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Finding My Place: A Novel
After moving to an affluent suburb of Denver in 1975, ninth-grader Tiphanie, the only Black girl in her new high school, feels out of place until she befriends another outsider--Jackie Sue, whose "trailer trash" home life makes Tiphanie's problems seem like a walk in the park. In October 1975, while most teens are worried about their Happy Days Halloween costumes, Tiphanie Jayne Baker has bigger problems. Her parents have just decided to uproot the family to the ritzy suburb of Brent Hills, Colorado, and now she's the only Black girl at a high school full of Barbies. But the longer Tiphanie stays in her new neighborhood, the more her ties to her old community start to fray. Now that nowhere feels like home, exactly where does she belong?
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 8, 2010
In 1975, Tiphanie (pronounced Tiffany!) has more to worry about than what to wear on the first day of school. Tiphanie's family has just moved from a largely minority neighborhood in Denver to an expensive suburb, where she is the only black girl at her new high school. Tiphanie narrates the story, and her chapters are interspersed with lectures from her upper-middle class parents, such as "The Talented Tenth Lecture," where they remind her that she has to work twice as hard as her white classmates, or "The company you keep lecture," where they remind her that her friends are a reflection on her. When no one wants to talk to Tiphanie at school except another social outcast, Jackie Sue, who grandly refers to herself as "walking talking trailer trash," the two of them decide to form the Oreo squad, a new group among the high school cliques.
But when Jackie Sue won't defend Tiphanie against racial slurs by another classmate, Tiphanie's not sure what kind of friend Jackie Sue really is. Jackie Sue seems to have a lot of secrets, ones that she can't or won't share with Tiphanie. Moreover, Tiphanie's not sure how she fits in anymore-- her friends from the old neighborhood warn her not to start turning her back on her people by hanging around too many white kids. Her parents, on the other hand, are anxious for her to make friends with "young ladies from better circumstances," such as the black kids from Booker and Breeze, a social and civic organization for well-to-do black families.
In this novel, Traci Jones examines serious issues of prejudice with a terrific sense of humor--I laughed out loud at numerous places in the novel. She explores overt prejudice against blacks--such as the biased math teacher who doesn't believe that black children belong in her honors math class, or Tiphanie's classmate Clay, who makes blatantly racist remarks, but also more subtle types of prejudice, such as Jackie Sue thinking that Tiphanie will want to date the only black boy at their high school, just because they're the same race. She also incorporates prejudice of an economic type; for example, Tiphanie's parents don't want her to socialize with Jackie Sue because she comes from "trailer trash."
I found Finding My Place to be a very enjoyable story. While it is likely to appeal more to girls than boys, it's a story that can appeal to kids of any ethnic background, since its exploration of friendship, adapting to a new environment, and overcoming various forms of prejudice should be of interest to any teen or tween. This would be an excellent novel to purchase for school and public libraries, as well as for summer reading.
But when Jackie Sue won't defend Tiphanie against racial slurs by another classmate, Tiphanie's not sure what kind of friend Jackie Sue really is. Jackie Sue seems to have a lot of secrets, ones that she can't or won't share with Tiphanie. Moreover, Tiphanie's not sure how she fits in anymore-- her friends from the old neighborhood warn her not to start turning her back on her people by hanging around too many white kids. Her parents, on the other hand, are anxious for her to make friends with "young ladies from better circumstances," such as the black kids from Booker and Breeze, a social and civic organization for well-to-do black families.
In this novel, Traci Jones examines serious issues of prejudice with a terrific sense of humor--I laughed out loud at numerous places in the novel. She explores overt prejudice against blacks--such as the biased math teacher who doesn't believe that black children belong in her honors math class, or Tiphanie's classmate Clay, who makes blatantly racist remarks, but also more subtle types of prejudice, such as Jackie Sue thinking that Tiphanie will want to date the only black boy at their high school, just because they're the same race. She also incorporates prejudice of an economic type; for example, Tiphanie's parents don't want her to socialize with Jackie Sue because she comes from "trailer trash."
I found Finding My Place to be a very enjoyable story. While it is likely to appeal more to girls than boys, it's a story that can appeal to kids of any ethnic background, since its exploration of friendship, adapting to a new environment, and overcoming various forms of prejudice should be of interest to any teen or tween. This would be an excellent novel to purchase for school and public libraries, as well as for summer reading.
