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Wade in the Water
Told in two voices, Ella’s and Ms. St. James’s, and set around richly developed characters, this riveting, page turning coming of age story will keep readers entranced until the last shocking revelation.
Resonant with the emotional urgency of Alice Walker's classic Meridian and the poignant charm of Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, a gripping debut novel of female power and vulnerability, race, and class that explores the unlikely friendship between a precocious black girl and a mysterious white woman in a small Mississippi town in the early 1980s.
Eleven-year-old Ella lives in the racially divided town of Ricksville, Mississippi, not far from where the Freedom Summer Murders occurred. Too smart for her own good, she loves God, Mr. Macabe, and Nate, the tough owner of the local diner. To her perpetually irritated Ma, and Leroy, her mother's lover, Ella is an unwanted nuisance.
But Ella pays them no mind. She has a precious secret, and she isn't telling.
One day, a sharply dressed, well-to-do white woman appears on Ella's street, looking for the girl. The arrival of Ms. St. James puts the Black side of town on edge. Why is this white woman making friends with a little Black girl? Who is she and what does she want? When Ms. St. James begins tutoring Ella, the bond between these two unlikely friends deepens, and soon Ella is willing to risk anything and everything to keep Ms. St. James in a community itching to see her gone.
Like Ella, Ms. St. James has secrets--knowledge she keeps in a black notebook filled with scribbled pages. Secrets that will ultimately come out with devastating consequences.
Alternately told in Ella and Ms. St. James's captivating voices, and moving back and forth in time from the 1960s to the 1980s, Nyaneba Nkrumah's engrossing coming-of-age story explores the search to define ourselves, free from the tangled web of truths and lies we are told--the lies that we tell ourselves, and the historical facts that are told as fiction.
Resonant with the emotional urgency of Alice Walker's classic Meridian and the poignant charm of Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, a gripping debut novel of female power and vulnerability, race, and class that explores the unlikely friendship between a precocious black girl and a mysterious white woman in a small Mississippi town in the early 1980s.
Eleven-year-old Ella lives in the racially divided town of Ricksville, Mississippi, not far from where the Freedom Summer Murders occurred. Too smart for her own good, she loves God, Mr. Macabe, and Nate, the tough owner of the local diner. To her perpetually irritated Ma, and Leroy, her mother's lover, Ella is an unwanted nuisance.
But Ella pays them no mind. She has a precious secret, and she isn't telling.
One day, a sharply dressed, well-to-do white woman appears on Ella's street, looking for the girl. The arrival of Ms. St. James puts the Black side of town on edge. Why is this white woman making friends with a little Black girl? Who is she and what does she want? When Ms. St. James begins tutoring Ella, the bond between these two unlikely friends deepens, and soon Ella is willing to risk anything and everything to keep Ms. St. James in a community itching to see her gone.
Like Ella, Ms. St. James has secrets--knowledge she keeps in a black notebook filled with scribbled pages. Secrets that will ultimately come out with devastating consequences.
Alternately told in Ella and Ms. St. James's captivating voices, and moving back and forth in time from the 1960s to the 1980s, Nyaneba Nkrumah's engrossing coming-of-age story explores the search to define ourselves, free from the tangled web of truths and lies we are told--the lies that we tell ourselves, and the historical facts that are told as fiction.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 17, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
September 13, 2024
This one is difficult to rate. The blurb mentions "the unlikely friendship between a precocious black girl and a mysterious white woman in a small Mississippi town in the early 1980s." This isn't what we got at all.
To begin, this didn't feel like 1980. It felt like it was set during the civil rights movement. I know the South is perceived as slow, and supposedly advances ages behind the rest of civilization, but the timing, amongst other things, felt off. Both Ella and Katherine are extremely unlikeable characters. I have read plenty of books where I enjoyed the story, but didn't like anyone. Ella gets a bit of a pass as she is young, unwanted, and abused.
Katherine strolls into town with her white savior bullshit, moves into the Black area of town, and expects all of them to voluntarily tell her about their lives. It's giving trauma porn.
If you read Yellowface, she begins to feel a lot like June. This isn't an easy story. It's very hurtful, impudent, and outright racist at times. I'm aware that's how it was meant to be written. I just want to lay it all out so you're not surprised.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad
To begin, this didn't feel like 1980. It felt like it was set during the civil rights movement. I know the South is perceived as slow, and supposedly advances ages behind the rest of civilization, but the timing, amongst other things, felt off. Both Ella and Katherine are extremely unlikeable characters. I have read plenty of books where I enjoyed the story, but didn't like anyone. Ella gets a bit of a pass as she is young, unwanted, and abused.
Katherine strolls into town with her white savior bullshit, moves into the Black area of town, and expects all of them to voluntarily tell her about their lives. It's giving trauma porn.
If you read Yellowface, she begins to feel a lot like June. This isn't an easy story. It's very hurtful, impudent, and outright racist at times. I'm aware that's how it was meant to be written. I just want to lay it all out so you're not surprised.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad
February 23, 2023
3.5⭐️
This feels like one of those books that people who are really into dissecting words and sentences for several possible meanings would love. I tend to be more of a simple reader so I don’t feel like I got much from the book, but I still recognize lessons that one would possibly see from reading the book.
Ella and Ms. St. James were really intricate characters that would have no business knowing each other in real life, but are brought together here to expose the hard truths of racism and abuse. I found it interesting that Ella was told from a first point of view and St. James was from a third point of view, maybe indicating that we are supposed to connect more with Ella and feel a little more distant from St. James. Some scenes were uncomfortable to read, but it was what needed to be done.
I couldn’t tell which direction this book was going but I thought the ending brought everything together and would definitely recommend it.
This feels like one of those books that people who are really into dissecting words and sentences for several possible meanings would love. I tend to be more of a simple reader so I don’t feel like I got much from the book, but I still recognize lessons that one would possibly see from reading the book.
Ella and Ms. St. James were really intricate characters that would have no business knowing each other in real life, but are brought together here to expose the hard truths of racism and abuse. I found it interesting that Ella was told from a first point of view and St. James was from a third point of view, maybe indicating that we are supposed to connect more with Ella and feel a little more distant from St. James. Some scenes were uncomfortable to read, but it was what needed to be done.
