In this coming of age tale, Kenyatta (KB) spends 1995, the summer she turns 11, with her Granddaddy in Lansing. She and her older sister Nia are leaving their home in Detroit for the summer following the death of their father. Their mother brings them to their grandfather’s house and then, without warning, leaves them there – and KB must navigate life after the traumatic death of one parent and the unexplained and hopefully temporary absence of another. KB’s life is full of warmth and laughter and closeness with people that she loves – but it is also full of mysteries, and sadness, and the trauma of substance abuse and poverty. KB has always been a devoted reader, and fellow readers will be charmed and might just recognize their younger selves at times – the author describes time passing by the number of pages read, which is how most readers I know mark car trips to this day. Potential friendships are forged (not always for the better) through shared connections around books. It is poignant that throughout the book, KB is very invested in Anne of Green Gables – because she identifies strongly with certain parts of Anne’s life, despite how different it is from her own. By the end of the book, the author subtly marks her change when she receives a copy of Amazing Grace – perhaps a sign that she is becoming more comfortable finding girls who look and speak like her in literature meant for children her age.
KB endures trauma on a scale that is heartbreaking but unfortunately not entirely uncommon. Her story is full of love of family – but she also experiences racism and destructive friendships, and has to navigate her own understanding of herself and her sister’s growing sexuality with little help from the adults around her. The themes here are not easy, but each moment is handled with grace. This was a really well written novel – I’ve heard it described as a cross between Jesamyn Ward and Sue Monk Kidd and that feels accurate. I think this is a story that is meant for a younger audience in general, although if you do read this with younger children be aware that there are some scenes that deal with confusing and non-consensual sexual situations, and frank discussions of death, substance abuse, and depression. I think these are all things that children do experience, and this is an example of how they might happen in the context of an otherwise loving if imperfect family. Certainly, by the end of the novel I felt touched by KB and Nia and I’m always rooting her for to find the best way forward.