Lilac Girls Series Books in Order
The Lilac Girls series by Martha Hall Kelly is a multigenerational historical fiction series following the Ferriday family across three generations and three of the twentieth century's defining conflicts. The central novel Lilac Girls (2016) is set during and after World War II, following the real-life Caroline Ferriday and her efforts to help the Ravensbrück concentration camp survivors known as the "Rabbits" — women who were subjected to medical experiments. Kelly's meticulous research and her commitment to honoring real historical figures give the series its distinctive moral weight.
The companion novels extend the Ferriday family history backward — Lost Roses (2019) is set during World War I and the Russian Revolution, and Sunflower Sisters (2021) is set during the American Civil War — creating a portrait of women's courage and endurance across a century of catastrophe. Each novel centers different members of the extended family while maintaining thematic continuity.
Kelly's series has found a devoted readership among fans of character-driven historical fiction who want their reading to also be an act of remembrance. Begin with Lilac Girls (2016).
Reading Advice & Recommendations
The Lilac Girls series can be read in either publication order or chronological order. If you want to follow the author's discovery of the characters, start with 'Lilac Girls.' However, for a linear historical experience through the Ferriday family lineage, start with 'Sunflower Sisters' (Civil War), followed by 'Lost Roses' (WWI), and finally 'Lilac Girls' (WWII).
- 1. Lilac Girls (2016) ✓ Check Price
- 2. Lost Roses (2019) ✓ Check Price
- 3. Sunflower Sisters (2021) ✓ Check Price
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