Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

The "kind" in the title conveys all that is tentative about the chances for success as a black person in this country. The extended family here features a doctor and a lawyer and a pot farmer and a day care center owner, and all have had chances snatched away by both blatant and subtle racism. The rivalry and passionate attachment between two generations of sisters is a focus as the story jumps back and forth between the WW II years and the 1980s. Although this is a universal story of every show more family, with all of the tragedy and the humor, it's through an African American lens rather than the usual white gaze. The deepest dive is into the character TC, whose ability to cultivate different strains of marijuana would make him a most prosperous entrepreneur - thirty years later. show less

This is a heartwarming novel of the Black Fillmore neighborhood of San Francisco as it once was before it was ripped apart by white developers in the 1950s. The author credits Fiddler on the Roof, with its three sisters and strong mom, as source inspiration, but I also saw the Oakland-bred Pointer Sisters in it. Mom, the widowed Vivian, has imparted her burning ambition to daughters Ruth, Esther, and Chloe, and she demands that they practice their harmonies every night on their rooftop. show more They're the pride of the close-knit block, but each girl has her own dreams to fulfill and they need to rise above their stumbles along the way. Vivian herself is staving off her strong attraction to Preacher, a widower who has been patiently waiting for her to accomplish her mission of getting the girls a contract to sing in LA nightclubs. There’s a wealth of minor characters to add charm to the story, which could almost be a companion, from the female gaze, to Walter Mosely’s Easy Rawlins LA novels, which begin in the same era. What an accomplished, evocative, and memorable period story. show less

Set in New Orleans in three time periods, this novel follows the stories of three individuals of different generations in the same family. In 1944, Evelyn, daughter of a successful black doctor, develops a relationship with a young man from a lower social station, though his future appears bright. In 1986, Evelyn’s daughter, Jackie, a new mother, is coping with her husband’s drug addiction. In 2010, as the city is dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Jackie’s son, T.C., is show more being released from prison and is about to become a father.

The story arc is almost the opposite of what would be expected. With the passage of time, the family’s situation deteriorates. The author explores factors that contribute to ongoing racial disparity in a way that inspires compassion and does an excellent job of instilling hopefulness even when many adverse events are occurring in these family members’ lives. Though part of it is a coming of age story, I would not classify it as “young adult” due to the descriptions of drug addiction and small amount of explicit sex.

The structure of the book one in which the three primary plot lines are interwoven and non-linear, so the reader knows some of what happens before the story gets to how it happened. This approach is very effective, as the reader keeps rooting for the characters to succeed, even though we know some of their obstacles and choices are going to make life difficult for them. This is primarily a character-driven novel and the characters feel authentic. I could relate to their struggles, which says a lot about the author’s ability to appeal to a diverse audience. It is a subtle commentary on the racial issues that still permeate our society. show less

The Revisioners by author Margaret Wilkerson Sexton tells the story of two African American women who live in New Orleans a century apart. Josephine' s story is split between two timelines - 1855 when she is 12 years old, a slave and the daughter of a woman with a gift for making things happen and 1924 when she is a widow with land of her own and her own gift. Ava's story begins in 2017. She is bi-racial, Josephine's great-great-granddaughter, and the single mother of King, her 12 year old show more son.

The story alternates between the two women but there are many parallels between their stories. It opens with Ava who, thanks to some financial difficulties, has agreed to move in with her aging white grandmother who is beginning to show signs of dementia. In 1924, Josephine, having escaped slavery and managed to acquire land of her own, is doing well until a white couple moves in next door. Josephine, at first does everything to stop the white woman's attempts at friendship but eventually begins to enjoy their visits despite her mistrust - she knows too well the dangers of such a friendship.

The Revisioners is a beautiful and beautifully written story. It is heartbreaking, powerful, moving, and, ultimately, hopeful.The word 'amazing' seems somehow trite for this book but it was the first word that sprang to my mind when trying to write this review. I read it without stopping and, even now, days later, the story of these two women has staid with me.

Thanks to Edelweiss+ and Counterpoint for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review show less