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cantfindmybookmark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Racism, Abortion, and Pregnancy
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Author: Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: April 12, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Delicate • Devastating • Illuminating
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Montgomery, Alabama, 1973. Fresh out of nursing school, Civil Townsend intends to make a difference, especially in her African American community. At the Montgomery Family Planning Clinic, she hopes to help women shape their destinies, to make their own choices for their lives and bodies.
But when her first week on the job takes her along a dusty country road to a worn-down one-room cabin, Civil is shocked to learn that her new patients, Erica and India, are children—just eleven and thirteen years old. Neither of the Williams sisters has even kissed a boy, but they are poor and Black, and for those handling the family’s welfare benefits, that’s reason enough to have the girls on birth control. As Civil grapples with her role, she takes India, Erica, and their family into her heart. Until one day she arrives at their door to learn the unthinkable has happened, and nothing will ever be the same for any of them.
Decades later, with her daughter grown and a long career in her wake, Dr. Civil Townsend is ready to retire, to find her peace, and to leave the past behind. But there are people and stories that refuse to be forgotten. That must not be forgotten.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Take My Hand was one of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends for 2023, and one I was most looking forward to after so many glowing reviews from trusted historical fiction readers. Honestly, I am not sure 5-stars is nearly enough for this powerful and emotional book.
One of the things I appreciate most about historical fiction is how it allows the reader a glimpse into history through so many different lenses. Although Take My Hand is a fictionalized account (based on true events), the writing and characterization brought everything to life. Told in dual timelines and exploring the haunting history of eugenics, this novel is incredibly well-written and eye-opening. The characters were three dimensional and I was sucked into their lives from the very start. There were moments of pause, there were tears, there was anger - it was just an incredible reading experience. Yet knowing this happened, and continues to happen, is so unsettling.
Take My Hand will be easily be finding its way onto my forever shelf, as well as my year-end 2023 favourites list! It's a novel offering another much needed layer to the discussion of reproductive rights and justice. It is sure to spark discussion, raising moral and ethical questions. I will be thinking of this one for a long time to come. So far my friends have been hitting it out of the park with their recommendations.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• historical fiction lovers
• fans of Necessary Lies
• bookclubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Our bodies belong to us. Poor, disabled, it didn't matter. These were our bodies and we have the right to decide what to do with them."
"There is no greater right for a woman than having a choice."
"I had never known that good intentions could be just as destructive as bad ones."
Graphic: Medical trauma, Infertility, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Sexism, Classism, Grief, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Death, Suicide, and Abortion
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, Genocide, Car accident, Child death, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Sexual content
adoptiontiffanielle's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Pregnancy, Hate crime, Racism, Abortion, Infertility, Medical content, and Medical trauma
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Civil Townsend begins working in 1973 for a family planning clinic. Part of her job involves giving women, and even female children (ages 10-18) depo provera injections. She develops a close bond with one family of two young girls and tries to help change their lives.
As someone who received depo provera, this book was very triggering to me. I looked it up and it’s still given, so I’m not really sure why it’s labeled as so dangerous (although it is limited in Europe).
This book also involves involuntary sterilization, and taking advantage of people who are poor and trusting.
There is also detailed discussions of abortion, beginning early in the book.
“This novel is a work of fiction loosely inspired by the real-life case of Relf v. Weinberger. In June 1973, Minnie Lee and Mary Alice Relf, sisters aged twelve and fourteen, were sterilized without their consent in Montgomery, Alabama, by a federally funded agency. Outraged by this terrible violation, their social worker, Jessie Bly, reported it to a local attorney. Eventually, the case went to federal court in Washington, DC.“
“My hope is that this novel will provoke discussions about culpability in a society that still deems poor, Black, and disabled as categories unfit for motherhood.” author’s note
“The beginnings of a compliment always ended up stinging like an insult.” Part 1 chapter 2
“Sometimes love can kill you, just like hate. You love too hard and you can lose yourself in other folks’ sorrow. You hate too hard and you know the rest of that story. Take care of yourself.” Part 2 chapter 27
Graphic: Abortion, Pregnancy, Medical content, and Medical trauma
lemonbalmandliterature's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Pregnancy, Racism, Medical trauma, Medical content, and Physical abuse
ruffian23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Genocide, Medical trauma, Sexism, Abortion, Child abuse, Grief, Infertility, Racism, and Mental illness
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, and Pregnancy
waybeyondblue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Racism, Medical content, Infertility, Medical trauma, and Classism
Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy
shesheshelby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The main character annoyed me, so it was hard to give this book more than 4 stars. A main focus of the book is the main character’s flaws, but I wanted to see more growth from her. The main character’s growth is probably realistic, however!
I didn’t like the feeling I had at the end of the book. So many things were left unresolved, but isn’t that true in the real world? There is still racism and racial disparities in medicine and people finding identity in “saving” others and forced sterilization and female genital mutilation, so we should be uncomfortable.
Graphic: Violence, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Death, Abortion, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual violence, Classism, Infertility, Hate crime, Genocide, and Cancer
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Abortion, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexism, Abandonment, Car accident, Medical content, Death, Hate crime, Grief, Infertility, Cursing, Cancer, Child abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Body horror, and Vomit
katietotallybooked's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Perkins-Valdez really pulled me in with her captivating characters. I felt so much empathy for India & Erica and their traumatic childhood. I was rooting for Civil on her own personal journey of growth and search for belonging. In my eyes, it was a bonus to the novel to learn about this horrible event in our world's past, because the story about chosen family, love, and identity was enough to capture my attention.
This is the quote that really brought the book to a five star read for me: "Didn’t she understand that family was so much more than blood? It was shared experience and history and pain. Those girls were as much my family now as they were hers. "
Graphic: Medical trauma, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Abortion and Pregnancy
Minor: Terminal illness and Mental illness