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A review by okiecozyreader
Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This has been one of the hardest books to listen to. The narrator did a beautiful job, but the content is tough, and I felt, somewhat repetitive. I felt like some areas seemed kind of stuck.
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
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, and Pregnancy