Cover of Betsey Brown
Read Time: ~3.5 hr

Betsey Brown

by Ntozake Shange (1985)

About this book

Praised as "exuberantly engaging" by the Los Angeles Times and a "beautiful, beautiful piece of writing" by the Houston Post, acclaimed artist Ntozake Shange brings to life the story of a young girl's awakening amidst her country's seismic growing pains. Set in St. Louis in 1957, the year of the Little Rock Nine, Shange’s story reveals the prismatic effect of racism on an American child and her family. Seamlessly woven into this masterful portrait of an extended family is the story of Betsey's adolescence, the rush of first romance, and the sobering responsibilities of approaching adulthood.

Setting / LocationUnited States / Global
Story EraLate 20th Century
Protagonist / CoreNotable Figure / Community

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Betsey Brown by Ntozake Shange | Synopsis, Reviews & Preview | Literally Just Books