One curious child. A diary full of secrets. Will she survive the life of pain and betrayal that awaits her? ( )

Black Child, Black Woman” by Cheryl Denise Bannerman is an enticing, entertaining read.
The tale begins with the journal entries of a young girl in the deep south. She tells us about her somewhat dysfunctional family including a father who drinks too much and drags his young daughter along to the bar with him, and a mother who works hard at a bank trying to keep the family afloat.
We follow along in her journals as she grows and develops into a teenager and then when she branches out on her own and moves into dorms at college. We have a first class ticket to experience her life at every tumultuous stage from child to woman.
It’s a story of tragedy and a rite of passage, which features the highs and lows of family life.
“I walk in and death is in the air. A dark, metallic, bitter smell I can’t describe. I can barely breath. I can’t even speak. I can taste the salt from the tears”
Our heroine, Tara Walker, speaks directly to the reader in what feels like two girlfriends chatting and confessing their deepest secrets and desires. The natural conversational tone played out on the pages of her diary belies the sometimes shocking and surprising revelations that are exposed with each entry.
Tara weaves a tale fraught with emotion and reveals a character of strength and determination. She overcomes grief and disease, abuse, molestation and an attempted rape, and emerges stronger than ever, as a mother she finds her motivation and purpose in life.
Although it’s not all rosy and the bleak realities of early motherhood are shown as Tara struggles to cope with sleeplessness, responsibility and an ever increasingly distant husband.
The trials of a life fully lived are opened bare for the reader to share as a co-conspirator through court cases and first dates, hospital visits and care homes, we share in every special and tragic moment.
“Black Child, Black Woman” is a story of survival, and readers will find solace in following along to see Tara fall, but rise again, be pushed down but gather her strength and keep on keeping on, time and time again, until she finds her own happy ending. ( )