I couldn’t tell which direction this book was going but I thought the ending brought everything together and would definitely recommend it.
November 6, 2022
This is what 'The Help' could have been, if it hadn't been written by a white woman, and hadn't included such obvious white saviorism.
Set in Mississippi in the 60's, the story follows Ella, a young Black girl who, even within her own community, isn't as accepted as those she sees around her. Themes of colourism and outright racism are heavily used throughout the story, bringing the realities of that day and age in American history to light for the reader.
The writing was strong, and this is a very promising novel from a new author, which leaves me excited to see what else may come from them. Although it dealt with heavy topics, these are also important topics to learn about; to ensure that we never forget about this period in time, and also to make us reflect on how far we have come - and, indeed, how far we yet have to go.
A lot of the characters were really well fleshed out and likeable; from the main character of Ella, to old Mr Macabe, to Nate, and Miss Claudia. Though Ella was dealing with a lot, both at home and personally, she had a strong, vibrant community around her, and was able to recognise her place in it by the end of the novel, whilst also coming to accept and appreciate her own identity as a child born out of sin, to a father from Africa whom she had never known.
In between, we had the jarring truth of the sole white character, who was far from the white savior often depicted in stories of the time. Though Kate Somerville tried to distance herself from her murderous, racist, Klansman of a father, she serves as evidence that racism runs deep; and as a foil, in some ways, to those characters who refused to turn out the way their parents were.
I really, really enjoyed reading this one, even with the heavy and often dark themes. I felt it was well written and opened up nuances discussion regarding the themes it tackled, especially touching on the colorism that many Black people face even within their own cultures and communities.
Excited to see what is next for this author.
Set in Mississippi in the 60's, the story follows Ella, a young Black girl who, even within her own community, isn't as accepted as those she sees around her. Themes of colourism and outright racism are heavily used throughout the story, bringing the realities of that day and age in American history to light for the reader.
The writing was strong, and this is a very promising novel from a new author, which leaves me excited to see what else may come from them. Although it dealt with heavy topics, these are also important topics to learn about; to ensure that we never forget about this period in time, and also to make us reflect on how far we have come - and, indeed, how far we yet have to go.
A lot of the characters were really well fleshed out and likeable; from the main character of Ella, to old Mr Macabe, to Nate, and Miss Claudia. Though Ella was dealing with a lot, both at home and personally, she had a strong, vibrant community around her, and was able to recognise her place in it by the end of the novel, whilst also coming to accept and appreciate her own identity as a child born out of sin, to a father from Africa whom she had never known.
In between, we had the jarring truth of the sole white character, who was far from the white savior often depicted in stories of the time. Though Kate Somerville tried to distance herself from her murderous, racist, Klansman of a father, she serves as evidence that racism runs deep; and as a foil, in some ways, to those characters who refused to turn out the way their parents were.
I really, really enjoyed reading this one, even with the heavy and often dark themes. I felt it was well written and opened up nuances discussion regarding the themes it tackled, especially touching on the colorism that many Black people face even within their own cultures and communities.
Excited to see what is next for this author.
March 11, 2023
To date, I’ve read quite a few historical novels surrounding slavery and the civil rights movement. Up there with Take My Hand, this may be one of the most gripping, cruel, and powerful accounts of racism I’ve encountered. When the “white lady,” Miss Katherine St. James, turns up on the black side of Ricksville, Mississippi, all hell breaks loose. A young girl named Ella becomes increasingly curious about Miss St. James’s intentions. While Ella is snooping, the two form a highly unexpected bond. There is a lot I can say about Miss St. James’s past, but I think it is best to go into this one blind. Nkrumah did such an amazing job with this novel, including pieces of true American history such as the story of three civil rights workers who were killed by the KKK in 1964. A book I will not easily forget, and it was a debut?! Wow.
“On the way home from Nate’s, I thought about what I had heard. I wondered why some people hated black people so much when they had gotten so much out of them. Worked them to the bone in slavery and yet called them lazy. That didn’t make sense.”
“On the way home from Nate’s, I thought about what I had heard. I wondered why some people hated black people so much when they had gotten so much out of them. Worked them to the bone in slavery and yet called them lazy. That didn’t make sense.”
January 16, 2023
Disclaimer: My interest in this novel was piqued by it being an Amistad offering (I’m rarely disappointed by this publisher’s catalog) and the publisher’s description references parallels to Alice Walker’s work and an appeal to fans of The Secret Life of Bees. My expectations were tempered by the momentary glance at the cover art which mistakenly gave me Young Adult Fiction vibes which led me into thinking it would be an age-appropriate period piece aimed at a younger audience - I was wrong.
Although the novel is set in 1982 it feels as if it is decades earlier due to the rural Ricksville, MS township setting - a smaller town akin to infamous Philadelphia, MS – where fact and fiction revisit the horrific murders of Civil Rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner which happened only 18 years earlier in this novel.
One of the prime narrators is Ella, a bright, inquisitive, insightful 11/12-year-old African American girl whose observations and astuteness allows the reader to absorb the adult conversations/gossip, stay abreast on town happenings, and via her eavesdropping (i.e. listening in on “grown folks’ business”), and connections with the town elders - the reader is fully aware of what is happening and the potential harmful fallout of certain events. The other narrator, Katherine, is a White Princeton graduate student, who settles in Ricksville for research – in the middle of the Black section of a still very segregated town. Through flashbacks and alternating chapters, we learn of Ella and Katherine’s personal struggles, secrets, and the “friendship” that they form based on their ulterior motives and deep-seated needs.
The supporting characters all have rich backstories that inform their decisions, opinions, and motivations – these characters are products of their environment - they are complex and wounded - some are wise, some are bitter, some are mean, some are resentful, some are entitled, some are defeated. With relevance and timely themes that explore concepts of colorism, African pride, reparations to enslaved people, the plight of the Black and Southern White farmers, the systemic disenfranchisement of African Americans via redlining, voting rights, denial of fair housing, bank loans, inheritance, etc.
