Genesis Begins Again

Genesis Anderson has had to deal with her father's drinking, comments about her dark coloring, and - once again- getting evicted when he doesn't pay the rent. Ultimately, she wants to have lighter skin like her mother. The constant colorism from her family and schoolmates becomes pervasive and defining for Genesis, who's internalized it and continued keeping a list of the things she dislikes about herself. But once again evicted, her family moves to yet another house and Gen starts at another school, beginning to make friends and connecting with the chorus teacher.

I had an interesting relationship reading this book. Genesis narrates, and sometimes being in her head was really intense and I needed to take a break. Other times, I wanted show more to keep reading and finding out what would happen next. There were both sad and hopeful moments in good balance, and I liked the generally positive message the book sends about healthy relationships with parents - especially her mom - and the challenges that come with dealing with alcoholism and negative self-talk. There are no easy answers, and I think many parents/teachers would want to discuss the difficult topics it addresses with kids who are reading it. show less

Thirteen-year-old Genesis Anderson is a black girl who has been dealt a heavy hand in life.

She’s had to move several times because her family keeps getting evicted thanks to her alcoholic, gambling father, who defaults on the rent. Genesis hates her circumstances, and even more, she hates the skin she’s in. Dark-skinned like her father—who takes no pride in their resemblance, especially when he’s drunk and mean—Genesis wants nothing more than to look like her light-skinned mother. With kids calling her names (Charcoal, Eggplant, Blackie) and a chiding grandmother who spouts backward colorist ideologies, it’s no wonder. Genesis desperately wants to be accepted, even causing herself physical pain to change the look of her skin show more and hair in order to attain it. But Genesis has a talent that demands that she stand out. With the help of her chorus teacher, Genesis discovers a way to navigate the pain she carries. With smooth and engrossing prose, debut novelist Williams takes readers through an emotional, painful, yet still hopeful adolescent journey. Along the way she references accomplished black activists, athletes, artists, and, notably, musicians such as Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Etta James, all in a way that feels natural and appropriate. This book may bring readers to tears as they root for Genesis to finally have the acceptance she craves—but from herself rather than anyone else.

It’s a story that may be all too familiar for too many and one that needed telling. (Fiction. 10-14)

-Kirkus Review show less

I can't help but wonder how it feels to be so bound up that you can't be or do what you want" (pg 72).

Despite the gorgeous cover, I was a bit wary about reading this because I didn’t know if this was just going to be a depressing-beat-you-down story. That type of stuff can drag your esteem down if you’re not already in a place of self-love. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. I think this is a great book for young black girls. It tackles the effects of colorism in a relatable way, even for those who colorism effects in a more positive light. hopefully, this models why all the derogatory, color-based names are wrong (I’m looking at you, my old Sunday School class. first time, I had heard of kids referring to themselves as burnt shea show more butter, burnt chocolate, and anything else burnt).

Dang, this is realistic fiction! Poor Genesis’ mom is with a dusty, colorist, and drunkard broke-a-joke. Count the struggles, y’all. Even though Genesis’ dad is trifling (no buts about it), the story doesn’t neglect his own struggles with colorism. No one likes being on the receiving end of you-so-black/dark jokes. Even, Genesis’ grandma on some paper bag test junk! I really like Genesis’ narrative because you understand exactly why she thinks and acts like she does. It even digs a bit uncomfortably with Genesis' light-skinned mother who loves her but even abides by colorist notions herself sometimes and doesn't quite understand what her daughter is going through. SN: I know that hot comb struggle.

This might be lost on those who don’t recognize all the lesser effects of colorism. But, yes, Genesis’ father berating her skin despite being dark-skinned himself is very realistic. I have seen it many times when men marry their opposite and are surprised when their daughters come out looking like themselves and not the mothers.

