THE BOOK FAIR

Review:

Anna Jean Mayhew’s debut novel delves into the racial bigotry and racial discrimination of the 1950’s South, and focuses on the love and devotion that one teen-aged girl held for the black maid who raised, loved and protected her.

 

As the family travels from their home in North Carolina to visit relatives Florida, thirteen year old, Jubie Bentley, witnesses the discrimination against the family’s black maid, Mary.   Jubie finds the segregation signs disturbing and hopes Mary does not notice.  She angers that Mary, who is so kind and so beautiful, is unwelcomed to dine with the family in restaurants or stay in their motel rooms and cannot swim with her in the motel pools or together with her in the ocean.

After witnessing a horrific event, Jubie despairs unable to reconcile the insensitivity of her family to her inconsolable loss.  Coupled with newly learned family secrets from her more-worldly cousin in Florida, Jubie makes the decision to confront her family, the repercussions of which change their lives.

 

Tightly plotted and beautifully written, the social-political-historical novel features well developed, realistic scenes and lifelike characters.  Recommended.