Black-Eyed Peas and Turnip Greens

A better sister novel for To Kill a Mockingbird this southern bildungsroman Black-Eyed Peas and Turnip Greens written by 92-year-old first-time author Bonnie Smith plants our imaginations vividly in the soil of her poverty-stricken childhood and develops in us not pity but endearing admiration. Both a raw confessional and tale of triumph Smith's voice is as fresh and flourishing as her first day of school amid violent bullies and shaming teachers whose relentless taunting only serve to fertilize a bounty of inner strength that will see her from coast to coast through decades of anti-female working conditions failed marriages and drug-abusing children. What most amazes and inspires in this sometimes funny always generous and deeply soul-searching autobiography is that Smith remains thankful for the scarlet P that poverty etched upon her mind. I want all my high school students to read it as soon as possible while the author lives to receive our thank you notes. Lauren Graham<br>English Writing Instructor