I won’t lie. My eyes started watering at certain parts. It acknowledges that you can bring up “Black is beautiful (and yes, it is! No negation there)”, but it doesn’t magically erase everything. Sometimes, you can’t put a band-aid over the names, the way society or even loved ones can view your skin. This is why colorism can be such a tough topic to talk about because sometimes people don’t want to talk about the nitty-gritty. Still, I think this book was great. It's tough seeing Genesis' various methods to try and lighten her skin but the conclusion at the end is worth it. Genesis Begins Again manages to tackle heavy issues in a simple and relatable way and sneak in some Harlem Renaissance singers/Black History facts.

4 stars only for... never resolving what Sophia's mom was whispering about (was it about the picture? some "I don't want her kind around here stuff?" Idk), the irony of mentioning Gandhi, and the utter cringe of Genesis trying to explain her color issues to Sophia, a white girl.

Anyway, I recommend it! show less

When you read a book intended for children, you know that it will be simple at heart and straightforward in flow. There will probably be a moral, and usually, a happy ending too. These reasons make children's books the best for those days when you want something good and uplifting. But what if the book does much more to you that satisfy these simple aims? What if you feel emotionally connected to the book and just want to step in and hug the protagonist? This happens very rarely with me. It happened with Auggie Pullman in Wonder, and it happened with the lovely little girl who is the lead in this lovely little book.

Genesis Begins Again tells the story of Genesis Anderson, a 13 year old from Detroit. All through her young life, she has show more been told by almost everyone that she is black and hence, ugly. Add to this an unreliable alcoholic father who frequently abuses her verbally, and some school mates who act superior, and you see the trauma that Genesis goes through at a psychological level. Yet, she remains an optimistic girl, trying every method possible to turn fair & beautiful like her light brown mother. The book tells her journey of self-discovery and self-confidence with the help of great teachers and true friends. Genesis means a new creation, and it is an apt name for our little protagonist.

Genesis Begins Again does have a happy ending. It's a children's book after all. But the road to this happy ending is such that you can't help be invested in this journey along with Genesis every step of the way. There are so many things the book teaches children (and us)....
The value of true friends;
The significance of recognising one's talents and honing them;
The understanding that external appearance isn't an indicator of internal aptitude;
The fact that each of us are beautiful in our own skin, literally, regardless of its colour;
The importance of breaking the circle of abuse that is so common in society (be it marital abuse, parental abuse, bullying,...);
The need to be open about your feelings and actions with parents;
The necessity of standing up to those who abuse us, even if they are blood relatives or popular classmates...
Every single point is explained beautifully through the story without being patronising or moralising. Genesis isn't the perfect girl, but this is what makes her a good role model for children. She is realistic enough for children to identify with most of her experiences.

Alicia D. Williams, with this debut work, puts her entire teaching experience to good use by creating a story that children and adults will easily connect with. I feel that because she is a teacher, she also ended up making every single teacher in this book a supportive and understanding guide rather than a stereotypical tyrant. And that is a pleasant change too because even teachers need good role models in books.

I think I might just go on and on with praising this gem of a book, so I'll just stop here and let you discover it for yourselves. Recommended for all above the age of 12.

My rating: 4.75

********************************************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever!, for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun. show less

When you read a book intended for children, you know that it will be simple at heart and straightforward in flow. There will probably be a moral, and usually, a happy ending too. These reasons make children's books the best for those days when you want something good and uplifting. But what if the book does much more to you that satisfy these simple aims? What if you feel emotionally connected to the book and just want to step in and hug the protagonist? This happens very rarely with me. It happened with Auggie Pullman in Wonder, and it happened with the lovely little girl who is the lead in this lovely little book.

Genesis Begins Again tells the story of Genesis Anderson, a 13 year old from Detroit. All through her young life, she has show more been told by almost everyone that she is black and hence, ugly. Add to this an unreliable alcoholic father who frequently abuses her verbally, and some school mates who act superior, and you see the trauma that Genesis goes through at a psychological level. Yet, she remains an optimistic girl, trying every method possible to turn fair & beautiful like her light brown mother. The book tells her journey of self-discovery and self-confidence with the help of great teachers and true friends. Genesis means a new creation, and it is an apt name for our little protagonist.

