Helpful Score: 3
A well written book that speaks of the life many blacks faced growing up in the South.Though not a true story it depicts growing up poor and black with a mentally instable mother who is at times very loving but also unbelievably cruel.I loved Tangy Mae a character with so many hopes and dreams who despite all the cruelty dealt her does what she has to do to survive.
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of the most heart-wrenching books I've ever read. However, I couldn't put it down until I was finished. It left me in tears at times, and laughing until I cried at others. It is outstanding. It's not for the faint at heart as there are several scenes in it that will make you cringe and possibly cry. However it is full of hope and optimistim and will leave you in awe at what odds human beings can overcome. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Helpful Score: 1
The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful to me, but I wish I could say the same for the content. Rozelle is a very evil person, called the devil's spawn by her own Mama. She is horribly abusive to her ten children and completely gets away with it. Tangy Mae is an amazing and strong girl who in my eyes, is a true hero. This book takes place during the civil rights era in the south, which makes it more real, and even harder to digest, the events that take place. This book hits a huge variety of topics and they will all leave you thinking long after you finish the last pages.
http://sheenathebookgeek.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-darkest-child-by-delores.html
http://sheenathebookgeek.blogspot.com/2011/09/book-review-darkest-child-by-delores.html
It tells the story of dirt poor 13 year old Tansy Mae, one of ten children born to her unstable and at times very abusive mother. Tansy's mother is black but easily passes for white and makes her living cleaning houses for rich folks and pleasing the men of the house (but she keeps this from the younger kids). Her mother expects them all to quit school and get a job to help support them. Tansy is smarter than the rest and wants to complete school but her mother has other ideas and once Tansy becomes "of age" she's going to discover some ugly truths about her mother and her angry older sister.
Tansy has a difficult life, both at home and out. She's the darkest of all of her siblings and growing up in Georgia back in the 1950's and faces prejudice on a daily basis. This is her story, told in her voice and it is an excellent one that gripped me from the first page. It's heartbreaking and real and a book that isn't easily forgettable. My only minor complaint is that I wish it had gone on a bit longer but that's me being selfish.
Tansy has a difficult life, both at home and out. She's the darkest of all of her siblings and growing up in Georgia back in the 1950's and faces prejudice on a daily basis. This is her story, told in her voice and it is an excellent one that gripped me from the first page. It's heartbreaking and real and a book that isn't easily forgettable. My only minor complaint is that I wish it had gone on a bit longer but that's me being selfish.