January 3, 2015
Yet another in the "girl starts at a new school/grade/town" genre; the twist this time being that she's Afro-American (in the 70s) and she's just moved to an all-white neighborhood. So her family, while fitting in in terms of economic status, is *not* like the other families - her parents sat-in at lunch counters, and they have high expectations for Tiphanie (pronounced Tiffany).
Years ago I read Mary Jane, another story about a black girl integrating a school. Because this one was written far closer to the time, the language and situations rang truer to me; in one passage Tip talks about her name and how her parents were at the forefront of the movement that altered spellings of names. I'm not sure that any teen in the 70s would be aware that this was going to be a lasting movement - to me that feels like a revelation that would come later in life, something one might say in one's 30s (although I could believe that there might be some teenaged eyerolling about the strange spelling and being embarrassed about having to explain her name to people).
There were many such moments, ones that felt as though either Tip was preternaturally aware of what would happen in the future and could comment on it in the past or language that felt more modern than the time in which the book is set. On the other hand, Tip's sense of being alone, of trying to fit in and her friendship with Jackie Sue do feel real.
ARC provided by publisher.
Years ago I read Mary Jane, another story about a black girl integrating a school. Because this one was written far closer to the time, the language and situations rang truer to me; in one passage Tip talks about her name and how her parents were at the forefront of the movement that altered spellings of names. I'm not sure that any teen in the 70s would be aware that this was going to be a lasting movement - to me that feels like a revelation that would come later in life, something one might say in one's 30s (although I could believe that there might be some teenaged eyerolling about the strange spelling and being embarrassed about having to explain her name to people).
There were many such moments, ones that felt as though either Tip was preternaturally aware of what would happen in the future and could comment on it in the past or language that felt more modern than the time in which the book is set. On the other hand, Tip's sense of being alone, of trying to fit in and her friendship with Jackie Sue do feel real.
ARC provided by publisher.
November 27, 2009
The story of a black girl making her way in an almost-all-white school (there is only one other black, a boy) and her interracial friendship with a girl from the "wrong side" is potentially very compelling. I especially like the inversion - the whites assume that Tiphanie's parents are domestics, but her father is a bank president and her mother a commercial real estate broker. Jackie Sue, on the other hand, lives with her alcoholic mother in a trailer park - Tiphanie's parents question whether she should hang around with such riff-raff.
This is a historical novel set in the mid-70s, which may account for the much more blatant racism than we are now accustomed to. Still, it struck me as overly heavy-handed and sometimes didactic in its exploration of racism in society, and full of stereotypes despite the author's attempt to explore the life of upper-middle-class blacks.
This is a historical novel set in the mid-70s, which may account for the much more blatant racism than we are now accustomed to. Still, it struck me as overly heavy-handed and sometimes didactic in its exploration of racism in society, and full of stereotypes despite the author's attempt to explore the life of upper-middle-class blacks.
March 1, 2017
Best book I've read in a while. Teen fiction about race in the 1970s. Very nice twist of characters. Glad to see a rich black girl and poor white girl dynamic, and not the stereotypical "poor, black girl" plot. Very likable characters. Read this in a few hours. I didn't want the story to be over and I was sad when Jackie Sue walks away. I wanted more. Bravo!!
January 25, 2010
It's exactly what the title says. This book is all about just finding your place, not exactly selling out but not giving up parts of yourself.
September 21, 2018
This book took me by surprise. I picked it up because I figured it would be an easy read and while it most certainly was, it was also surprisingly deep. I think that books that touch on topics like race and equality from the marginalized group's point of view tend be enlightening. This book certainly was.
I enjoyed Tiphanie as a character. She was well developed and well written. She made it easy for people to empathize with her even if they share no similarities. Her relationship with her friend Jackie Sue felt authentic. My qualm is that there wasn't much of a conflict which weakens the plot. Sure, the antagonist could be racism in America as a whole but I think that's just lazy. It could also be Clay but nothing was settled between the characters and he never seemed all that important to the plot anyway. It could have been Jackie Sue's mom, Mae but she didn't come in until much later and while she impacted Jackie Sue's life negatively, Tiphanie hardly had to deal with her.
