Here’s a rare novel that blends young-adult fiction with gritty urban storytelling and X-rated social realism. The result is one of the best novels of the 1990s, a shocking ride through the horror-filled life of a teenage girl in Harlem. Claireece “Precious” Jones grows up in almost the worst circumstances possible in the United States. The path to a livable future runs through language—her attempts to learn to read and write with the guidance of a few valuable mentors.
The story is disturbing and heartrending but never overcooked. The young girl’s troubles say much about race and poverty in America, and her drive to create a new life suggests there are ways out of seemingly intractable social problems. And then there’s style: the book is a language lover’s dream, with pitch-perfect dialect and soaring poetry. Even if you’ve seen the movie based on the book, this is a must-read. Reviewed on Sept. 16, 2021