Erin's Book #22: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

The Help follows three women in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s: Aibileen, a middle-aged black maid/nurse, her best friend Minny, and Skeeter, a white college grad. Stockett, who grew up in Mississippi having a black maid of her own, alternates telling the story from the point of view of each. Each woman comes alive through her chapters, though I found that the slang of Aibileen and Minny slowed my reading down considerably.

(Minor spoiler alert!) Skeeter, a budding writer, decides to tackle a secret project - writing a book telling the stories of the maids of Jackson. Working closely with Aibileen, the two recruit a dozen maids to anonymously relay their stories, some good, mostly bad, of working for wealthy white women. It's shocking how similar their experience is to slavery. There are a handful of white women who treat their maids like family, but most of them are quite wretched. They allow them to raise their children, but insist on them using a separate bathroom. They cook all their food, but can't shop in their grocery store. Etc, etc, etc.

Skeeter faces complete societal rejection (her best friends represent the upper crust of Jackson) to take on this book. Aibileen, Minny, and the rest risk their lives to get their stories out there, in the hopes that something will change.

Stockett makes the prejudices and racial tension of a 1960s small Southern town come alive. It's a fascinating portrayal of a town (and a country) in transition, as well as of a young woman rejecting the viewpoint and lifestyle of her peers and family to pursue her own life.