The Invention of Wings

Named Handful by her mother and Hetty by Judge Grimké, Handful narrates half of the novel from her point of view. As a Grimké family slave, Handful lives through the harrowing experience of life as a slave in Charleston, South Carolina during the early-19th century.

Though the historical record shows that Sarah taught her personal slave to read, there is no other information available about her. Kidd’s imagination, along with general knowledge of the history and culture of the time, provides the Handful section of the novel.

Handful is 10 years old when she is given to Sarah as a birthday present. Sarah’s greatest gift of friendship occurs when she teaches Handful to read and write. The two girls play together, read and write together, and share their hopes and dreams.

Handful’s most influential relationship is with her strong, independent, and intelligent mother, Charlotte, or Mauma. Through Mauma’s example and teachings, Handful grows into a thoughtful, intelligent woman with strong opinions and beliefs, including that being a slave does not define her. Mauma is able to help Handful understand who she is, through the story quilt and her telling Handful family history. She gives Handful an identity and self-knowledge that transcends her enslavement.