Genre: novel, historical fiction
Key Stage: 4 and 5
Rating: ★★★★★
The Help, Kathryn Stockett (2009)
Plot Summary: A young writer in 1960’s America getting to know the lives of African-American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi.
Positives: Presents the reality of the life of African-American women. This book is able to reveal the struggles of 1960’s America and how racism was normalised in a cruel way. The characters are quite relatable and can be very amusing especially the cheeky pranks pulled by one of the maids.
Negatives: None. This book is able to educate many people about the social problems of 1960’s.
Recommendations: If you enjoy the historical events and culture or life back in 1930s-60s, then this is a book for you as well as books that explore racial and social problems. In this thread, you might also enjoy reading A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennesse Williams, How to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi.
Reviewer: Gywneth Llego, Year 13