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Title details for The Other Mother by Rachel Harper - Available

The Other Mother

by Rachel Harper
January LaVoy
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
Borrow Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
1 of 1 copy available
A page-turning generational saga about a young man's search for a parent he never knew, and a moving portrait of motherhood, race, and the truths we hide in the name of family. Jenry Castillo is a musical prodigy, raised by a single mother in Miami, who arrives at Brown University on a scholarship—but also to learn more about his late father, Jasper Patterson, a famous ballet dancer who died tragically when Jenry was two. On his search, he meets his estranged grandfather, Winston Patterson, a legendary professor of African American history and a fixture at the Ivy League school, who explodes his world with one question: Why is Jenry so focused on Jasper, when it was Winston's daughter, Juliet, who was Jenry's mother's lover? Juliet is the parent he should be looking for—his other mother. Revelation follows revelation as each member of Jenry's family steps forward to tell the story of his origin. Cartwheeling between the past and the present to stitch together the web of secrecy binding this family together while keeping them apart, The Other Mother is a celebration of love and resilience—masterfully exploring the intersections of race, class, and sexuality; the role of biology in defining who belongs to whom; and the complicated truth of what it means to be a family.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 3, 2022

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781705064603
      • File size: 403340 KB
      • Duration: 14:00:17

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      September 1, 2022

      This epic tale is full of heart, while also providing a realistic look at the struggles families face when children do not fit the molds their parents expect. Musical prodigy Jenry Castillo is a freshman at Brown University, on the hunt for more information about the famous father he never knew, Jasper Patterson. His grandfather Winston is a well-known professor of African American history at Brown. When Jenry shows up, Winston is perplexed as to why Jenry is asking about Jasper when he should be asking about Juliet, Jasper's sister. What follows is a gripping generational tale of the secrets that can bind families and tear them apart. Harper (Brass Ankle Blues), who has written under other pen names, provides an in-depth look at the way motherhood, gender, race, and class all come together to make, or break, a family. January LaVoy and William DeMerritt bring the generations to life, easily switching among characters of different genders, ages, cultures, and classes. VERDICT Perfect for readers looking for intricately plotted, fast-paced stories with multiple interwoven perspectives that span time.--Elyssa Everling

      Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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