The Help

The Help (2009)
*Movie entitled The Help and based after this book came out in 2011*
Stockett, Kathryn
Historical Fiction

10/10
Warning: This is a long book and is also written with Southern slang as well as containing racial discrimination between characters and society. There is a nude scene and several scenes of violence due to the circumstances of that time.

Note to reader: I would suggest that you read the book and then see the movie. Each is different in there own way, but they are both outstanding!

"Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step."This novel, by Kathryn Stockett, is about Black maids in the early 1960's in Jackson, Mississippi. Reeta Skeeter is a single young woman still living with her parents and trying to live up to her mothers expectations. She goes to bridge club with all the other ladies when she would much rather be writing. She ends up getting a job writing the Miss Myrna column for the Jackson Journal and comes to realize that she needs help. Skeeter grew up with a maid of her own and comes to the conclusion that the best way to get help is through the maids that HELP. Because Skeeters maid is no longer with her family, Skeeter turns to the help of her friend Elizabeth's maid.
 Elizabeth's maid is Aibileen, a hard-working black woman that raises Elizabeth's children and does all the work around the house. Even though Aibileen is busy and works hard, none of it keeps her distracted from the recent loss of her 22 year old son. Aibileen is fighting to stay alive as the recent loss keeps her depressed and worried for the decline in society. Blacks are not being treated like the rest and every day things are getting worse. When Skeeter approaches Aibileen, at first, Aibileen does not want to help Skeeter in fear of the way she might be treated. Skeeter is definitely crossing the line when she begins to listen to more than just advice from Aibileen. As the two become more comfortable with each other, they start to open up. That's when the idea, of writing a book in the perspective of The Help, pops into Skeeters mind.
Because of all the segregation, Skeeter and Aibileen are forced to do sessions of writing in secret. Aibileen's good friend, Minny, also ends up helping after much convincing. The idea of two maids stories turns into a book of over twelve different maids and each of their personalized stories as well. Through the whole process, Skeeter is rejected by her white friends, but at the same time, becomes so close to both Aibileen and Minny. The risk they took was life-threatening but paid off when the book was anonymously published. With names changed and the town titled Niceville, the book is a huge hit and deamed a big success. Through all of the long nights, secret meetings, and hard work, Skeeter got to see the true perspective of all the women, just like her own maid, and came to more fully understand their hard lives. Skeeter came to find out, through all of this, her maids story and all that was kept from her.
 In the end, it is a secret about Hilly that Minny reveals in Skeeter's book that silences Hilly. The book becomes a powerful force in giving a voice to the black maids and causes the community of Jackson to reconsider the carefully drawn lines between white and black. There isn't a sudden change and things don't automatically become easy but for Skeeter, her whole lifestyle is altered and her voice is being heard.

This book helps readers to understand all the different points of view back in the 1960's between the black and white segregation. It shows trial through discrimination and triumph through hard work. It really puts things into perspective and makes the reader think, what would I do? It proves that no matter what, there is a way to let your voices be heard. It also reflects the ability to be friends with anyone no matter their differences.

I love the way that Kathryn wrote this book. She splits it up between three characters and each one talks in first person. The chapters alter between Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny. Each one tells what is going on in their life and explains their interactions with everyone else as well. It was so interesting and brilliant that Kathryn wrote the story this way because it lets the reader place themselves in "the characters shoes." She is very intelligent about what she is writing and how she writes it. When she "talks" as Skeeter you can picture a white girl and when she "talks" like Aibileen and Minny, it is just how you would imagine them speaking to you in person. She writes in her own unique way and I loved her immense detail and her characters individualized personalities. Truly remarkable and thought provoking!

The audience for The Help would for sure be (Young) Adult Fiction. The content is very mature and could be difficult to understand as a young reader. There were even times for me, as a high school student, that I would have to re-read a passage in order to stand the slang and language being used. Adults would also appreciate the subject context more and would be more interested in the story. However, I would recommend the movie to any and all that are allowed to view PG-13 ratings. It has such a spectacular message and powerful meaning. It is easier to understand the movie, but I recommend for those old enough, to read the book first. Saying (Young) Adult Fiction, I would include high school age and up. Thematic wise, the book would not be appropriate for anyone younger than that, in my opinion.

I 100% recommend this book! I loved every page of it and felt as though every chapter gave me something to think about and ideas to sit and digest. It made me think a lot and get lost in deep thought. I loved the characters and the overall story. I loved the different views it showed and the honest struggle it portrayed. It wasn't one of those books where everything is happy-go-lucky. Instead, it was honest and true, and I really enjoyed that. It helped open my eyes and I believe that is what Kathryn truly wanted for all her readers! I hope you find time to pick it up and read it and watch the movie after because it will be worth your time!

