Vernice and Annie are “cradle friends”. Two young black girls navigating life in the South in the mid 20th century. Each motherless, for different reasons, they cling to one another for comfort and family. Here is my book review Kin by Tayari Jones.
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Motherless
How does being raised without parents affect the outcome of a well intended life? What circumstances beyond maternal absence play a role in who we become as adults? This is part of the theme of Tayari Jones’ Kin. Is family who gave birth to you or who loved you and raised you?
Vernice and Annie raised as sisters and best friends, will navigate through life searching for answers; Annie for why her mother left her at birth and Vernice why her mother was murdered by her own father.
Life as a Black Woman in the 1950’s South
Annie will take flight in search of her mother in Memphis, just as Vernice is heading off to Spelman College. Both girls will encounter the deep racism of the era, but in very different ways. Annie will struggle to find her mother, become so obsessed she will lose people she loves and end up in “trouble”. The kind of trouble no young girl in the 1950’s wants to find herself in.
Meanwhile Vernice will also face deep racism from the minute she steps onto the bus headed to Atlanta. At college she will blossom, make friends and learn about true love, wealthy and reputation and the civil rights movement.
Friendship Endures
The ending of this book is sad and disturbing, but the enduring love and friendship of these two women feels sincere and real. This book really had me emotional, and a few times I had to put it down and walk away for a while. But in the end I am glad I saw it through. The collection of characters and circumstances really made this story unique and breathtaking.
****Four stars for Kin by Tayari Jones. Thank you for reading my book review Kin by Tayari Jones. See last week’s book review Life & Death & Giants by Ron Rindo.
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