Catherine Howard (author), through the wide-open eyes of Laureen, walks you through the unstable and unpredictable time of the post-civil war era. Although Laureen's journey includes the rocky terrain of despair sprinkled, she walks boldly as a prisoner of hope.

Laureen struggled to adjust from a life of comfort to one of poverty after the Civil War. When offered a chance to leave the South, she eagerly accepted, despite the uncertainty ahead. Having never traveled far or made decisions independently-especially without considering her sister-in-law Florence-this journey marked a profound shift. Aboard the Sultana, she encountered unfamiliar aspects of life and began to experience a new kind of freedom-one rooted in personal choice rather than social or familial obligation. As she moved further from her past, her confidence grew, preparing her for the life-altering disaster that awaited.