First published 2005
Pattie Mae Sheals has a gift for sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, especially when it comes to adult conversations. Her sharp wit and stubborn curiosity usually get her into minor trouble, but this time something bigger is at stake. When questions swirl around what happened to Buddy Bush, Pattie Mae refuses to accept the explanations the grown folks offer. She pushes past their warnings and deflections, determined to uncover what really occurred. The more adults try to shield her from the truth, the harder Pattie Mae works to piece together the real story. Her relentless pursuit of answers will test her courage and force her to confront realities that the adults in her life hoped to keep hidden from her young eyes.
Genres: historical-fiction, coming-of-age, family-drama, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Africa
Period: 20th-century
211 pages · Library Binding · Thorndike Press