This debut offering handles sensitive socio-political content very well – I was pulled in immediately and immersed in Ella’s and Katherine’s story. Will we meet them again?
Thanks to Amistad and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.
Although the novel is set in 1982 it feels as if it is decades earlier due to the rural Ricksville, MS township setting - a smaller town akin to infamous Philadelphia, MS – where fact and fiction revisit the horrific murders of Civil Rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner which happened only 18 years earlier in this novel.
One of the prime narrators is Ella, a bright, inquisitive, insightful 11/12-year-old African American girl whose observations and astuteness allows the reader to absorb the adult conversations/gossip, stay abreast on town happenings, and via her eavesdropping (i.e. listening in on “grown folks’ business”), and connections with the town elders - the reader is fully aware of what is happening and the potential harmful fallout of certain events. The other narrator, Katherine, is a White Princeton graduate student, who settles in Ricksville for research – in the middle of the Black section of a still very segregated town. Through flashbacks and alternating chapters, we learn of Ella and Katherine’s personal struggles, secrets, and the “friendship” that they form based on their ulterior motives and deep-seated needs.
The supporting characters all have rich backstories that inform their decisions, opinions, and motivations – these characters are products of their environment - they are complex and wounded - some are wise, some are bitter, some are mean, some are resentful, some are entitled, some are defeated. With relevance and timely themes that explore concepts of colorism, African pride, reparations to enslaved people, the plight of the Black and Southern White farmers, the systemic disenfranchisement of African Americans via redlining, voting rights, denial of fair housing, bank loans, inheritance, etc.
This debut offering handles sensitive socio-political content very well – I was pulled in immediately and immersed in Ella’s and Katherine’s story. Will we meet them again?
Thanks to Amistad and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.
February 26, 2023
5+ stars!!
You know it’s serious when I finish a book in a day via audio of course. This book had such a hold on me. I am a Meridian, MS native, born and raised so I know the horribleness of that whole area. Set in the early 80’s and back in the 60’s, this book is told through the eyes of a 12 year old girl Black girl and a mid to late 30’s white Woman. How do I even begin to unpack this book. This story deals with heavy themes such as colorism within the Black community and extreme racism, rape, physical abuse to name a few. It’s definitely not a light read, but it’s everything that I wish The Help could’ve been. I can’t believe this is a debut novel. Everything was superbly written and the characters were fleshed out to perfection. I immediately bought the hardback because this book is so important.
This story dives back into the story of The three murdered Civil rights workers adding a fictional layer that in all actuality felt so real. I think it’s because all this really happened and so it wasn’t hard to imagine. I love what the author did here and I’m sure it was hard to write.
Definitely a top read of the year for me.
You know it’s serious when I finish a book in a day via audio of course. This book had such a hold on me. I am a Meridian, MS native, born and raised so I know the horribleness of that whole area. Set in the early 80’s and back in the 60’s, this book is told through the eyes of a 12 year old girl Black girl and a mid to late 30’s white Woman. How do I even begin to unpack this book. This story deals with heavy themes such as colorism within the Black community and extreme racism, rape, physical abuse to name a few. It’s definitely not a light read, but it’s everything that I wish The Help could’ve been. I can’t believe this is a debut novel. Everything was superbly written and the characters were fleshed out to perfection. I immediately bought the hardback because this book is so important.
This story dives back into the story of The three murdered Civil rights workers adding a fictional layer that in all actuality felt so real. I think it’s because all this really happened and so it wasn’t hard to imagine. I love what the author did here and I’m sure it was hard to write.
Definitely a top read of the year for me.
November 7, 2022
No spoilers...
This book was a page turner. I loved the main character, Ella, a very smart, precocious child.
Most of the story line was about difficult subjects- racism, adultery, abuse, to name a few.
Story takes place in a black community in the 80's, but takes you back in time in various segments touching on the civil rights movement & the murder of election workers.
There are many characters, interesting people with nice character development, be it a good person, a bad person or someone in between.
A true coming of age story told mostly through Ella's eyes.
Very good novel.
This book was a page turner. I loved the main character, Ella, a very smart, precocious child.
Most of the story line was about difficult subjects- racism, adultery, abuse, to name a few.
Story takes place in a black community in the 80's, but takes you back in time in various segments touching on the civil rights movement & the murder of election workers.
There are many characters, interesting people with nice character development, be it a good person, a bad person or someone in between.
A true coming of age story told mostly through Ella's eyes.
Very good novel.
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February 15, 2023
Wade in Water is a book that will suck you in, break your heart and get you to say thank you for the honor of reading it.
January 20, 2023
Exceptional Writing
I didn’t want to like this book. I absolutely did not want to read about the segregated south, Klansmen, nor a colorist family mistreating the darkest child. I decided to read it because of a fellow bookstagrammer’s review. Wow! What an amazing journey this turned out to be. The writing was absolutely amazing. The author’s storytelling was so vivid and engaging. I felt like I could see it all playing out on a screen in front of me. This story stirred up a lot of emotion for me. I felt so angry at a lot of the characters. I became so invested in their storylines. This was a really good piece of literature. I’m so glad that I took a chance on it.
I didn’t want to like this book. I absolutely did not want to read about the segregated south, Klansmen, nor a colorist family mistreating the darkest child. I decided to read it because of a fellow bookstagrammer’s review. Wow! What an amazing journey this turned out to be. The writing was absolutely amazing. The author’s storytelling was so vivid and engaging. I felt like I could see it all playing out on a screen in front of me. This story stirred up a lot of emotion for me. I felt so angry at a lot of the characters. I became so invested in their storylines. This was a really good piece of literature. I’m so glad that I took a chance on it.
June 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. This was a complex story of racism, abuse, colorism and come of age.
I loved Ella’s character development. She was smart and curious and endured more than what any 12 year old should ever have to.
I must say, at times I wondered where this story was going but in the end it all come together neatly.
I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
I loved Ella’s character development. She was smart and curious and endured more than what any 12 year old should ever have to.
