Black, White, Other

Gr 7—10—Nina Armstrong, 15, is facing tough personal challenges. Her white mother and African-American father are getting a divorce; being biracial suddenly seems to make a difference among her friends; her beloved 10-year-old brother is a bike thief; and her parents seem to care only about their own lives. Distraught, isolated, and confused, Nina decides to run away, taking along her father's unfinished manuscript about her enslaved great-great-grandmother, Sarah. She spends a harrowing night on the streets of San Francisco, stumbling into temporary refuges in a church and a children's park. As she intermittently reads Sarah's story of endurance and determination, she draws comfort, guidance, and inspiration from it. Ultimately realizing that her family is her safe haven and that her biracial heritage embraces rather than limits diverse friendships, Nina returns home to her grateful parents and brother. Nina narrates her story with teenage emotion, attitude, grit, and insight. Lester's first foray into YA fiction incorporates historical sources, contemporary racial and family issues, and authentic teen voices. Sarah's dramatic quest for freedom in the 1850s provides the catalyst for Nina's soul-searching and self-examination. At times, however, Sarah's ancestral influence on Nina seems overstated. Nonetheless, the riches of family heritage, the importance of self-acceptance and self-worth, and the value of forgiveness and compassion are powerful messages for teen readers.—Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC