This debut novel certainly deserved winning the Barbara Kingsolver Bellwether Award for books on social justice and change. It is a beautifully written book about Rachel, a young Danish/African American blue-eyed girl who is sent to live with her grandmother and aunt in Portland, Oregon after a family tragedy. Rachel struggles with being bi-racial because no one seems to accept her in school. Her lighter skin and blue eyes cause people to ridicule her and sometimes threaten her – no matter their race. This is a book about labeling people and how people can overcome the prejudice of others and just live for themselves. It is told with alternating chapters from various character’s versions of the story. It would be an excellent book club selection because of the many discussion points it offers.

Heidi Durrow is also Danish/African American with lovely blue eyes. Go to her website for more about the amazing projects she is involved in – like her mixed chicks chat podcast.

Lisa