I must say, at times I wondered where this story was going but in the end it all come together neatly.
I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
February 25, 2023
Set in the summer of 1982 in racially divided Ricksville, Mississippi, this tells the story of 11-year-old Ella and a Princeton research student, Katherine St. James.
Kate grew up in Mississippi with a murderous KKK father that dictated her every thought. Ella grew up with a mother that hated and ignored her, that stemming from the mothers one-night-stand—with Ella being born illegitimate, very dark in color. The only compassionate friends Ella has is the blind, grandfatherly Mr. Macabe and a few neighbors.. that’s where she meets Kate who’s in town doing research. The town frowns on Kate being there, which unfortunately for her, the past she���s always kept hidden, is brought into the story threefold. Told in two POV’s, both Ella and Kate come from very different homes, yet both are trying to find out who they are, with Kate overcompensating for her past hatred. So many variables come into play in this story; -race, cruelty, trauma, trust and love.
Mr. Macabe was my hero in this book. He guided Ella through her horrific upbringing with tender love and care. My heart hurt for Ella. Wade in the Water is deeply emotional, hitting my core with the unjustness of it all back then and still to this day.
Sad but I doubt Kate’s thinking will ever change with what her father ingrained in her about race.
Then we have Ella, who blossomed, seeing for the first time.. a beautiful person looking back at her in the mirror (that’s the best part of the book!)
“To a blind man, color means nothing. But if you happen to have your sight, look beyond the plain wrapping and instead see the world as a glorious set of watercolors laid out in a handcrafted palette.” — Mr. Macabe
For the first time in my life, I saw my skin for what it was. The world of slavery had put labels on it, but it was a beautiful covering. Nothing more than a soft supple cover that hid amazing potential and strength that lay beneath—Ella
Excellent. 4.5 stars — Pub. 1/17/23
Kate grew up in Mississippi with a murderous KKK father that dictated her every thought. Ella grew up with a mother that hated and ignored her, that stemming from the mothers one-night-stand—with Ella being born illegitimate, very dark in color. The only compassionate friends Ella has is the blind, grandfatherly Mr. Macabe and a few neighbors.. that’s where she meets Kate who’s in town doing research. The town frowns on Kate being there, which unfortunately for her, the past she���s always kept hidden, is brought into the story threefold. Told in two POV’s, both Ella and Kate come from very different homes, yet both are trying to find out who they are, with Kate overcompensating for her past hatred. So many variables come into play in this story; -race, cruelty, trauma, trust and love.
Mr. Macabe was my hero in this book. He guided Ella through her horrific upbringing with tender love and care. My heart hurt for Ella. Wade in the Water is deeply emotional, hitting my core with the unjustness of it all back then and still to this day.
Sad but I doubt Kate’s thinking will ever change with what her father ingrained in her about race.
Then we have Ella, who blossomed, seeing for the first time.. a beautiful person looking back at her in the mirror (that’s the best part of the book!)
“To a blind man, color means nothing. But if you happen to have your sight, look beyond the plain wrapping and instead see the world as a glorious set of watercolors laid out in a handcrafted palette.” — Mr. Macabe
For the first time in my life, I saw my skin for what it was. The world of slavery had put labels on it, but it was a beautiful covering. Nothing more than a soft supple cover that hid amazing potential and strength that lay beneath—Ella
Excellent. 4.5 stars — Pub. 1/17/23
February 8, 2023
A moving (and at times heartbreaking) intergenerational, interracial friendship domestic drama that traces the relationship between two very different families over the years. Primarily set in 1982 Mississippi, young Black girl befriends outsider Ms. St. James, a white woman working on a book, when she arrives in town to do research.
Perfect for fans of books like The secret life of bees or The summer of Juniper Jones and good on audio. I liked but didn't love this one but there were definitely very powerful parts that will stick with me for a long while. A great look at small town race relations in America.
Perfect for fans of books like The secret life of bees or The summer of Juniper Jones and good on audio. I liked but didn't love this one but there were definitely very powerful parts that will stick with me for a long while. A great look at small town race relations in America.
June 23, 2023
This is a “coming-of-age” story that takes place in the Deep South small town of Ricksville Mississippi. The town is very clearly divided by black and white Barrie’s. The two narrators are Ella, an 11-year old black girl and Ms St. James, a white graduate student who is writing her dissertation on life in the South for the black community. Ms. St. James moves into the predominate black section of town and immediately causes a stir in that community.
Set in the early 1980’s with flashbacks and references to the turbulent 1960’s, it blends history with present day (1980’s) beautifully. The time when the KKK was rampant in the Mississippi area, it saddened me to re-visit these horrible times of which I remember clearly from my childhood in Louisiana.
Ella and Ms. St. James strike up an unlikely friendship that is a combination of love and hate while Ella is being tutored by Ms. St. James. She is very bright.
Then we have the other major character, Mr. McCabe, an elderly black blind man who is friends with Ella. She seeks his counsel often. This wise old man is my favorite character in this book.
I urge everyone to read this wonderful book. It is right up there with Take My Hand in my opinion.
Set in the early 1980’s with flashbacks and references to the turbulent 1960’s, it blends history with present day (1980’s) beautifully. The time when the KKK was rampant in the Mississippi area, it saddened me to re-visit these horrible times of which I remember clearly from my childhood in Louisiana.
Ella and Ms. St. James strike up an unlikely friendship that is a combination of love and hate while Ella is being tutored by Ms. St. James. She is very bright.
Then we have the other major character, Mr. McCabe, an elderly black blind man who is friends with Ella. She seeks his counsel often. This wise old man is my favorite character in this book.
I urge everyone to read this wonderful book. It is right up there with Take My Hand in my opinion.
January 18, 2023
This was a slooooow burn. Although well written, the story never really came together it just kinda happened (if that makes sense). It’s not a horrible read, but it’s also not memorable. It was alright for a debut, I’d definitely get this author another chance going forward.
January 17, 2023
Some stories paint such a vivid picture for you and as a debut novel, Nyani Nkrumah did just that. Set in 1982, with flashbacks weaving throughout the book, Wade in the Water tells a story of racism, colorism, abuse, mental health, and a little Black girl finding her beauty while enduring pain, balancing friendships, and trying to find her place.
