Poignant intergenerational story of family and identity.
The book delves into the lives of multiple generations of an African American family, addressing themes of identity, class, race, and gender. It is written in a lyrical, poetic style that draws the reader in and evokes a strong emotional response. The unique feature of this book is the way it moves back and forth in time, weaving together the stories of different family members to create a rich and complex narrative. It would be a good read for anyone interested in exploring family dynamics and the complexities of identity in the context of American society.
ISBN: 9780593086414
Authors:
Woodson Jacqueline
Publisher: PENGUIN US
Date of Publication: 2019-09-18
Format: Paperback
Related Topics:
LGBT
Goodreads rating: 3.98
(rated by 77298 readers)
Description
Two black families from different social classes are joined together by an unexpected teen pregnancy and the child that it produces. Moving forward and backward in time, with the power of poetry and the emotional richness of a narrative ten times its length, Jacqueline Woodson's extraordinary new novel uncovers the role that history and community have played in the experiences, decisions, and relationships of these families, and in the life of this child. As the book opens in 2001, it is the evening of sixteen-year-old Melody's birthday celebration in her grandparent's Brooklyn brownstone. Watched lovingly by her relatives and friends, escorted by her father to the soundtrack of Prince, she wears a special, custom-made dress. But the event is not without poignancy. Sixteen years earlier, that very dress was measured and sewn for a different wearer: Melody's mother, for her own sixteenth birthday party and a celebration which ultimately never took place, derailed by the unplanned pregnancy that resulted in Melody. Unfurling the history of Melody's parents and grandparents to show how they all arrived at this moment, Woodson considers not just their ambitions and successes but also the costs, the tolls they've paid for striving to overcome expectations and escape the pull of history. As it explores sexual desire and identity, ambition, gentrification, education, class and status, and the life-altering facts of parenthood, Red at the Bone most strikingly looks at the ways in which young people must so often make long-lasting decisions about their lives--even before they have begun to figure out who they are and what they want to be.
Condition guide
Book Condition Guide
Books in Like New Condition
This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Very Good Condition
This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Good Condition
We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Well Read Condition
This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
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Poignant intergenerational story of family and identity.
The book delves into the lives of multiple generations of an African American family, addressing themes of identity, class, race, and gender. It is written in a lyrical, poetic style that draws the reader in and evokes a strong emotional response. The unique feature of this book is the way it moves back and forth in time, weaving together the stories of different family members to create a rich and complex narrative. It would be a good read for anyone interested in exploring family dynamics and the complexities of identity in the context of American society.
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