Author: SapphireTitle: Push
Genre: Urban Fiction, Street Lit
Publication Date: 1997
Number of Pages: 140
Geographical Setting: Harlem
Time Period: Late 1980s
Plot Summary: Claireece Precious Jones, a young black girl living in Harlem in the late 1980s, speaks directly to the reader to tell the story of her life and how she overcame her horrible and tragic upbringing to start a new life for her and her child Abdul. Precious, raped and pregnant by her father, gets kicked out of traditional school and finds an opportunity to continue her education at an alternative school. Under the careful guidance of her teacher Ms. Rain she learns to read, write, and gets herself and her baby a new place to live away from the abuse of her mother. This book is not for the faint of heart and has graphic depictions of incest, abuse, rape, and violence. However, the book does end with a hopeful note that Precious will make it and will be redeemed.
Saricks Rule of Three: Intense, disturbing, compelling
Elements of Urban Fiction: Setting is important in the urban fiction genre. This story takes place exclusively in Harlem, New York. Precious was born and raised there and seldom leaves. The matter of fact treatment of violence is also a theme present in street literature. Precious experiences this violence as do her classmates at the alternative school. It is simply a fact of life for them. Some of the students are also reformed drug addicts, though drugs do not otherwise feature prominently in this book. Another element of street literature is the language used. Precious is the narrator and the book is written how she talks in real life. Words are misspelled and slang terms are used. Curse words are also prominent. Rags-to-riches stories are also popular in the urban fiction genre. While Precious doesn’t exactly end up “rich” she does overcome and rise above by writing meaningful poetry and not giving up on her dream of moving into her own place and providing for her son.
Read alikes:
On the Come Up: A Novel, Based on a True Story by Hannah Weyer: AnnMarie Walker, a pregnant 13 year old from Queens, is cast in an indie movie. Thinking this is the answer to her dreams, her life quickly goes back to reality once the movie filming is over.
A Deeper Love Inside: The Porsche Santiaga Story by Sister Souljah: Porsche, after being committed to a juvenile detention facility, makes a plan to escape and reunite with her family.
It’s Like Candy: An Urban Novel by Erick S. Gray: Sisters River and Starr build a life for themselves on the streets, one as a hustler and the other as a prostitute. Can they find a life for themselves or will the streets claim them as another victim?
References:
“Read-alikes for Push”. Novelist, http://web.b.ebscohost.com/novp/detail?sid=3df2a6b4-b0e5-482c-a583-ead21a5ca173%40sessionmgr101&UI=UI+053974&vid=8. Accessed 9 April 2019.
Urban Grit. Cavas Files. Accessed 9 April 2019.
Everything Street Literature. Cavas Files. Accessed 9 April 2019.
All images from Goodreads.
Hi Caitlyn,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great annotation! I have neither read the book nor seen the movie, but now I want to! It's interesting me when a setting is so integral to a book, and this being a key element to urban lit isn't something I had thought much about. I'm glad this book as a redemptive theme, too.
Ya the setting is really important and Precious talks a lot about the stores she passes on the corner and the people and places she sees. This is also set during the crack epidemic so there are a lot of descriptions of addicts and homeless people on the streets. It really sets the tone for the book! I was rooting for her the whole time. At the end of the book you get to read some of her poetry, along with her classmates life stories. That was one of my favorite parts.
DeleteHi Caitlyn,
ReplyDeleteGreat annotation! I remember when the movie came out and there was alot of buzz about it. Urban lit is not my interest, but I know this book speaks to many women who find themselves in this type of situation. It can offer hope that they can find a way to may a better life for themselves.
I hadn't read any urban lit before this but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. It honestly reminded me a little bit of VC Andrews books which I read religiously in middle and high school. They have a lot of the same themes (abuse, incest, women overcoming circumstances) albeit Andrews wrote in much gentler and more euphemistic language
DeleteGreat annotation! Living in small town, USA, this subject matter is rather foreign to me. I remember when the movie came out and I was fascinated by the story. I love a great story, no matter what the setting is. You have inspired me to read the book as well as check out the movie, thank you!
ReplyDeleteExcellent annotation! Your summary is moving and your appeals are spot on. I like that you compared it to VC Andrews, I could see some overlap there! Full points!
ReplyDelete