A review by cindy_f
We Are Not Like Them by Christine Pride, Jo Piazza

4.0

This novel explores the longtime friendship between two women, one black and one white. We get each of their perspectives in alternating chapters. Jenny is white, married young to a policeman and is six months pregnant. Riley is single and works as a television journalist with ambitions of becoming the first black anchor woman in Philadelphia.

When a tragic event occurs involving a wrongful shooting of an unarmed black teenager by police officers, Riley and Jen’s friendship is really put to the test. Jen’s husband was one of the officers involved. Riley is the reporter assigned to the story. Justin, the teenager later died from his wounds at the hospital. Riley was able to secure an interview with Jason’s grieving mother, which ripped my heart out.

I’ve read many books involving racial bias and prejudice. The reason I liked this book was because we get each of these women’s perspectives- their thoughts and fears. Jen supports her husband’s actions, that he felt his life was in danger, but she has fears for their future and their child’s security. Riley experienced many injustices throughout her life and learned from her grandmother that a family member was a victim of a hate crime. I thought Riley’s chapters were very eye-opening, poignant and powerful.