Eleven year old Pecola Breedlove is an African American girl barely existing at a time when only blond haired, blue eyed children are seen as beautiful. Her father, Cholly, is haunted by the demons of his past, and the abusive home Pecola is raised in leaves her little chance of thriving, much less survival. Pecola wishes for blue eyes, believing that trait alone will make herself, and the world, beautiful.
The narrative voice of the story changes throughout the book, offering various insights and angles to Pecola's tortured life. The author also does not follow a traditonal "start to end" format of storytelling, but instead, chapters often appear out of order, when in reality, they skillfully combine to craft this powerful story.
Oprah finally got one right. This is an important story that made a lasting impression on me.
Readers who enjoyed this book may also like these fiction titles: The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Harcourt Brace, 1982 is equally effective in highlighting the low position of black females in American social culture, even amongst fellow African Americans. Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon, St. Martin's Press, 2009 is a direct recommendation from Booklist and is a modern tale of urban black girls following a vicious cycle of falling for the wrong man, having their children, and falling into poverty and despair.
Readers who enjoyed this book may also like these non-fiction titles: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Random House, 1970. Angelou uses her autobiography to illustrate the ways in which she utilized her strong character and love of literature to overcome racism and trauma. Somebody's Someone by Regina Louise, Agate Bolden, 2008 recounts the author's dream to be wanted and respected, rather than the neglected and abused child she really was.
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