Celeste's Harlem Renaissance

A motherless teenager at thirteen, Celeste lives with her beloved, consumptive father and abrasive Aunt Society in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1921. Despite Aunt Society's extreme strictness and terrible cooking, CeCe's life is relatively happy. She has supportive friends and recognition for her school work. Although her circumstances are modest, CeCe is talented and ambitious. She plays a mean violin, which she calls "DeDe," and plans to become a doctor. Her only other close relative is an aunt who shows up periodically from what Cece believes is a glamorous existence in Harlem. Cece's circumstances are worse than modest, they are exceedingly precarious. When her father is sent to a sanatorium, she is bundled off to New York to live with Aunt Valentina. Auntie meets her at the train station, but instead of taking her to a beautiful home, she takes her to a theater. This is not the expected theater where her aunt is a star. This is a theater where they both scrub the stage on their hands and knees until CeCe is so exhausted, she keeps falling down on the way to her aunt's tiny, windowless apartment. Her introduction to Harlem is harsh indeed. As a former companion to an opera singer,however, her aunt does know many of the people who are part of the Harlem Renaissance. Gradually, despite the grinding work, CeCe is introduced to them. Filled with colorful characters - including Aunt Society - the author brings to vivid life a wonderful protagonist. CeCe seems absolutely real. She is ultimately presented with an ethical decision that would stagger a wise adult. Played out against the backdrop of the segregated south with its myriad oppressions and Harlem during the Renaissance period with its myriad chances, CeCe is influenced by both but overwhelmed by neither. A strong young heroine in a stellar story.