Cover image from Goodreads.com
This novel is an unflinching dive into racism and vengeance in 1974 South Boston, just before the schools became desegregated.
Mary Pat’s daughter Jules is one of the white students from South Boston that will be bussed to the black school for her senior year. One night shortly before school starts, Jules goes out with friends and never comes home.
That same night, Auggie Williamson, a young Black man, is found dead in South Boston under mysterious circumstances.
While the two events seem unconnected at first, the author weaves them together expertly and immerses the reader in South Boston; a world where the neighbourhood is run by a crime family and loyalty is rewarded with being left alone, a world where the good and bad guys are not so clear cut.
Mary Pat investigates her daughter’s disappearance only to learn some horrible truths about Jules. She powers on, seeking vengeance, while beginning to question her own role in sowing seeds of hate.
As I read, I felt teleported into this world and all it’s grittiness and hatred, with hard-luck, low income residents. Not once did the narrative waver, not once did it shy away from the ugliness of racism, hate, and vengeance.
The novel is hard to stomach, hard to admit that this is our past, but brilliantly written all the same.
Trigger warning: the n-word appears often and while the context felt appropriate, readers may be offended.
Should Be Writing 