All in all, a great coming of age story. While not always lighthearted, there were both moments that made me laugh and made downright furious. A great balance to have in a book.
I enjoyed Tiphanie as a character. She was well developed and well written. She made it easy for people to empathize with her even if they share no similarities. Her relationship with her friend Jackie Sue felt authentic. My qualm is that there wasn't much of a conflict which weakens the plot. Sure, the antagonist could be racism in America as a whole but I think that's just lazy. It could also be Clay but nothing was settled between the characters and he never seemed all that important to the plot anyway. It could have been Jackie Sue's mom, Mae but she didn't come in until much later and while she impacted Jackie Sue's life negatively, Tiphanie hardly had to deal with her.
All in all, a great coming of age story. While not always lighthearted, there were both moments that made me laugh and made downright furious. A great balance to have in a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2017
Maybe I am in an emotional place this week..OR maybe this book and these girls just hit me in my feels. Tip and Jackie Sue are two beautiful friends. Finding My Place is a beautiful story set in the late 1970's, Tip is forced to move out of her hood to a new suburb. Will she fit in at a brand new school ? Will she meet any one she will click with? Well I wasn't sure, until she met J. Sue and she was something else. I enjoyed this book, I laughed out loud no lie. I didn't cry but I did feel a sense of long for the story not to end. Ever story has to end though right :( Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. oh yeah its sadly still very socially relevant. But, you will not regret giving this book a shot.
December 22, 2010
Tiphanie can see the future. Well not really but sometimes she talks in a reflective manner, like when she says "[m]y parents were generally conservative and old-fashioned, but they were on the cutting edge of at least one Black cultural idiosyncrasy-they were the first in the growing wave of Black mothers and fathers to be overly creative in the choosing and spelling of their children's names." (pg. 7) How would she have known that her parents were on "the cutting edge" already? Except for Tiphanie and Jackie Sue, the supporting cast remains just that, supportive, never becoming strong enough to stand on their own. The writing isn't great but it'll do. The message is glaringly apparent and the book has a preachy tone to it. Don't judge people based on race or money, you can fit in without selling out, etc. I don't have much experience with Black middle-class parents of the '70s but I found Tiphanie's parents to be the same-old and their speeches were cliche. Did people really reference W.E.B. DuBous' "Talented Tenth" to their children? I was skeptical.
I did like that Tiphanie's parents were shown to have prejudices since we all have them. More often than not, middle/upper class Blacks look down on poor white people just as rich white people look down on both groups. It's also sadly ironic that people who are considered "white trash" still think they are superior to rich Black people. In another cruel twist of irony (does that expression even work?) the people who should be hyper-sensitive to prejudice, actively engage in it. Even though the message was fairly standard, it's still one worth reiterating because not all people have taken it to heart. Tiphanie was a decent narrator, I liked her sense of humor and observations. Since no one will talk to her, Tiphanie spends the first few days of school overhearing the gossip spread by her classmates, so when people finally stop talking to her, she knows all ;) I also admire the fact that she doesn't put up with mess from anyone (although I probably would have gone off on Jackie Sue for trying to tell me my name was spelled wrong). She tells her history teacher about Crispus Attucks (not that he cares) and while she can't tell people off when her parents are around, her snarky commentary entertains the reader. Such as "I didn't want my teachers and my classmates to call me 'Tip Hand Nie.' Just the thought of that happening annoyed me. As did the assumption that Bradley would be my 'ready-made friend.' I didn't like al the Blacks in my last school, so what made her think I'd like Bradley? Did she like all the white people she knew?" (pg. 8) Touche!
*While the premise of Finding My Place is not too original, the setting is. The 70s reference are somewhat more familiar to me and help make this book a bit more unique. I wish the writing had been a bit..more. More descriptive or lyrical. It would have helped this book stand out more. Instead I fear it will get lost in the fray. I don't regret reading this book, it was a "filler" read I suppose. The confident and loyal character of Tiphanie keeps the book entertaining, it's nice to see that while Jackie Sue and Tiphanie may struggle to ALWAYS remain loyal, they do forgive and make up quite often. Ultimately I wanted this book to go further than it did and that has more to do with my own expectations. If you're looking for a book that explores issues of class and race (although sadly not always together. There is a small glimpse of POTENTIAL Black-on-Black class prejudice when Tiphanie is invited to join a Jack-and-Jill like organization. But nothing really comes out of those parts), this is a good book for you. If you like books with regular, strong female main characters this is a book you will most likely enjoy. And if you love the '70s, you will really get a kick out of this story :)
I realize this whole paragraph is rather vague but this is a book I'm quite indifferent on.
