Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones is set in Southwest Atlanta in the 1980s.  Jones grew up in Atlanta and this is her third novel set in the  the city. The story in Silver Sparrow is told from the point of view of two different teenage girls. Jones chronicles the life  of two half-sisters who grow up only a few miles apart but didn't know each other.  They have different  mothers, yet shared the same father.  James Witherspoon married Laverne (Chaurisse's mother) when she  was 14 years old and pregnant.  While he was married to Laverne, James became involved with Gwen (Dana's mother) and  fathered Dana.  He lives with Laverne and Chaurisse, but visits Gwen and  Dana on Wednesday nights.  Dana feels second best to Chaurisse because  Chaurrise is his daughter in "public," while James keeps Dana hidden, afraid  that his wife and other daughter will discover her existence.  In some  ways Dana feels fortunate because she knows about Chaurisse while  Chaurisse knows nothing about Dana.  When the two girls inevitably meet,  Chaurisse is fascinated with Dana because she has long, thick hair and  Chaurisse considers her to be beautiful, a "silver girl."  Chaurisse  believes she is chubby and unattractive and feels inferior to Dana.  Dana, of course, cannot tell  Chaurisse the truth, and this sets the stage for complications in their  relationship.  Through this story, Jones explores the damage lies and  secrets do to relationships of all kinds.  Ultimately James is found out, and though  there is intense competition for his love and attention, nobody wins in  this sad story.

Tayari Jones also wrote Leaving Atlanta, which won a number of awards.  The backdrop for the story is the Atlanta child murders from 1979-81.  Jones was a child living in Southwest Atlanta during the time when thirty African American children in nearby neighborhoods were murdered.  For more information about Tayari Jones and her books, click here.  To find out what she is reading, visit here blog.  Jones will be in Decatur on Thursday, July 28, at Eagle Eye Bookshop.