The Vanishing Half, Bennett - A*

           This is an extraordinary novel dealing with the topic of race in America. Twin sisters growing up in the woods of Louisiana see their father lynched as children, and come of age in a community almost completely populated by very light-skinned African- Americans. They run away as sixteen year olds and try and find a life in New Orleans. Stella applies for a secretarial job and, once working, realizes that her colleagues think she is white. She abandons Desiree and "crosses over". Desiree marries a very black man, and after her marriage fails returns home to Mallard with her daughter, Jude. Jude grows up experiencing racial abuse from the lighter-skinned locals, and later, as a college student, finds freedom in LA. There she meets her aunt and her privileged blonde haired cousin. Undoubtedly, the most intriguing story line in the book is Stella's. She lives a lie, dissembles around her husband and daughter, is unable to build friendships, is worried that blacks will notice, and is wary, if not fearful, all day every day. This is flat-out an extremely powerful story of not just racial identity, but family and love. This is a truly magnificent book.