Three pages in I had to whip out the highlighter and from then on kept it close by. I appreciate the deep research that Ms. Holmes put into this book, and with information sprinkled throughout I can tell there is so much more to tell. I'm already hoping for Volume 2!

My favorite quote sums up this book: What if we told the story of America as the story of God's faithfulness - not our own?

As a white woman of deep faith but with siblings, nieces, nephews, and so many friends who are Black, I love her kind yet honest approach to why this book is needed to highlight Black women of faith. She also explains why she picked which women and time period. Her added insights into what we can learn about them in contemporary American culture has given me food for thought, but she ties them all well back to the God who reigns over us all.

While heavy topics are not shyed away from, Ms. Holmes write in a way where they do not become burdomsome, however they will make you think about yourself and your role in history and interactions with others.

I recieved a complimentary copy of this book for review. My opinion is honestly my own and was not required to be positive.

Carved in Ebony: Lessons from the Black Women Who Shaped Us is a short book that is part biography and part memoir by Jasmine L Holmes (daughter of Voddie Baucham).

This book tells the brief but inspirational stories of Elizabeth Freeman, Sara Griffith Stanley, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Amanda Berry Smith, Maria Fearing, Maria Stewart, Lucy Craft Laney, Charlotte Forten Grimke, and Sarah Mapps Douglass. Some of the women I was familiar with from my time in high school and from reading books, some I learned about through this book.

These women all came from different backgrounds. Slavery, mixed, married, single, parents, etc. Some were missionaries abroad, while others at home.

Holmes says at one point in the book, "This selection process was not by design, but in the Christian subculture that tends to prize marriage and children as the foremost ways of bringing glory to God and pursuing Christian service as a woman, these ten women were able to have fruitful lives of active service for God's glory without settling down." As a single person, I appreciated that.

This is a really great book to read if you're looking to learn more about black Christian women but do keep in mind that sometimes there is more about the author or her personal commentary than the actual person.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a free copy for review.

This was a refreshing look at ten black women in history, some who were missionaries. Why refreshing? Because these books often feature Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, and maybe Mae Jemison or Katherine Johnson. It was refreshing to see a completely new-to-me list of women and it was refreshing to see them from a faith perspective.

*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

I won't take for granted that everyone knows this: This biography/memoir isn't just for Black people to read. You don't have to be a woman to read it either, any more than biographies and memoirs about men should only be read by men. This book is for *anyone* with an interest in American history, especially pertaining to church history in America.

I appreciate a certain kind of balance the author applies to this narrative. She conveys the importance of the admirable work and accomplishments of the women in this book without placing them on pedestals, as if they must have been flawless figures that everyone should agree with on every theological or social point. The author doesn't shy away from unsavory aspects of history that others don't always touch (for instance, someone being an abolitionist didn't necessarily mean that person loved or accepted Black people), but the book isn't a mere indictment of America's shortcomings or wrongdoings either.

The author uses a nuanced brush to illustrate history here in a way that makes a case for faith while serving as a challenge to herself and to the reader. And her points I found most inspiring are that fame is not the only measure of one's impact, and even an impact that isn't broad can be deep.

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Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

I am realizing more and more that the American history and church history I was taught over half a century ago was pretty much from a white male perspective. I now know there were many women who had essential roles in the formation and subsequent perseverance of the United States and in furthering the Kingdom of God.

Even more startling for me now is the realization of the role Black women have had in kingdom work over the centuries. As Holmes writes, this book is part biography, part memoir, part the informative result of research. (22) Her goal is to give readers like me a taste of the lives of ten women, help me see how they impacted her, and be encouraged to look deeper into their lives, seeing God's handiwork and proclaiming His goodness. (22)

I read about the contributions of Black women like Elizabeth Freeman, the first Black woman to sue for freedom in Massachusetts in 1781. There was Sara Stanley, an outspoken teacher and missionary to freed Blacks. Francis Harper was the first Black woman in America to have a short story published, also writing poetry, novels, and speeches. Amanda Smith and Maria Fearing, born in slavery yet called to and doing mission work overseas. And those are just a few of the inspiring women found in this book.

Holmes does not shy away from being realistic about the U.S. in light of the experiences of Blacks in the past. Christians who want to believe the U.S. has always been a wonderful Christian nation may be offended by some of her comments. (110) Holmes is one of many recent voices calling Christians to recognize the horrors of slavery and to have a more truthful view of the past.

This is an inspiring book for all women, containing the stories of those who rose above obstacles like slavery to educate, to minister and further the gospel. The women written about here are examples to follow, encouragement to women no matter the level of one's education or economic situation. These women had an impact on Holmes and they'll have an impact on you too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.