Genesis Begins Again does have a happy ending. It's a children's book after all. But the road to this happy ending is such that you can't help be invested in this journey along with Genesis every step of the way. There are so many things the book teaches children (and us)....
The value of true friends;
The significance of recognising one's talents and honing them;
The understanding that external appearance isn't an indicator of internal aptitude;
The fact that each of us are beautiful in our own skin, literally, regardless of its colour;
The importance of breaking the circle of abuse that is so common in society (be it marital abuse, parental abuse, bullying,...);
The need to be open about your feelings and actions with parents;
The necessity of standing up to those who abuse us, even if they are blood relatives or popular classmates...
Every single point is explained beautifully through the story without being patronising or moralising. Genesis isn't the perfect girl, but this is what makes her a good role model for children. She is realistic enough for children to identify with most of her experiences.

Alicia D. Williams, with this debut work, puts her entire teaching experience to good use by creating a story that children and adults will easily connect with. I feel that because she is a teacher, she also ended up making every single teacher in this book a supportive and understanding guide rather than a stereotypical tyrant. And that is a pleasant change too because even teachers need good role models in books.

I think I might just go on and on with praising this gem of a book, so I'll just stop here and let you discover it for yourselves. Recommended for all above the age of 12.

My rating: 4.75

********************************************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever!, for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun. show less

diverse children's middlegrade fiction (13 y.o. w/alcoholic father and working mom gets evicted, starts over in a new school in a nicer neighborhood/suburb in Detroit, gains confidence in herself and learns that her darker, blue-black skin does not make her ugly).
I liked Genesis, but felt this book was a bit long for a middlegrade story. Characters felt real and the awfulness of middleschool also felt real, but there was not as much action as I am used to (the lack of which can also be very realistic).
I read to p. 104 before stopping and could have kept going if not for the large pile of other books I need to tear through--seems like a perfectly good book that I hope makes it into the hands of kids. Kudos to the author for making sure show more that Gen's beautiful face is featured prominently on the cover, though maybe next time use a different, less childlike font for the book jacket blurbs. show less

Raw, realistic and, at times, heart-breaking, this is a read which tackles a tough topic and gets under the skin.

Genesis' excitement at finally having found friends crashes as their sudden visit to her home ends with the family's entire belongings on the front lawn. Thanks to her father, they've been kicked out of the house again, and her new found friends turn this into a chance to make even more fun of her. If the problems with her father and their family life weren't enough, they now are moving in with her grandmother who has a sharp tongue and a harsh attitude as far as Genesis' father is concerned, and claims it's due to his skin color—very dark black. That's Genesis' color too, and she hates herself for it. Especially since her show more mother and grandmother have such a beautiful skin tone. Genesis is determined to find a way to make herself lighter because she can't stand to be in her own skin anymore. Maybe then her life will turn around.

This book starts with a scene which rips at the heart strings and continues to hit Genesis' life with a reality which bites. But then, that's how Genesis' life is and especially her perception of herself. The author lets the feelings lay open in their realistic harshness. That racism isn't simple and exists in every horrible variety becomes clear in these pages. It's a topic not often hit upon, and yet, one which also touches reality.

Genesis does step on some dangerous territory as she goes to extremes to change her skin color...some moments made me hold my breath. Because of this, I would not recommend it to the younger spectrum of middle grade readers but see upper middle graders as well as tweens at a better place to process and understand what's going on. Sensitive readers might also have troubles with some moments. Otherwise, it's a read that induces thought and leaves an impression.

The author makes sure to steer the entire thing in a healthy direction and leave the reader with hope and more understanding. It especially makes for a good read to lead to discussions concerning racism, bullying and self-worth. The four hundred pages is, unfortunately, on the heavy side for a middle grade read, especially one concerning such a heavy topic. This might make it a little less accessible to the intended age group.

But these pages are definitely worth a read, and the tale hits a nerve, one which will leave the reader with plenty to think about long after the book has been laid down.

I received a complimentary copy and was so drawn in that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts. show less