The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone

Starting in the 1960’s, Annabel, a smart young woman travels to Mississippi to help register black voters. Called Freedom Summer, Annabel’s charitable, god fearing parents are convinced that teaching their daughters to be good and kind and fair is all that matters. That summer changes her life. It introduces Annabel to a world that judges, deprives and punishes people, based on the color of their skin. She is shocked, she falls in love and this sets her on a path for a life she never imagined. Annabel and her partner Guthrie move to Boston while he attends Harvard. They live in a communal house called Puddingstone, shared by 10 adults and a growing number of children. These like minded friends and roommates are all activists. Some fighting for equality in the workplace while others clamor for better welfare benefits. They are intelligent, passionate and want to change the world. As the children grow and now number 7, the adults decide city life is not healthy. It is not safe or pure. They want them to explore nature and their creativity and most of all, the adults want to continue their crusades without the daily complications of childcare. One of the women buys an old farmhouse in Vermont. They set up what they believe is an idyllic place to grow and decide the mothers will visit by rotation, giving the children fresh air and adventure while the adults continue the revolution. Narrated by both Annabel and her daughter Ivy, this novel chronicles decades of their evolving relationship shaped by unique circumstances. It is rich with drama, history, friendship, and the deep-seated yearning for mothering that all living beings need. ⭐⭐⭐⭐