"As a boy, I always thought my mother was strange....Her past was a mystery she refused to discuss," begins McBride’s revealing memoir, which uncovers the remarkable story of his mother, Ruth. It was not until his adulthood that McBride understood the truth about Ruth, the daughter of an Orthodox rabbi who moved from Virginia to Harlem to marry a black man and raised twelve children, all of whom attended college to become doctors, professors, and teachers. Weaving the story of his childhood with that of his mother’s narrative, McBride offers an inspiring and uplifting tribute to his family as well as to the human spirit which can transcend the barriers of race, class, and generation.

Reviewed by Kim W., University City Regional

Read the Author Interview with James McBride