The Good Negress

A.J. Verdelle tells the compelling story of a young girl who is destined to become a working class drudge just like her mother until the intervention of an uncompromising educator who recognizes her brilliance. Miss Pearson inspires Denise to shrug off her country ways and don the mantle of the educated, but the task is not completed before an addition to the family threatens Denise's further education. The Good Negress is an earthy coming of age story whose realism took me back to some of my grandmother's favorite sayings and doings. The only disappointment was the disjointed flashbacks which make the story choppy at times. Still, the language is lyrical and the characters amazingly drawn.

The Good Negress was a thought provoking and poignant novel from first-time novelist AJ Verdell. It's a coming-of-age story regarding young Denise Palmer who's uprooted from the grandmother who raised her to go and live with her mom and stepfather in Detroit, MI. Denise has lived in the South with her grandmother for most of her childhood, but when she is 12 years old...old enough to baby-sit, clean house and cook dinner her mother demands that she moves to Detroit to live with her, her stepfather and her other siblings. Life in Detroit isn't easy for Denise as her mother is overbearing and never seems to let up. In spite of it all, Denise manages to do well in school and is able to attend college on a scholarship. The Good Negress is a story that makes you think and deal with a gamut of emotions. It was a very good read and I think it could have been a stellar read if the transition between past and present and South vs. North geography were more smooth and fluid. The Good Negress is a sad and disturbing story at times but in the end determination, independence and wisdom conquer the day. A great read for a bookclub discussion.

One of the best works that I have read in a long time. This author captured two worlds in a manner that touched me in a place that I left in West Memphis Ark. I laughted, cried and felt the words move me. I will read it again and suggest it to my friends. I can hardly wait to read her next word...Masterpiece...

The Good Negress shows us the life and dilemmas of young Neesey, caught between loyalty to her family and a desire to better herself. The author writes moments so vividly that they will stay with the reader forever. Beautiful and strong prose.

All of the things one looks for in a book are here: strong, thoughtful characters, complex situations, interesting problems, challenging decisions for the main character. It offers a chance to think deeply about culture and language, and it offers a chance to think about characters who seem not to be quite what you think. In this book, the parents are both exploiters and saviors; the brothers are both flawed and wonderful...but it's the grandmother who ultimately poses the biggest paradox. This is a book worth reading with a friend; it's one you'll want to talk about.