| From Publishers Weekly Although coming-of-age tales set in the 1960s South are in no short supply， Kincaid's adept characterization， blend of humor and pathos and ear for dialogue mark this promising debut novel. Adolescent narrator Lucy Conyers's white family lives "right on the dividing line" between all-white and all-black areas of Tallahassee， Fla. The Conyers's next-door neighbor is Melvina Williams， a black woman struggling with six ornery kids and a violent， alcoholic husband. Lucy's generous mother tries to compensate for white racism with kindness while Lucy's stepfather sides with whites on racial issues. The children of both families tease each other about skin color， but they are more curious than antagonistic; as the civil rights movement intensifies， Lucy develops a forbidden crush on Melvina's son Skippy. Lucy's ignorance， innocence and notions of privilege are credibly conveyed through her candid observations， and if readers wince when a black girl proudly rejects Lucy's "ceremonious" offer of sweets or when Lucy's mother forgives her husband his opinions simply to win him back， these scenes serve to remind them of the prejudices that prevail in our society. A skillfully written if sometimes predictable look at race and family relations. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternate selection. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information， Inc. From School Library Journal YA-- With a palpable sense of place and soul-stirring prose， Kincaid's first novel weaves a delicate tale about transitions， as told by Lucy Conyers， a native of Tallahassee during the early 1960s. In a small town where civil rights struggles were only beginning to have an impact， the customs and mores of the Old South control nearly every aspect of her life. As the head of a white family living at the edge of the black section of town， Lucy's hard-working stepfather struggles to keep his family solvent and separate from the neighbors. Lucy's dilemma springs from her curiosity， admiration， and finally love for Skippy， the boy next door who is black. With hesitant and clandestine moves， she innocently tries to develop something more than a child's relationship with him， but events in the adult world prevent anything more than the most rudimentary of romances before their contact is forever broken. The sad， but not tragic， ending fits the story in a realistic way that speaks of Kincaid's knowledge of life in this region 30 years ago. This is a coming-of-age tale certain to stir the hearts of YA readers.- Carolyn E. Gecan， Thomas Jefferson Sci-Tech， Fairfax County， VACopyright 1992 Reed Business Information， Inc. See all Editorial Reviews |
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