Betty By Tiffany McDaniel

 

Betty

By Tiffany McDaniel

 Betty Carpenter is one of eight children (two who die young) and grows up with her family in poverty in Breathed, Ohio. She is part Cherokee and her father teaches her all about the traditional ways. Like him, she is intensely interested in the natural world. She is also a budding writer.

Betty lives with her parents (Landon and Alka) in a run down house after moving around the country for a time. Her much older brother (Leland) is in the army, but her other siblings live at home, two older sisters (Fraya, the motehring type, and Flossie, the budding star), and two younger brothers (Trustin, the artist, and Lint, a stuttering and fearful rock collector).

In her household, Betty looks different than her siblings. She is dark and looks like her father. She is fully aware of this difference and it plagues her. She has to learn to accept herself and to make a way for herself. While growing up Betty has to navigate those who will discriminate against her because of her looks: her neighbors, her teachers, other kids at school, even Flossie at times. She also has to deal with her mother's constant moods and dismissal of her, the fact that Leland has been sexually abusing Fraya for a long time, and the death of her siblings from various causes. When her father dies, Betty decides to love herself and leave to find the life she needs to have to be free.

I really loved this book, and I especially loved the writing. Nothing was spared in the telling of this story. The characters were so interesting and I cared for all of them. The story breathed its environment, was totally immersive. It's an easy 5 stars. I was saddened and shocked and felt hopeful right along with Betty, an unforgettable character.