that's my prerogative. Definitely a novel I'd recommend!