Naima Coster Knihy

When a county initiative in North Carolina forces students from a predominantly black public school to integrate into a nearly all-white high school, the community reacts with outrage. For two students, quiet Gee and headstrong Noelle, these divisions extend beyond their education. Over thirty years, their seemingly disconnected families form complex ties that shape their lives. On one side is Jade, Gee's determined mother, who, grieving her murdered partner, seeks the best for her son. On the other is Noelle's mother, Lacey May, who insists her half-Latina daughters are white. The choices made by these mothers echo through the years. Two decades later, Lacey's daughters visit her in the hospital, confronting the lasting impact of their parents' decisions on their lives and relationships. This narrative weaves a rich tapestry of familial bonds and identity, offering a poignant exploration of how race influences even the closest connections. It encompasses various love stories: the intense passion of young lovers, the steady comfort of companionship, the fragile yet unbreakable sibling bond, and the unconditional love between parent and child, marked by adoration, contempt, and forgiveness. Through beautiful prose, the author delves into the complexities of family dynamics, highlighting what tears them apart and what brings them back together.