The Color of WaterBy. James McBride

James McBrideWriter, Composer, and SaxophonistWrote for The Boston Globe, People, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, US, and Essence

PlotJames writes about his life growing up with his white mother, Ruth. Ruth McBride is a Polish Jewish immigrant who has twelve children, and raises them in New York

Plot continuedThe story switches off from James telling the story to Ruth telling her story. James describes how he felt during school having a white mother. He writes about his rebellious years and his relationships with his siblings. Ruths story consists of how she got to America, her abusive father, and her two husbands.

Where does all this take place?Suffolk, Virginia; New York City; Louisville, Kentucky; Oberlin, Ohio; Wilmington, Delaware

Who are the some of the characters?James McBride, the author and narratorRuth McBride Jordan, Jamess white motherAndrew Dennis McBride, Ruths first husband James biological fatherHunter Jordan, Ruths second husband Hudis Shilsky A.K.A. Mameh, Ruths motherFishel Shilsky A.K.A. Tateh, Ruths father

How would your family react to these situations?How would you help your family if you couldnt eat on certain days?Do you have a voice in where you live?Does your family know who your friends are?Do you have to deal with elements of racism?How do you pull together as a family to overcome a death of a loved one?

Issues the Book Brings up

The Issue of Race

The Issue of Black and WhiteVs.African American Heritage White & Jewish Heritage

Ruths past was a secret to her childrenWhen James discovers the truth about his mothers past it helps him create a new identity for himself. James is someone who cannot be defined by race, class, or religionHe is unique because of how he was raisedHow do you relate to James?

Key Terms Memoir: a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation. Foreword: a short introductory statement in a published work, often written by someone other than the author Epilogue : a continuation of the story, sometimes far into the future from the main part of story. Afterword : the author speaking directly to the readers, perhaps giving a reason for why the book was written or telling about the research for the book.

More Key Terms Motif: a recurring image, theme, or idea in a text Motifs found in novel: ImmigrationAmerican Dream1960s and 1970s Racism Death