Kinship

In the novel, Kinship written by Trudy Krishner, this young girl was Perty (Pert) Wilson, lived with her mother, Rae Jean Wilson and her older brother, Jimmy Wilson in "Happy Trails" trailer park in Kinship, Georgia for many years. Pert was accustomed to the same neighbors, behaviors and habits day to day. Also, Pert has always wondered and longed for her father, James Williams Wilson of what he was like and for him to return home. Since Pert was a young child, she was not able to have what many other girls had, a father who was there for them at their side. As soon as Pert's father arrives, the life that Pert once knew started to change. Rae Jean Wilson, the mother of Pert and Jimmy was a very strong woman and attended mass at St. Jude's every Sunday. Pert, unlike some daughters, called her mother by her first name, Rae Jean because they had a very close relationship, similar to sisters and best friends. Pert had said that, "She never scolded, never yelled, never laughed at me, never made me feel shame." (Chapter 2, page 15). This was probably once reason as to why Rae Jean and Pert were very close. Rae Jean not only supported her family, but treated her children as friends with loyalty and trust. Rae Jean had worked for Doc Jackson, the animal and people doctor) and Pert had worked at the movie theater. Although their family had worked, it was not enough to keep up with all the bills and the necessities they had needed. The Wilsons family, especially Rae Jean had worked extra hard to work for their money, without the help of James Wilson. Pert was very accustomed to meeting and talking to neighbors such as Miss Sophie Mulch, Odette Coates and many others. As Pert grew up with these trailer neighbors, she had grown very close to them and many admired her and treated her as her their own child. Neighbors in "Happy Trails" had always admired, loved and were fond of the Wilson kids, especially Sophie Mulch. Sophie Mulch had said that she would do anything and everything for those children. Something that Pert would often do every afternoon was watch soap operas with Miss Mulch. Much like her life, the relationships that Pert had once had with the neighbors would soon change upon the arrival of her father. When Pert and Jimmy's father had arrived in Kinship, he brought along mixed emotions. With the good times that Pert had with her father, there were also the sad times and the disappointments. Pert's father tried to do things that would make it right for the family, but because of the many years lost, it was not enough. Pert was able to spend quality time with her father, learn more about him and the similarities they had and just had fun with him. Pert also had to deal with some disappointments when her father let her down. Also, problems grew within the trailer neighborhood that had to deal with James Wilson and money. Along with the relationships and lives that had changed when James William Wilson arrived, there were

Perty's father abondoned her mother and her at birth but Perty still has hopes and dreams of her father that no one can take away. In fact, she talks to her father all the time by sending him ESP messages, usually to please come home, they need him. Well, Perty believes the last message got through to him because after church one Sunday, her daddy is standing on their front porch. No one was happy to see him much, except Perty, and she just can't understand that. All that matters is the here and now for her and her daddy is here now. She just can't get it, even after helping the trailer park with badly needed repairs, etc, her family, especially her grandma and brother are as cold as ever. Her mother just prays all the time, same as she used to. But Perty's world comes crashing down when he doesn't show up at the Father-Daughter dance, and momma's stashed-money-for-emergencies-comes up missing, and he takes repair money meant for the traier park and gambles it away. No one really comes to Perty's rescue with the truth about her father. Perty is strong willed and friends and neighbors know she must find out on her own how her daddy really is. And Perty finally does, she grows up and she's beyond the dreams of what a daddy really is supposed to be to see what her daddy is really is-a smooth talking, run-when-there-is-trouble kind of daddy. The concept and difference between kinship and family is unearthed in this great novel by a great author. I really could'nt put it down!

A coming of age novel dealing with poverty and the importance of family. Characters are well drawn and really come to life. I like the way the vignettes of the trailer park residents give insight into Perts life. An excellent family oriented book and I would recommend it to students from the 7th grade up.