CITATION: Sapphire. (1996). Push. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.IDENTIFYING #: 0679446265
CLASSIFICATION: FICTION
GENRE: URBAN FICTION
CALL #: FIC SAPPHIRE
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT
RATING:4
RECOMMENDED AGE/INTEREST LEVEL: ADULT
RATING:4
Annotation: Horribly abused by both of her parents, 16 year-old Precious begins a journey of learning and self-discovery, when she experiences kindness for the first time.
Summary: Sapphire’s urban fiction novel opens with a young girl who is pregnant, for the second time, with her father’s child. Not for the faint of heart, this book deals with controversial subjects such as, incest, rape, illiteracy, and lesbianism. The author mentions The Color Purple as an inspiration, and the parallel themes are noticeable. The main character finally learns to read when a caring principal and an activist teacher take an interest in her.
Summary: Sapphire’s urban fiction novel opens with a young girl who is pregnant, for the second time, with her father’s child. Not for the faint of heart, this book deals with controversial subjects such as, incest, rape, illiteracy, and lesbianism. The author mentions The Color Purple as an inspiration, and the parallel themes are noticeable. The main character finally learns to read when a caring principal and an activist teacher take an interest in her.
Notes: Although disturbingly graphic for some, teens who like books such as, A Child Called It, or They Cage the Animals at Night, will connect with this. Reluctant readers who want a short, but compelling read will gravitate towards this, as will teen readers who prefer more “realistic” stories.
