Every Shut Eye Isn't Asleep
Synopsis:
Valley's life doesn't start out easy. The daughter of a mulatto mother and Full Moon Comes-George, a Cherokee Indian father, her mother dies when she is still a baby. Even though her responsible, respectable father continues to care for Valley, her mother's parents are less than thrilled. When Valley is kidnapped from her father's home and taken to her maternal grandmother's house, George decides to let the child go, though he sends money to take care of his daughter and visits at least twice a year.
But when George dies, the money stops and Valley's life is suddenly full of pain and suffering. Because of her mixed race, she struggles to find her true place in society. She finally meets and marries Dennis Cobin. Despite his abuse, Valley gives birth to a daughter, Heidi. After Valley loses their second child to Dennis's violence, she divorces him and moves to Boston with Heidi.
Life in the early 1950s is not easy for many, but it's worse for a divorced woman with a small child. They face prejudice because of their mixed race, but Valley continues to gather strength and courage from the love she has for Heidi.
Book Excerpt:
P. 47. With a mean looking face, Miss Riley said to Mama, "Mrs. Cobin, with due respect, where you come from the education system is years behind ours. There is no way we can place your daughter in the First Grade. She must be tested by a psychologist and a special education teacher to see what her beginning level should be."
I could see that Mama was not liking what she heard from Miss Riley. "Miss Riley, with 'due respect', may I have a sheet of paper and a pencil?" Slowly Miss Riley pulled open a drawer in her desk and got a sheet of paper. She had pencils in a fancy cup on her desk. She handed the paper and pencil to Mama. Mama pushed a couple of books from the corner of Miss Riley's desk and set the paper and pencil down. "Heidi, write your name for Miss Riley."
"Mama, do you want me to print or write pretty?"
"Sweetheart, do both."
Author Comment:
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Topics/Categories:
GA and Boston, MA, Savannah, the early 1950s
Genre:
Historical Fiction, Race Relations
Type of Work:
Publishers:
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Original Publish Date:
September 21, 2008
Formats and associated ISBNs:
978-0-595-42518-1
Publishing Notes:
The book is available at most of the on-line book stores.
Formats:
Paperback, e-book
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