The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

With The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, James McBride has accomplished quite the magic trick. He has written an action-packed, character-driven gem filled with unique and relatable characters much like he did with Deacon King Kong. And, much like Deacon King Kong, while the narrative drives hard at all that divides us around race and class, the trick comes when he ultimately circles all that unites us and makes us human. The insights around Jewish life and customs and black life and customs at the time this story takes place are vivid and incredible. I want to know Chona. I want to go to Moshe's theater. I want to visit Fatty's jook joint. I want to walk up Chicken Hill and see it all for myself and thanks to McBride, I almost can.