With two completely diverse protagonists that collide hard, twelve-year-old Ella is a bright child whose intelligence and relationship with God is remarkable as she is coming of age not that far away from the Civil Rights movement but close enough to start understanding the ways of the world. With such an evil world there is still the wickedness of living between her own walls. Ella describes herself as dark as an oil spill, looking like a cuckoo in their nest. Four children and the third child of the family, Ella is the illegitimate child, and she was never allowed to forget it. Nicknamed Oreo by her abusive stepfather, Ella feared being home as abuse came physically and verbally from her guardians. Things start to shift in Ella’s world once a lady comes to town.
Sneaky Katherine St. James is a white researcher from Boston (so she says) who moves to Ricksville, Mississippi, for 6 months with the intention of living among Black folks and interviewing them for school. What seems simple is complex because Katherine wears two faces and she uses one to befriend Ella and turn her world upside down. It says a lot when a child tries to be accepting of all and counter the evil people project by highlighting their positives. Problem is, Katherine was a pot of evil covered with a lid waiting to get hot and boil over. Even so, Katherine’s past emphasizes that racism is a learned behavior and the mental and physical abuse she endured from her father makes you contemplate if you have an ounce of sympathy for her or do you label her a racist and move on. This story connects back to the freedom summer murders of 1964, and when the truth comes spilling out, the piles of paper scattered on the floor could not be gathered quickly enough.
Note:
I was tiptoeing around how to review this novel without giving away spoilers but the characters in this book are so meaningful. From Mr. Macabe down to the nasty-ass stepfather, Leroy. To watch Ella defeat him and really struggle with friendships and growing up is amazing.
“You can’t take that part away, it’s already gone,” my emboldened twelve-year-old eyes told him. I had taken away the one thing Leroy wanted to use to bring me low. It was the only way I could stop him. Let him know it meant nothing to me”.
To know that Ella truly sees herself and embraces her skin and beauty while missing the key piece of her image (her father) is something powerful.
With two completely diverse protagonists that collide hard, twelve-year-old Ella is a bright child whose intelligence and relationship with God is remarkable as she is coming of age not that far away from the Civil Rights movement but close enough to start understanding the ways of the world. With such an evil world there is still the wickedness of living between her own walls. Ella describes herself as dark as an oil spill, looking like a cuckoo in their nest. Four children and the third child of the family, Ella is the illegitimate child, and she was never allowed to forget it. Nicknamed Oreo by her abusive stepfather, Ella feared being home as abuse came physically and verbally from her guardians. Things start to shift in Ella’s world once a lady comes to town.
Sneaky Katherine St. James is a white researcher from Boston (so she says) who moves to Ricksville, Mississippi, for 6 months with the intention of living among Black folks and interviewing them for school. What seems simple is complex because Katherine wears two faces and she uses one to befriend Ella and turn her world upside down. It says a lot when a child tries to be accepting of all and counter the evil people project by highlighting their positives. Problem is, Katherine was a pot of evil covered with a lid waiting to get hot and boil over. Even so, Katherine’s past emphasizes that racism is a learned behavior and the mental and physical abuse she endured from her father makes you contemplate if you have an ounce of sympathy for her or do you label her a racist and move on. This story connects back to the freedom summer murders of 1964, and when the truth comes spilling out, the piles of paper scattered on the floor could not be gathered quickly enough.
Note:
I was tiptoeing around how to review this novel without giving away spoilers but the characters in this book are so meaningful. From Mr. Macabe down to the nasty-ass stepfather, Leroy. To watch Ella defeat him and really struggle with friendships and growing up is amazing.
“You can’t take that part away, it’s already gone,” my emboldened twelve-year-old eyes told him. I had taken away the one thing Leroy wanted to use to bring me low. It was the only way I could stop him. Let him know it meant nothing to me”.
To know that Ella truly sees herself and embraces her skin and beauty while missing the key piece of her image (her father) is something powerful.
May 27, 2023
2.5* For me, the sorrow song “Wade in the Water” that taught many slaves how to act and what to expect when trying to escape is one of the most moving and haunting of spirituals. (The a capella version by Sweet Honey in the Rock is spine-tingling.) Sadly, this book does not live up to the promise of invoking that music, nor does the book even clarify the significance of that famous spiritual in relation to the book's story.
I like three and only three characters in this book. Fats, because of his devotion to and respect for Ella when so many people are dismissive of her (until he, too, child that he is, lets her down). Ella because she is curious and conniving, sassy and resilient, and struggling to find her place in a world she feels does not love her or the dark color of her skin. And Mr. Macabe—whose blindness disguises his deep and abiding insight into people and the past. He is the repository of knowledge about Ricksville, Ella’s paternity, African culture and history, and his own racial theory of “marketing“ (which today we would call an understanding of structural racism). As such, Mr. Macabe offers lessons on African American ontology, colorism, and race relations that are a magnificent gift to Ella as she comes of age amidst sexual and physical abuse, poverty, familial rebuke, and maternal cruelty. He gives her hope and inspiration in this passage:
But three likable characters do not a great book make. I found the writing style and storylines in this book to be very uneven (often lackluster), the insertion of Black history “lessons” didactic and artificial, the discussions of the repercussions of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement facile, the multiple settings (especially varying temporal spaces) poorly differentiated, and the motivations and actions of Katherine/Kate limply explained. Perhaps another draft or ten and a better story editor would have made a difference.