"Stockett’s richly accomplished debut novel inventively explores the unspoken ways in which the nascent civil rights and feminist movements threatened the southern status quo. Look for the forthcoming movie to generate keen interest in Stockett’s luminous portrait of friendship, loyalty, courage, and redemption."
— Carol Haggas

The Lithuanian struggle for life.......

Between Shades of Gray (2011)
Sepetys, Ruta
Historical Fiction


Rating: 10/10
Warning(s): Very emotional, real, and sometimes graphic. Some harsh language, no f-bombs.
(Counting as 1/7 books)


"Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brothers was worth a pocket watch." At the age of 15, young Lina is imagining the upcoming dates, art school, long visits with her best friend/cousin, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, Soviet police violently barge into her families home, deporting Lina, her younger brother, and their mother. At first, everything is a shock and confusion fills the air along with cries and agony. They are being taken away! Where to, they do not know, but as everyone is gathered, house by house, the small vehicles begin to over flow with wailing children, weeping mothers, and protective fathers. No one has time to grab all they love but Lina's mom has already prepared somewhat. With jewels and fine items sewn into her mothers jacket, they cram into the Soviets truck and off they go not knowing where they are being taken. Among all the commotion, Lina and her mother and little brother, are separated from their father and don't know what is happening to him back at home. 
Things start to get worse as the passengers, including Lina and her family, begin to realize that this is not a 2 day journey, but instead much longer. People begin to become sick from the poor conditions and lack of sanitation. Soviet police become more strict and demanding and all of the sudden, life as Lina knew it, is gone. Just like that, it has turned around and every hour holds mystery and lack of hope thereof. Slowly they come to find out where they are going and what will be required of them. Lina believes that all of this is happening because of Stalin and his new-found power. For Lina, Hitler starts looking like "the good guy" while Stalin, everyday becomes worse and worse......at least that's what Lina thinks. 


So commonly throughout this book and many others like it, the main theme shows the everyday struggle to survive and the last bit of hope the people hold on and cling to. This shows how life is turned upside down with one knock on the door and how much that knock will cost. It portrays the fight for life of a young girl and her small family, her will to live and her hope that she will find her father. It shows courage yet doubt, faith yet fear, and love mixed with hate. There is no other story EXACTLY like this one! It is a roller coaster of emotion and truly shows the Lithuanians struggle for life.

I absolutely love Ruta, she has the ability to get a message across with exactness and strength. She makes you feel as you read and understand as you listen to the characters. Her words make sense and her writing stays consistent. She does a great job in making it seem like a journal and it really catches and enthralls the reader. She has the ability to write such a difficult story because she can truly relate. As the daughter of a refugee, Ruta more fully understands the difficulty and heart throb behind this ,most often, untold story. She really GETS it and has the talent to SHARE it in a way that brings respect for the story itself and understanding and attention to the historical meaning. Although this is her first novel, she writes it with experience and meaning. Truly lovely, well written,historically based and definitely a favorite. 

I now understand why this book made it on so many TOP 10 lists and BOOKS TO READ lists because it is truly amazing. Everyone should read this! My recommendation is to all, but because of mature content, I would suggest (in my opinion) that young adults and adults read this. That is originally who it was intended for and I completely agree with the suggestion. There were parts where I wanted to faint and their were parts that even in my mind, were hard to picture because of such detail and gruesome things that without being subjected to, we don't fully understand.  I would say that even Junior High age is too young for this book UNLESS extreme maturity and caution are used while reading such a historically based book. These kinds of books and stories are not for people to laugh at or go "It wasn't that bad." These stories are dear to many hearts and not to be taken lightly. When reading such a book, the detail in it is for the readers benefit, and I feel that Young Adults/Adults, starting with High School kids, are more ready and will be more appreciative of Ruta's "masterpiece."

As I recommend this book, people need to know that it may be a hard theme or subject to "really get in to." For me, I love learning about the historical things that have shaped my life and continue in shaping the world. The matter and content in this book is intended for people to gain a better knowledge of what the trials a lot of these people faced. We don't realize that these are ancestors and heroes in a way. I give this book my highest recommendation and in doing so, I also recommend that for the authors benefit and the readers, that all respect is taken while reading and digesting its words.


"This superlative first novel by Ruta Sepetys demonstrates the strength of its unembellished language. A hefty emotional punch." -New York Times


"Brave Lina is a heroine young and old readers can believe in."- Entertainment Weekly

I couldn't say it better than The Los Angeles Times:

                   "Heart-wrenching... A story of hardship as well as human triumph, "Between Shades of Gray" is an eye-opening re-imagination of a very real tragedy written with grace and heart."