A review by author_d_r_oestreicher
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride begins in 1972 with the discovery of a skeleton in an abandoned well along with a pendant and some red threads. The murder investigation had barely started when Hurricane Agnes wiped away everything, thus closing the case. Still, the reader can’t help wondering about the skeleton’s identity and its murderer…who will not be apprehended. 
 
The rest of the book goes back to 1925, to Chicken Hill, Pottstown, PA, the place where the Negroes, Jews, and immigrants are isolated from the white families who most claim to be descendants from the Mayflower. The book explores the subtle ways Pottstown’s underclass is marginalized, but it also celebrates their spirit, community, and ingenuity. 
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