I like three and only three characters in this book. Fats, because of his devotion to and respect for Ella when so many people are dismissive of her (until he, too, child that he is, lets her down). Ella because she is curious and conniving, sassy and resilient, and struggling to find her place in a world she feels does not love her or the dark color of her skin. And Mr. Macabe—whose blindness disguises his deep and abiding insight into people and the past. He is the repository of knowledge about Ricksville, Ella’s paternity, African culture and history, and his own racial theory of “marketing“ (which today we would call an understanding of structural racism). As such, Mr. Macabe offers lessons on African American ontology, colorism, and race relations that are a magnificent gift to Ella as she comes of age amidst sexual and physical abuse, poverty, familial rebuke, and maternal cruelty. He gives her hope and inspiration in this passage:
”I think the continent of Africa envelops you, holds you up strong," he said. "Gives you pride and identity so that when you do enter the adult world—and you will, Ella—you can hold your head up. Be who you are, and proudly. The world outside of Ricksville is very, very different. You will have to deal with different kinds of people that are not your own people. You will need to be proud of who you are to survive and thrive.” (p. 237)
But three likable characters do not a great book make. I found the writing style and storylines in this book to be very uneven (often lackluster), the insertion of Black history “lessons” didactic and artificial, the discussions of the repercussions of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement facile, the multiple settings (especially varying temporal spaces) poorly differentiated, and the motivations and actions of Katherine/Kate limply explained. Perhaps another draft or ten and a better story editor would have made a difference.
February 8, 2023
There are so many things wrong with this book that I can only cover a few of them in this space. First, this book, story and author's voice had no idea if it was in 1982, 1960, 2022 ... the characters sounded like they were living in all those periods of history so that made the book impossible to get absorbed into the story. This authors skill set is not great. She had no idea where to plant her characters and her story so she kept bouncing them everywhere in their language, scenery ... so freaking bizarre. The world is not what it was in 1960 but the characters all lived in shacks in some closed down slavery plantation passing as a town that is divided North (whites only) and South (blacks only) and none of them wore shoes and they're all molesting each other's step kids bc that's just how blacks are (written by a black author). The men leave to work on the railroads or something, in 1982 and white men hunt black people for sport in Boston ... in late 1970s. WTF?!
Then Ella who's all of ten years old suddenly sees so clearly that Katherine St.James is working out her inner insanity by hiding from her true nature as a hateful, racist murderer and the daughter of a murdering racist. Jesus. That is the kind of intellectual work done in third year college metaphor discussions and papers ... but Ella, at ten, spelled it all out for us.
At end of book in 1982/1970/1960/1886 Africa/America, Ella flies up to the clouds to be with God. WTF?!
Then the author starts out her acknowledgements with this lame God garbage. So Stupid.
This book was written by a crazy person and published by a group of nut-jobs.
This doesn't even qualify as a book, its the deranged rambling manifesto of the Uni-Bomber.
Then Ella who's all of ten years old suddenly sees so clearly that Katherine St.James is working out her inner insanity by hiding from her true nature as a hateful, racist murderer and the daughter of a murdering racist. Jesus. That is the kind of intellectual work done in third year college metaphor discussions and papers ... but Ella, at ten, spelled it all out for us.
At end of book in 1982/1970/1960/1886 Africa/America, Ella flies up to the clouds to be with God. WTF?!
Then the author starts out her acknowledgements with this lame God garbage. So Stupid.
This book was written by a crazy person and published by a group of nut-jobs.
This doesn't even qualify as a book, its the deranged rambling manifesto of the Uni-Bomber.
Read
January 14, 2023Nyani Nkrumah’s fiction debut “Wade in the Water” uses an unlikely friendship to examine the impact of racism from two drastically different angles, one from the point of view of a little Black girl named Ella who lives in a segregated town in 1980s Mississippi, the other from the perspective of a middle-aged white academic who moves down the street from Ella one summer day. Both are survivors of the systems that raised them and have endured unconscionable abuses. By placing these contrasting characters on a collision course, Nkrumah has woven together a tragic tale — yet one not lacking humor or hope — about two people seeking to triumph over circumstances beyond their control.
Life has been stacked against 11-year-old Ella since before she was born. The result of her married mother’s infidelity, wedged between her stepfather’s children in birth order and ostracized for possessing the darkest skin color in all of fictional Ricksville, Mississippi, she has struggled to find the place where she belongs.
Katherine St. James is a woman who has turned her back on a past she believes she has overcome. The favored daughter of a KKK leader responsible for unconscionable hate crimes, she was raised with venom firmly planted in her heart. After a series of brutal aggressions land her in a psychiatric hospital, she sets out on a quest to renounce her ingrained racism and reclaim her life. Now pursuing an advanced degree at Princeton, she returns to her home state and settles in the nearby town of Ricksville to research and write her thesis...
See THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION for full review. https://www.ajc.com/life/arts-culture...
Life has been stacked against 11-year-old Ella since before she was born. The result of her married mother’s infidelity, wedged between her stepfather’s children in birth order and ostracized for possessing the darkest skin color in all of fictional Ricksville, Mississippi, she has struggled to find the place where she belongs.
Katherine St. James is a woman who has turned her back on a past she believes she has overcome. The favored daughter of a KKK leader responsible for unconscionable hate crimes, she was raised with venom firmly planted in her heart. After a series of brutal aggressions land her in a psychiatric hospital, she sets out on a quest to renounce her ingrained racism and reclaim her life. Now pursuing an advanced degree at Princeton, she returns to her home state and settles in the nearby town of Ricksville to research and write her thesis...
See THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION for full review. https://www.ajc.com/life/arts-culture...
May 22, 2023
Set in 1982, this book explores the unlikely interracial friendship between Ella and Kate.
Ella’s story was the most intriguing of the two, as she dealt with abuse from her family. She was the darkest child, and she was illegitimate. Her mother and stepfather (trifling ass Leroy) treated her like garbage, to the point that she ran into the arms of a stranger to keep her away from the house of hell.
Kate was a college researcher who tried to run away from who she really was, to make a long story short. The debut novel teetered on the edge of "White Savior," but with the twist that came, it ended up being a well-rounded story about a little girl trying to find her way, a coming-of-age story in a sense.
The supporting characters, like Mr. Macabe, made the book much more enjoyable than without them. He encouraged Ella to strike out on her own and be the master of her fate, a true grandpappy. I would definitely be interested in another novel by this author.
Ella’s story was the most intriguing of the two, as she dealt with abuse from her family. She was the darkest child, and she was illegitimate. Her mother and stepfather (trifling ass Leroy) treated her like garbage, to the point that she ran into the arms of a stranger to keep her away from the house of hell.
