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A review by rainbowbookworm
A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia
5.0
Heartbreaking look at how clinging to traditions--and the trappings of wealth--brought about the downfall of a family in the antebellum South.
I associate this author with middle grade novels. Specifically middle-grade novels that become cannon. The same should happen with this book. It's almost like [b:Chronicle of a Death Foretold|23878|Chronicle of a Death Foretold|Gabriel García Márquez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644699351l/23878._SY75_.jpg|59137] in that we, the readers, can tell what is going to happen; other characters can see what is happening; but some of the people in it are hoping that the value of their name alone will save them from what's to come.
When I read that a book will have slavery, homosexuality, neurodivergence, and a depiction of living outside the gender binary; I think the author may be trying to tackle too much. But the contributions these characters make to the narrative are beautiful threads that serve to highlight, and add cohesion to the tapestry that is this novel.
I associate this author with middle grade novels. Specifically middle-grade novels that become cannon. The same should happen with this book. It's almost like [b:Chronicle of a Death Foretold|23878|Chronicle of a Death Foretold|Gabriel García Márquez|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644699351l/23878._SY75_.jpg|59137] in that we, the readers, can tell what is going to happen; other characters can see what is happening; but some of the people in it are hoping that the value of their name alone will save them from what's to come.
When I read that a book will have slavery, homosexuality, neurodivergence, and a depiction of living outside the gender binary; I think the author may be trying to tackle too much. But the contributions these characters make to the narrative are beautiful threads that serve to highlight, and add cohesion to the tapestry that is this novel.