75 pages • 2 hours read
James McBrideThe Color of Water
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1996A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
James McBride's nonfiction autobiography The Color of Water chronicles his challenges growing up in the 1960s and 1970s as a child with a white Jewish mother and Black father. Interspersed with his recollections are interview transcripts describing his mother's abusive upbringing as an Orthodox Jewish woman living in the Jim Crow South. The book depicts racism, discussions of racially motivated violence, racial slurs, domestic violence and abuse, and the recurring sexual assault of a minor.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
McBride's The Color of Water receives high praise for its poignant exploration of racial identity and family bonds, with readers lauding its compelling narrative and emotional depth. Some critics find the dual narrative structure between McBride and his mother slightly disjointed. Overall, the book is celebrated for its powerful storytelling and thought-provoking themes.
Who Should Read The Color of Water?
Readers who enjoy The Color of Water by James McBride are often drawn to poignant memoirs exploring race, identity, and family dynamics. Fans of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls or The Help by Kathryn Stockett will appreciate its compelling narrative and profound social commentary.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsBook Details
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
African American Literature
American Literature
Race / Racism
Civil Rights / Jim Crow
Religion / Spirituality
Identity: Race
Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Society: Class
Great Depression