Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Wade in the Water

Wade in the Water is set in 1982 in the racially divided town of Ricksvilke, Mississippi. The action unfolds when Katherine St. James, a white researcher, arrives in town and settles in the Black neighbourhood. A friendship develops between her and Ella, an eleven year old Black girl.

This is a book I really enjoyed. Ella was such an engaging character, intelligent and curious, but having to deal with a lot of issues I wish children didn’t have to face. The setting was well drawn and some of the secondary characters like elderly Mr Macabe and Nate, owner of the Black diner, were wise and delightful. The book covers many themes - racism, colorism, child abuse, mental health, father-daughter relationships, and coming of age, and it does them all well. One thing that really stood out for me was the character of Katherine St James. It’s impossible to discuss her without getting in to spoiler territory. What I will say is that she is a white woman with a complicated history who wanted to overcome her past and do better, and probably believed she was. Nkrumah portrayed her with so much nuance, providing background to put her actions in context, but neither excusing not condemning her, simply presenting her and her actions as they were - those of a flawed woman who was trying but not succeeding at being better; deluding herself and damaging others along the way. It was fascinating watching her wrestle with her conscience, and try to justify actions, thoughts and beliefs. At one level this book was exploring the long tail of racism and the difficulty surmounting it. It was set in 1982 but felt very relevant to more recent events. Katherine St. James’s legacy can surely be seen in the many white people who feel that not being openly, blatantly racist is enough and struggle with the concepts of micro aggressions, anti-racism, and becoming an ally.

“The only things I can see are good people, bad people, and those in between. The bad ones you can easily avoid, but those in between people are the worst because you never know whe when they’ll help you up and when they’ll kick you in the teeth.”

Content Warnings

foxreadsbooks's review

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

This was heartbreaking and challenging, but beautifully done.
Ella, a young girl, deals with discrimination from the society around her, a researcher, and her own family. In many ways, Ella reminds me of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird, telling a very adult story through the eyes and experiences of a child.
This is told in dual perspective. Katherine, a white woman who grew up with her father in the clan attempts to unlearn her father's harmful views.
Trigger warnings: Abuse; use of the n-word.

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emyrogers's review against another edition

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3.0

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burnourhistory's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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cc_shelflove's review

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emotional informative medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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.”

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d0505's review

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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kathrynclaire's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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