Black, White, Other

Starred review from July 18, 2011
Like the current U.S. president, Nina Armstrong is biracial. Unlike him, the character is a teenager, and her black father, Silas, and white mother, Maggie, have decided to divorce. Nina lives with Maggie, a lefty whose family roots are in union organizing; her little brother, Jimi, lives with his dad, who is busy rediscovering his African-American roots, which include an enslaved great-grandmother Sarah, whose story Silas is writing. Nina is emotionally, socially, and historically conflicted: who is she, and whose is she? She's got white friends and black friends who inhabit different peer worlds, and the family tension shapes everything. Lester (Fire in My Soul) conjures a credible plot and complications; divorce is a fact of life and racially mixed heritage is conspicuously becoming one. The simple contrapuntal narrative of Sarah Armstrong's escaping slavery distinguishes the book emotionally and psychologically, raising it above other issue-oriented YA novels. Lester writes with social sensitivity and an ear for teen language and concerns. This is engaging treatment of a challenging subject that comes with little precedent. Ages 12âup.

December 1, 2011

Gr 7-10-Nina Armstrong, 15, is facing tough personal challenges. Her white mother and African-American father are getting a divorce; being biracial suddenly seems to make a difference among her friends; her beloved 10-year-old brother is a bike thief; and her parents seem to care only about their own lives. Distraught, isolated, and confused, Nina decides to run away, taking along her father's unfinished manuscript about her enslaved great-great-grandmother, Sarah. She spends a harrowing night on the streets of San Francisco, stumbling into temporary refuges in a church and a children's park. As she intermittently reads Sarah's story of endurance and determination, she draws comfort, guidance, and inspiration from it. Ultimately realizing that her family is her safe haven and that her biracial heritage embraces rather than limits diverse friendships, Nina returns home to her grateful parents and brother. Nina narrates her story with teenage emotion, attitude, grit, and insight. Lester's first foray into YA fiction incorporates historical sources, contemporary racial and family issues, and authentic teen voices. Sarah's dramatic quest for freedom in the 1850s provides the catalyst for Nina's soul-searching and self-examination. At times, however, Sarah's ancestral influence on Nina seems overstated. Nonetheless, the riches of family heritage, the importance of self-acceptance and self-worth, and the value of forgiveness and compassion are powerful messages for teen readers.-Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC

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