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A review by tifftenn
A Sitting in St. James by Rita Williams-Garcia
2.0
First, this is not a book I would want my YA readers engaging it. The sexual exploits done to and by the male lovers were more detailed than I needed. And, the sexual abuse towards the slaves was given in more detail than a very young reader should have to stomach.
I appreciated the historical note that came after the story more than the story itself. Williams-Garcia reflects on what prompted the story: "Why do they hate us?" originally asked by a young boy in relation to police brutality towards black people. She explores her response to this question throughout the story (read the historical note first if you want this as a foundation for reading the story). This part is good. Unraveling the inhumane treatment of slaves and the shameful justifications for it was/is enough. Placing the story in Louisiana added layers of interest.
Too much of the story was about homosexuality and the secrets and dishonor that came with it. This took away from what Williams-Garcia reflects on in the historical note. Can a book successfully explore the feelings towards, treatments of, and relationships with both homosexuals and slaves? I imagine so, but this one doesn't. Instead, the spotlight on homosexual struggles took away from rather than added to the story about class, slavery, and tradition in antebellum Louisiana.
I appreciated the historical note that came after the story more than the story itself. Williams-Garcia reflects on what prompted the story: "Why do they hate us?" originally asked by a young boy in relation to police brutality towards black people. She explores her response to this question throughout the story (read the historical note first if you want this as a foundation for reading the story). This part is good. Unraveling the inhumane treatment of slaves and the shameful justifications for it was/is enough. Placing the story in Louisiana added layers of interest.
Too much of the story was about homosexuality and the secrets and dishonor that came with it. This took away from what Williams-Garcia reflects on in the historical note. Can a book successfully explore the feelings towards, treatments of, and relationships with both homosexuals and slaves? I imagine so, but this one doesn't. Instead, the spotlight on homosexual struggles took away from rather than added to the story about class, slavery, and tradition in antebellum Louisiana.