Missy Violet & Me by Barbara Hathaway

Missy Violet & Me is a story told from the perspective of an 11-year-old African American girl, Viney, growing up in rural America during a time when her older neighbors still remember being slaves on plantations. One summer, she begins to work for the local midwife to pay the debt her parents owe to the midwife. She learns about herbs and treatments of all kinds, and learns about "catching babies." More importantly, perhaps, she learns that kindness, courage, and determination can improve not only her own life, but also the lives of those around her.

I appreciate that this book provides insight for children into a world that is likely very different from their own, yet encourages positive characteristics in children that are universally desired. Readers may relate to some of the characters and their perspectives. Some may relate to the family that struggles to produce enough "book rent" money for the children to attend school. Others may relate to the main character's strong desire to feel needed, accepted, and capable, as well as her discovery of her own self-worth.

There are a few issues that indicate a more mature audience should read this book (5th through 9th grade, perhaps). Since most of the book is about delivering babies, there are instances when the birthing process is described, although very tactfully, without great detail. Teen pregnancy, a mother's death during delivery, and a shooting incident are all described in the story. Furthermore, the dialect can be difficult to understand and would require a more experienced reader's skills.

Overall, I like this book and would recommend it to others. It could be used as supplemental material to a history lesson, or as a basis for class discussion or writing. Although the story is fairly simple, the characters are endearing. This book is Barbara Hathaway's first novel; I would be interested to read her future books.

Hathaway, B. (2004). Missy Violet and me. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Winner of a Coretta Scott King Award (John Steptoe New Talent)