The Color of Water A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

The Color of Water A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother
James McBride
ALA Notable Book 1997
Interest Level: high school to adult
CATEGORY: Biography
TYPE: Novel

SUMMARY: This book is about James McBride, as a boy he knew his mother was different but whenever he would ask her a direct question about her and their situation she always cut him short in a roundabout way. His interracial family, with 11 siblings, a stepfather, his white Jewish mother and growing up poor made it hard for him to know who he was. But his mother’s determination for them to get a good education and him backtracking to find out about his mother’s past gave him a sense of what it really means to have a family, unconditionally. A is a wonderful tribute to his mother.

ONLINE CONNECTIONS:
About the book and reading guide:
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/color_of_water.html
Book review:
http://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/index.cfm?book_number=373

BOOK CONNECTIONS:
Song Yet Song by James McBride
Miracle at ST. Anna by James McBride

KEYWORDS: Jewish, Black, White, mother, love, discrimination, interracial

Notes: Wow this was such a fascinating book. Not only does it tell of the struggles of growing up in a bi-racial family but being poor and having 11 brothers and sister. I think the vision Ruth, the mother, had for her children was that the value of receiving a good education was priceless, regardless of who you are or where you came from. Ruth was a wise mother too because not only did she send all her kids to college but she also taught them how to be strong, enduring and faithful in their Christian beliefs.