This was a great historical tale. I absolutely adore heroines who stand up for everything they believe in, customs and traditions be damned. Lisbette is definitely a young woman to look up to, despite all the odds she faced. Her father raised her to be independent, which was unusual for the early 1900’s. Especially as it was a woman’s duty after school to marry and settle down immediately. But she really wanted to be a teacher like her father and a football (soccer) player.

When family demons haunt Lisbette’s family, she is forced to seek out marriage to a stranger and move across the world to an independent South African town to teach young girls for a year before they are to marry.

Her husband Graham, however, is a real piece of work. He is the reason there is a saying “old habits die hard.” Although I am pretty sure that Graham, when he married Lisbette, was not expecting her to be like she was. He clearly expected a woman he could force and shape into a subservient woman.
Nor do I think that the township was expecting Lisbette either. She fought hard for her students and break the tradition of the girls marrying young. To give them something more in their lives.

There is some sexual content and a small bit of violence but I would recommend it to a mature teenager as well as adults. Definitely an enjoyable read I will visit again. ( )