Kate was a college researcher who tried to run away from who she really was, to make a long story short. The debut novel teetered on the edge of "White Savior," but with the twist that came, it ended up being a well-rounded story about a little girl trying to find her way, a coming-of-age story in a sense.
The supporting characters, like Mr. Macabe, made the book much more enjoyable than without them. He encouraged Ella to strike out on her own and be the master of her fate, a true grandpappy. I would definitely be interested in another novel by this author.
February 18, 2023
I really enjoyed reading Wade in the Water. Going into this book, I thought it was a YA novel but once I really got into the book, I quickly realized that this book is not YA - even though the main character, Ella, is 12 years old. The book switches between two perspectives - Ella and Kate Somerville. Kate is a white woman who grew up in Mississippi with a murderous, racist father who was in the KKK.
Ella is trying to figure out her place in the world and who she is. She is a very smart and intelligent young girl who is in a family that does not appreciate or love her. Ella was born into a family that doesn’t look like her. She is dark-skinned while the rest of her family, including her mother, is light-skinned and her family treats her very differently. Colorism is a big theme in this book. So Ella confides with her neighbors because her family mostly ignores her which is how she meets Kate.
Throughout the book, Ella tries to find an understanding of race, history, and love, and her world collides with Kate's to find this understanding. At the same time, Kate is trying to unlearn her past and figure out who she is as well. Both characters' stories intertwine in a very interesting way.
Kate needed to come to terms with a lot of her past, which was a hard pill to swallow. She was trying to be the ‘white savior’ yet had to realize a lot about herself and her past. The perspective of Kate was….interesting yet familiar.
Wade in the Water would be a great book for discussion groups. I really like what the author did with these characters and the story - very well written.
Ella is trying to figure out her place in the world and who she is. She is a very smart and intelligent young girl who is in a family that does not appreciate or love her. Ella was born into a family that doesn’t look like her. She is dark-skinned while the rest of her family, including her mother, is light-skinned and her family treats her very differently. Colorism is a big theme in this book. So Ella confides with her neighbors because her family mostly ignores her which is how she meets Kate.
Throughout the book, Ella tries to find an understanding of race, history, and love, and her world collides with Kate's to find this understanding. At the same time, Kate is trying to unlearn her past and figure out who she is as well. Both characters' stories intertwine in a very interesting way.
Kate needed to come to terms with a lot of her past, which was a hard pill to swallow. She was trying to be the ‘white savior’ yet had to realize a lot about herself and her past. The perspective of Kate was….interesting yet familiar.
Wade in the Water would be a great book for discussion groups. I really like what the author did with these characters and the story - very well written.
November 29, 2022
This book did take a while for me to be invested -- about a quarter of the way through, but once I did I was impressed by what a sympathetic character Ella was. A moving coming of age story that handles tough topics like racism, prejudice, color lines and sexual abuse. A nice touch was we also saw the point of view of Ms. St. James, which gave the narrative an added depth.
November 26, 2022
I was immediately drawn into this story of a relationship that develops between Ms. St. James, a white woman from Princeton, and Ella, a precocious 11-year-old Black girl.
It is hard to believe that this is Nkrumah’s debut novel. The writing flows smoothly and paints a picture of the rural segregated community of Ricksville, Mississippi. The characters are authentic, and their emotions relatable.
Set in 1982, Ms. St. James rents a house on the same street where Ella lives. This piques people’s curiosity since she is the only white person on the street. She has come to Ricksville to do research for her thesis on the civil rights movement. Soon, Ms. St. James befriends Ella who has always felt she was not accepted by others because she has a different daddy than that of her siblings, and she has notably darker skin.
Alternating with the 1982 timeline are flashbacks to Ms. St. James’ childhood in the 60s in Philadelphia, Mississippi. It was a childhood where racism was acceptable, where it was beaten into her. No matter how much she tries to distance herself from it, it is always lurking in the shadows.
The relationship between Ella and Ms. St. James is extremely complex. There are times that my heart swelled with love that Ella, so starved for attention and love, thought she was getting from Ms. St. James. But at other times, Ella was unknowingly pushing St. James closer and closer to losing control of the façade she lived behind, closer to revealing a secret that she must keep hidden.
The story is uncomfortably raw at times as the atrocities of the Jim Crow South are revisited. A question asked by the author is not only how the civil rights movement changed Black society but also how it changed white society.
There are several well-developed characters throughout the book. Mr. Macabe, who is blind, says he cannot see the color of one’s skin. He says that he classifies as good, evil, or somewhere in between. There are characters here that fall into all those categories.
There is a shocking reveal near the end that I should have caught but I was just too absorbed in the story to figure it out.
Thank you to HarperCollins and BookBrowse for the advance copy of the book. These opinions are entirely my own.
It is hard to believe that this is Nkrumah’s debut novel. The writing flows smoothly and paints a picture of the rural segregated community of Ricksville, Mississippi. The characters are authentic, and their emotions relatable.
Set in 1982, Ms. St. James rents a house on the same street where Ella lives. This piques people’s curiosity since she is the only white person on the street. She has come to Ricksville to do research for her thesis on the civil rights movement. Soon, Ms. St. James befriends Ella who has always felt she was not accepted by others because she has a different daddy than that of her siblings, and she has notably darker skin.
Alternating with the 1982 timeline are flashbacks to Ms. St. James’ childhood in the 60s in Philadelphia, Mississippi. It was a childhood where racism was acceptable, where it was beaten into her. No matter how much she tries to distance herself from it, it is always lurking in the shadows.
The relationship between Ella and Ms. St. James is extremely complex. There are times that my heart swelled with love that Ella, so starved for attention and love, thought she was getting from Ms. St. James. But at other times, Ella was unknowingly pushing St. James closer and closer to losing control of the façade she lived behind, closer to revealing a secret that she must keep hidden.
The story is uncomfortably raw at times as the atrocities of the Jim Crow South are revisited. A question asked by the author is not only how the civil rights movement changed Black society but also how it changed white society.
