Lula Ann Bridewell’s
problems began at birth when her blue-black skin shocked and horrified her
light-skinned parents. Ultimately her father deserted the family and her
mother, while providing basic care, could hardly bear to touch or even look at
her. Lula Ann survived her tough childhood and grew into a strikingly beautiful
woman whose black skin and eyes were her most admired features. Renaming
herself Bride, she became a successful business woman. However, personal
happiness still eluded her. She remained estranged from her mother. Her efforts
to make amends for a childhood offense ended in pain and violence. Her closest
friend was after her job. And most painfully, her true love, Booker,
disappeared from her life, giving her only the mysterious explanation of, “You
not the woman I want.” However, Bride does not give up so easily. Using the
slightest of clues, she traces the whereabouts of someone, Q. Olive, who might
know where Booker is. On a road trip to find Q. Olive (and perhaps Booker),
Bride runs into some trouble and, consequently, meets some salt-of-the-earth
people who assist her on her journey. God Help the Child by Nobel Prize
winning author, Toni Morrison, pits violence and the wide-spread damage of child
abuse against the resilience and decency of human beings.
