The Help

The Help
By Kathryn Stockett

I had heard so much about this book before I had a chance to read it.
The first time I heard about it was when the movie come out. My youth pastor, David, was in the movie. I then looked into reading the book.

Last December I finally got a chance to read this book, and I was impressed. It is a captivating story written in the eyes of three woman from Jackson, Mississippi, in 1962.

Aibileen Clark is an African-American woman who works for Miss Elizabeth Leefolt, a young mother who doesn't really know how to run a family. Aibileen has raised many children in her life time, she takes care of Mae Mobley, Elizabeth's daughter.

Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young, white woman who just graduated from the University of Mississppi. Skeeter is a tall, 5'11, young lady who should have everything going for her. Instead she has never been on a date. Her frizzy doesn't fit well in a time where your hair had to be perfect. Skeeter makes the best of her life though.

Minny Jackson is a strong sass-mouthed African-American woman, who has a hard time keeping her mouth shut. At the beginning of the book Minny works for "Missus Walter" who is the mother of the "villian" in this book, Hilly Holbrook. Minny is fired from her job because of the Terrible Awful. And hired by Miss Celia Foote.

Skeeter decides to write a book from the point of view of the Help, or the African-American maids. She recruits the help of Aibileen and Minny to write it. The three of them become fast friends.

This book was amazing. There is so much the goes on in this book that you need to read several times to get the full value of it. It is not a difficult read. It is actually rather easy, but the content is most definetly for older people, meaning it is not a children's book. There is a large amount of cussing in the book. But it did not over power the book. There are also some topics that are not for young readers.

 It is devastating the way people act to those whose skin is a different color. I grew up in a place where there was absolutely no segregation. I never realized that in the south, caucasians are still bitter against African-Americans.

I loved this book and would highly recommend everyone to read it.

Review by Sweetie Pie