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From Caucasia, With Love - Danzy Senna
Bloomsbury £16.99
ISBN 0-7475-5042-5
This book was a Christmas present and I could not have asked for a better one. This is the story of two
sisters both mixed-race, who are different colours. Cole, the oldest sister, looks black and Birdie,
the main character can pass for white.
Due to the break up of their parent's marriage each girl goes with a parent. Cole leaves with her black
academic father for Brazil and Birdie stays with her white activist mother on the run from the FBI.
We follow Birdie as she changes her name and passes as a white child on a four-year road trip across
America with her mother. Although the story is based in America I was surprised how many similarities
there were with British life and there are many situations that readers will be able to identify and
sympathise with.
As a mother of two girls who are different colours, it made me realise the importance of ensuring that
both my children are treated equally, that there can be no room for favouritism, less it be misconstrued.
Of course my children would disagree, they are always complaining that one fairs better than the other,
but I am happy to say that this is more an indication of age rather than colour.
The most interesting thing about From Caucasia With Love is the parent's inability to take into consideration the needs
of their children. In the end, for whatever reason, they managed to commit the very same acts of racism
that they were fighting to eradicate, against their own children. It should make us all pause to think
when we make decisions regarding our children, how much of what we do is for their benefit and how much
is for ourselves. Book Review by Sharron Hall
Have you read this book? Why not let us know your thoughts.
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