OVERVIEW
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
This is the first book by Mia that I have read, but it won't be the last. Wow! What a fantastic story of Black culture, church culture, and excellence.
Mia weaves so many famous Black leaders of the 1960s throughout this story of a young girl in rural Georgia who needs an abortion. But the story is so very much more than that! It is personal discovery, growth, and learning about a life unavailable in small-town Georgia.
OVERALL REVIEW: 5.0 stars.
Writing: 5.0 stars
Mia writes beautifully and hauntingly with descriptions that are vivid yet not overdone. That is a true art!
The biggest takeaway is that the writing of the characters' code-switching was done so very well.
Character development: 5.0 stars
The main characters are Doris (a pregnant 17-year-old), Mrs. Lucas (her teacher), and Mrs. Broussard (Mrs. Lucas's friend). Doris and Mrs. Lucas travel from rural Georgia to Atlanta to obtain an abortion arranged by Mrs. Brousegnant.
The secondary characters are Dexter (Mrs. Broussard's step-nephew) and Erik (bodyguards to KKK harassed Blacks), whom Doris becomes friends with along the way.
The tertiary characters are the legendary 1960s Black leaders, philanthropists, writers, and artists, including Black Civil Rights leaders and Black church folk in Atlanta.
Storyline: 5.0 stars
This novel was about the intersectionality of race, gender, LGBT+, and class in 1960s Atlanta. There was so much packed into this amazing historical novel.
The rise of the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), the Muslim Brotherhood, the KKK, and sit-ins across the South orchestrated by student activists in SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) in 1960 plays a huge, but subtle role.
The location was primarily Atlanta, Georgia.
Memorable/Informative: 5.0 stars
Writing about the infancy of the Civil Rights movement, while including the tremendous differences among the various subsets, was incredibly creative.
I had always thought that Coretta Scott King was a tremendous force in her own right. This novel confirms my suspicions.
Finally, I need to learn more about all aspects of the Civil Rights movement, as we need to learn from our past to make a better future. Unfortunately, we may need to take to the streets again en masse to fight this predatory Administration.
Book cover: 5.0 stars
Perfect representation of this book!
Book title: 5.0 stars
Hysterical! It proves to be telling!
HIGHLY recommend
NetGalley eARC/ebook
These Heathens by Mia McKenzie
272 pages
Random House
FUTURE release date: 6/17/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Guns, racism, racial slurs, pregnancy, abortion, violence, cursing, homophobia, biphobia, lesbophobia
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
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