The Opposite of Love

My book is called The Opposite Of Love by Helen Benedict. Other books written by Helen Benedict include The Lone Soldier, Sand Queen, and many others. Benedict is most known for her writing about social justice. In the Novel, the opposite of love, there is a recurring theme that you should accept and love yourself no matter what others may say about you.

In the novel there is a teenaged girl named Madge. Madge is a girl of mixed race, and because of the color of her skin she feels as if she is unwelcome or an outcast and is treated as so by people in her town and at her high school. Because of this she goes to visit her cousin in New York where she finds a small boy in which she can relate. After seeing that the boy, Timmy, comes from a home similar to her own she makes the decision that she will bring him back home to care for him. But, after seeing how difficult raising a child can be she finds a place between love and indifference.

“—a person whose indifference to others added to the misery of the world. I didn't want to be like mom, either, bringing up a kid as sloppily as you bring up a cat” (Benedict pg. 162).

Personally, I would not read this again. Though it was a good book and does cover the subject of racism and a torn home just briefly it's not something I prefer to read. If I were to suggest this novel to anyone, I would say if you enjoy more modern realistic fiction stories this might catch your attention.

Book Review by Trista D.