3.5 Stars
Ella is a preteen Black girl living in segregated Ricksville, Mississippi, in 1982. Her life is not easy: in a family of four children, she is the result of her married mother’s infidelity and has the darkest skin colour of anyone in the town. She is ostracized in the community, neglected and physically abused by her mother, and sexually abused by her stepfather. Then Katherine St. James, a white woman, rents a house in the black neighbourhood. A graduate student, she is conducting research for her thesis. Ella and Katherine become acquainted, but it’s obvious that Katherine, with her upbringing and traumatic personal history, has ulterior motives for befriending Ella.
Ella is a truly engaging character. She is intelligent and curious. With a strong belief in God, she remains optimistic regardless of what happens in her life. Because she is an outcast in both her home and her community, she is desperately looking for love and a sense of belonging. Fortunately, she has some people in the community like Mr. Macabe, Nate, and Miss Claudia who do support her and serve as a substitute family.
The book is really Ella’s coming-of-age story. Her experiences with Katherine result in her losing her innocence. Desperate for affection, it is understandable that she is drawn to someone who wants to spend time with her. As a result, she is Katherine’s defender until she gradually realizes that her friendliness is a façade. She also realizes that she must learn to love herself; Mr. Macabe tells her, “’You have to become proud of who you are.’”
The novel emphasizes the lasting impact of racism. Katherine’s father was a Klansman who indoctrinated her into white supremacy. She has tried to distance herself from him and his views but there are indications that she has not been totally successful. The scene in Nate’s restaurant is so telling, not to say ironic, especially her reaction: “’I don’t think he was going to serve me at all. Can you believe that?’” Her thesis is purportedly on the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on both Black and white Americans; though she claims she will be balanced in her approach, she actually seems to focus more on the economic impact of the movement on white Southern farmers as if trying to rationalize and justify their actions. Is her motivation really academic?
This would be a great book for senior high school students. There is much that they could analyze and discuss. There are sections that are somewhat didactic, but on the whole the novel deftly examines the complexities of racism and colourism.
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