Teens Review: The Help

The Help is a 451-page fiction PAGE-TURNER. I am in my first year of college and I felt that this was one of the most important books I would read. I would suggest this book to anyone over the age of 14.

The Help takes place in the Southern city of Jackson, Mississippi where it follows the story of three main characters. Skeeter is a young woman and aspiring writer just returning from university where she hoped to return with the prospects of being more than just another stay at home mom. Aibileen is a black maid working for a white family and raising their white kids and trying to instill in them proper values contrary to what their parents may tell them. Minny is also a maid and doubles as Aibileen’s best friend. She is not quiet but rather boisterous and speaks her mind. These women don’t have much in common with each other at all, yet they find something to bring them together.

I personally enjoyed this book. It is SUCH an important read. If you liked To Kill a Mockingbird, then you’re sure to enjoy this book immensely. It deals with really hard topics that were unfortunately the reality of many people living in the Southern United States. I enjoyed how the author approached the subject matter with her own life experiences of the situations in mind. It truly helps you get a clearer understanding of what segregation was like and how it has affected the world in terms of why we fight for social justice and equity today.

Isabella