The Color of Family

November 1, 2004
In her final novel, Jones (Passing) crafts a compelling work on race and identity in the segregated South of the 1950s, featuring a strong African American woman determined, against all odds, to reveal to her family the existence of a nephew they never knew-who's been raised by a white family.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2004
In the 1950s Antonia's twin brother, Emeril, was killed in New Orleans. Before his death he was involved with a white woman, Agnes, who, almost nine months to the day Emeril died, gives birth to a son, Clayton Cannon, and raises him as white. Antonia, raising her own children in Baltimore, has always believed that Clayton is the son of her deceased brother. Her son, Aaron, is a successful television anchorman, and her daughter, Ellen, is a highly regarded gynecologist. Both have ill feelings toward Clayton and the emotional investment of their mother toward keeping up with his life. When Clayton relocates to Baltimore with his family and mother, Antonia becomes even more determined to force the truth about his parentage out of Agnes. Aaron and Ellen finally confront their mother with revelations and painful realities about their childhood that are difficult for Antonia to accept. Yet, when Antonia finally gets the answer to her question, she can finally be at peace knowing that color has nothing to do with family; and the reader is given a provocative, compelling story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)