This book, A Day to Pick Your Own Cotton, by Michael Phillips, is a historical fiction novel focused on themes of female friendship, race relations, and life on a plantation during the Reconstruction era in North Carolina. The story follows orphaned teenage girls, including the protagonist Mayme and Katie, as they navigate challenges and form a unique family bond after the Civil War. It explores their struggles for survival, their efforts to maintain a household without adult supervision, and their journey toward understanding freedom and their individual identities, all while confronting prejudice and discovering inner strength. The narrative also touches on faith and the search for God's nature amidst hardship, culminating in their collaborative effort to save Rosewood plantation through harvesting cotton.