There are several well-developed characters throughout the book. Mr. Macabe, who is blind, says he cannot see the color of one’s skin. He says that he classifies as good, evil, or somewhere in between. There are characters here that fall into all those categories.
There is a shocking reveal near the end that I should have caught but I was just too absorbed in the story to figure it out.
Thank you to HarperCollins and BookBrowse for the advance copy of the book. These opinions are entirely my own.
February 17, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
“The love I had for her was fuller, larger and more complete. Like a big meal you had that gave you what you longed for–sweet potatoes, fried chicken, gravy, biscuits, lemonade, apple pie, all of it—till you were just lying there full, not able to wish for a single more thing on your plate, or even a second course.”
I could not do anything else but feel hurt for Ella. Her own family treated her horribly, calling her Oreo because she was darker than everyone else in her family. This treatment came from her mother too. A mother who brought her into the world from her wrongdoings! She was abused in every sense of the word. One of the only people Ella finds a piece of love from is a white woman, Ms. St. James, who has ventured into town for her research. But Ella, and others of the town find out more about St James, but not before her presence shakes things up around town.
This story had me sad and hurt for Ella, mixed feelings for St. James, and hating Ella’s family! Her mother was trash, her stepfather needed to be thrown under the jail. I loved Mr. Macabe. He was another that showed love for Ella. Like a grandfather figure for her!
“The love I had for her was fuller, larger and more complete. Like a big meal you had that gave you what you longed for–sweet potatoes, fried chicken, gravy, biscuits, lemonade, apple pie, all of it—till you were just lying there full, not able to wish for a single more thing on your plate, or even a second course.”
I could not do anything else but feel hurt for Ella. Her own family treated her horribly, calling her Oreo because she was darker than everyone else in her family. This treatment came from her mother too. A mother who brought her into the world from her wrongdoings! She was abused in every sense of the word. One of the only people Ella finds a piece of love from is a white woman, Ms. St. James, who has ventured into town for her research. But Ella, and others of the town find out more about St James, but not before her presence shakes things up around town.
This story had me sad and hurt for Ella, mixed feelings for St. James, and hating Ella’s family! Her mother was trash, her stepfather needed to be thrown under the jail. I loved Mr. Macabe. He was another that showed love for Ella. Like a grandfather figure for her!
March 9, 2023
This is Nkrumah’s debut and it’s as strong a debut as I have ever read. Her writing style is beautiful. As for setting, I had to keep reminding myself that this was set in the 1980’s and not farther back in history. There are many possible content warnings as this novel deals with some tough stuff, including child abuse, but it is ultimately a hopeful novel. I loved many of the characters (Ella, Nate, Mr Macabe) and intensely disliked others (Ma, Leroy.) I am not sure how to articulate my feelings for Ms St James. I feel she is a mirror for liberal white people who have good intentions but may have some unaddressed deeply rooted racist ideas. The effect is that she is performative at best and ends up causing real harm to Ella and others in the community. Other reviewers have compared this to The Help but I think it’s better compared to To Kill A Mockingbird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2023
Someone else in the reviews mentioned that this was like a better version for The Help. I agree, the story was realistic and showed & explained White Savior Syndrome, without the idealization of said white saviors like in other media. I loved the character Ella- her personality, quirks and brilliance. This story intertwines racism, adultery, colorism and childhood growth all in a coming-of-age novel.
January 12, 2023
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! I highly recommend this book. The storytelling is seamless as we switch between the two perspectives. The characters, the storylines, the themes... and oh my, what a twist!
February 1, 2023
More like 4.5 stars but the things I disliked were very minor. Definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy fine African American Literature and Historical Fiction. You won't be disappointed.
December 25, 2022
4.5 Stars
This is a gripping and at times heart wrenching read. This is a wonderful debut novel. The writing is beautiful and the author does a great job building all the characters with amazing depth and believable flaws.
As a reader we follow two perspectives. One of a 12 year old black girl named Ella and a young white woman named Miss St James (Katherine). Present day the story is set in the 80s but then the story has flash backs of Katherine's past set in the 60s. Katherine's past is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. It's ugly and I was upset in a good way.
This story deals some hard hitting topics such as racism, escaping sins of a father, and sexual assault, The language in this book can be hard to read at times.
This book is great for those who love literary fiction and seeing two different up bringing collide. A friendship that is formed even right maybe not the best intentions at first:
I look forward to see what else this author writes in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for this advanced reader copy, My review is voluntarily my own.
I will be posting my review to the.floofs.booknook and retail sites at publication.
This is a gripping and at times heart wrenching read. This is a wonderful debut novel. The writing is beautiful and the author does a great job building all the characters with amazing depth and believable flaws.
As a reader we follow two perspectives. One of a 12 year old black girl named Ella and a young white woman named Miss St James (Katherine). Present day the story is set in the 80s but then the story has flash backs of Katherine's past set in the 60s. Katherine's past is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. It's ugly and I was upset in a good way.
This story deals some hard hitting topics such as racism, escaping sins of a father, and sexual assault, The language in this book can be hard to read at times.
This book is great for those who love literary fiction and seeing two different up bringing collide. A friendship that is formed even right maybe not the best intentions at first:
I look forward to see what else this author writes in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for this advanced reader copy, My review is voluntarily my own.
I will be posting my review to the.floofs.booknook and retail sites at publication.
January 30, 2024
Racism, love, hate, abuse...
The beautiful dialogue in regards to Racism, slavery forces you to pause, think, and analyze. Character development from beginning to end. The strength of a child, holding the burden of her mothers sins on her shoulders, while trying to survive emotional and physical abuse....among other things. I do not want to spoil this for anyone.
Highly recommend this amazing book!
The beautiful dialogue in regards to Racism, slavery forces you to pause, think, and analyze. Character development from beginning to end. The strength of a child, holding the burden of her mothers sins on her shoulders, while trying to survive emotional and physical abuse....among other things. I do not want to spoil this for anyone.
Highly recommend this amazing book!
January 19, 2024
I am shocked , shook, at a loss for words . Let the book hangover begin
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