The Kid
Ratings3
Average rating3
Sapphire's The Kid continues the saga of Precious from the Push novel with her son Abdul, who is walking a similar life path as his mother with sexual abuse, absentee parents, and trying to make a life is growing up in the bowels in New York City. It is a coming of age story about a boy who is trying to find his place in the world through the arts, realizing that one wrong step or demon haunting him will end him up in the same place as his mother.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Just like his father/grandfather and his great grandfather, Abdul becomes a rapist but constantly denies he is anything but a great kid. I like that Sapphire shed a light on his great grandmother because we can see that the system failed that entire family. Here is a mini flow chart:
-
Tootsie Johnston - Originally from the south and was abandoned by her mother. Was raped at the age of 9/10 and gave birth to Mary. Not loving towards Mary in anyway and even tried to kill her once. Named her Mary after her aunt or mother I forgot but didn't want to name her Mary. Was a prostitute for some time.
↓
Mary L. Johnston - Not much is known about her past. Died weighing close to 500 lbs, a product of rape, raped her own daughter, and allowed her boyfriend to rape her child.
↓
Claireece Precious Jones - Has two children with her father, who began to rape her at a young age. Her mother ignores the abuse and eventually begins to abuse her as well. Despite all of her hurdles she was able to get her GED and get herself into college.
↓
Abdul Jamal Louis Jones - Pathological liar, the product of rape, a smart man, prone to being nasty, closed off, can dance well, becomes a predator.
-
This novel was trash, just torture porn honestly. I couldn't identify with Abdul. If you're going to abuse people don't deny it once its one. The writing was well because Sapphire is an excellent writer but Abdul was such a weak man (IRONIC BECAUSE HIS MOTHER WANTED TO NAME HIM AFTER STRONG MEN). What a sick book, Push didn't have a happy ending but at least Precious is trying to overcome and better herself. What is Abdul doing? Raping children and saying hes a great person. I honestly wish I never spent money on this book.
I really sad story. Difficult to read - difficult to put down. The author has achieved her goal of shining a bright light on a number of social ills.