First published 2009
In 1962 Mississippi, three very different women—Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny—join forces on a clandestine project that could cost them everything. Skeeter, a college grad, wants to expose the harsh truths of black maids' lives. Aibileen, a wise, regal maid, has seen the heartbreak of raising white children. Minny, Aibileen's sassy, outspoken friend, risks her job to work for a newcomer with secrets. These women must navigate the stifling lines of race and class to tell their stories and, in the process, find the courage to cross them.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, african-american, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unlikely-allies
Setting: Chicago, Jackson, Jackson (Miss.), Mississippi, University of Mississippi
Period: 1960, 1960-1964, 1962
544 pages · Paperback · Berkley
Content warnings: racism, sexism