Ida Mae
Delores ThorntonYoung adult
Available from Marguerite Press
ISBN: 0-9656584-9-X
May 2000
| Ida Mae Belcher has seen her compound share of sorrows. After her
father is murdered, her mother, fearing for her life and that of her
unborn child, flees. At the young age of seven, Ida Mae's mother dies
and the white family that employed her mother adopts Ida Mae. Not long
after that, another sorrow strikes Ida Mae when her adopted mother
passes away leaving Ida Mae alone with her paraplegic father,
Theodore. There is a bright side to her life and that is her love of
country music, but after Ida Mae wins a jingle contest, the
seventeen-year-old is met with a most traumatic experience when she is
brutally attacked and raped by three white men. Her adopted father
feeling that he has let her down kills the men responsible for his
daughter's attack and is then killed himself, leaving Ida Mae alone.
After her graduation, she leaves Georgia and moves to Vermont with
Theodore's son. But after five years, Ida Mae decides to returns to
her roots in Georgia.
Ida Mae is a story that embroiders the whole heart and soul of a woman. She is strong, brave, and filled with perseverance. Throughout everything that is tossed to her in her lifetime, she does not give up. It is hard to believe, at times, that things of this nature really happen but they have and they do. Ms. Thornton has painted a picture of a young girl determined never to give up. This is a book that I could not put down. My heart went out to Ida Mae. She struggled with such hardships and came out winning as she learned the skill of survival. She loses so much throughout her lifetime but she also triumphs. Ms. Thornton puts you inside the mind of Ida Mae and you feel all the emotions that she carries throughout all her lifetime. I got a feel of the little church building and settings when Ida Mae walked inside. There for a moment, I thought I could smell Milan frying the fish and hushpuppies. Ida Mae is a book that really provokes thoughts. It makes you appreciate what you have and the love of your family more. Delores Thornton has penned a book that touches the soul and I highly recommend it. I have to admit there were times that I cried and got frustrated, and the ending really had me in. Honestly, this is a wonderfully written masterpiece!
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Linda L. |
