A Blockaded Family by Parthenia A. Hague is a testament to the ingenuity, adaptability and inventiveness with which a community cut off from outside resources resorts to fending for themselves and utilizing natures bounty. Less about politics and more about enduring; it contains tips on surviving and making do. From making a coffee substitute from okra seeds, watermelon syrup for sugar substitute, and persimmon seeds for buttons, this book captivates the reader with timeless wisdom.