I did like that Tiphanie's parents were shown to have prejudices since we all have them. More often than not, middle/upper class Blacks look down on poor white people just as rich white people look down on both groups. It's also sadly ironic that people who are considered "white trash" still think they are superior to rich Black people. In another cruel twist of irony (does that expression even work?) the people who should be hyper-sensitive to prejudice, actively engage in it. Even though the message was fairly standard, it's still one worth reiterating because not all people have taken it to heart. Tiphanie was a decent narrator, I liked her sense of humor and observations. Since no one will talk to her, Tiphanie spends the first few days of school overhearing the gossip spread by her classmates, so when people finally stop talking to her, she knows all ;) I also admire the fact that she doesn't put up with mess from anyone (although I probably would have gone off on Jackie Sue for trying to tell me my name was spelled wrong). She tells her history teacher about Crispus Attucks (not that he cares) and while she can't tell people off when her parents are around, her snarky commentary entertains the reader. Such as "I didn't want my teachers and my classmates to call me 'Tip Hand Nie.' Just the thought of that happening annoyed me. As did the assumption that Bradley would be my 'ready-made friend.' I didn't like al the Blacks in my last school, so what made her think I'd like Bradley? Did she like all the white people she knew?" (pg. 8) Touche!
*While the premise of Finding My Place is not too original, the setting is. The 70s reference are somewhat more familiar to me and help make this book a bit more unique. I wish the writing had been a bit..more. More descriptive or lyrical. It would have helped this book stand out more. Instead I fear it will get lost in the fray. I don't regret reading this book, it was a "filler" read I suppose. The confident and loyal character of Tiphanie keeps the book entertaining, it's nice to see that while Jackie Sue and Tiphanie may struggle to ALWAYS remain loyal, they do forgive and make up quite often. Ultimately I wanted this book to go further than it did and that has more to do with my own expectations. If you're looking for a book that explores issues of class and race (although sadly not always together. There is a small glimpse of POTENTIAL Black-on-Black class prejudice when Tiphanie is invited to join a Jack-and-Jill like organization. But nothing really comes out of those parts), this is a good book for you. If you like books with regular, strong female main characters this is a book you will most likely enjoy. And if you love the '70s, you will really get a kick out of this story :)
I realize this whole paragraph is rather vague but this is a book I'm quite indifferent on.
October 12, 2012
Tiphanie, Tiphanie! It's pronounced the exact same way as Tiffany! It was bad enough to move to a new school, but having everyone call me Tip-han-ni was ludicrous. Tiphanie is a fourteen year old Afro-America who, due to boh of her parents receiving promotions, is now moving to the 'burbs and out of her hood. She has to leave behind all of her friends, her school, what feels like her very identity and be thrown into what she can only see as a nightmare. Her school is in the middle of the suburb where she is definitely sticks out in a crowd. She is the only black girl in the entire school and to make matter worse, it's 1975, adults still have problems with 'her kind' as they put it. Her first day of high school was just living proof to her of how much of an outsider she was. Not only was the secretary having a horrible time of pronouncing her name but she was so proud of the fact that Tiphanie would make the student body have a full eleven kids of 'color'. "Mis Tingle beamed up at my mother and said, "Yes, yes we are [a diverse American school]. Why, I believe that's one percent colored""(9). That one percent included Tiphanie (black), Bradley (black), one Oriental boy, and eight Mexicans. Students might not have thrown stuff at her or treated her with hostility, but she was downright ignored and treated like she was completely invisible by others. That is, until the day that Jackie Sue, the blonde girl from Home Ec. decided to sit down right next to her at lunch. Was she friend or foe?
This is a good book about the difficulties faced by a fourteen year old girl as she tries to find her place in what feels like a completely foreign world. Her parents are adamant that she is acting not only as a representative for her family but also as a representative for her race. That's a lot of pressure to put on a fourteen year old girl, especially when she surrounded by a sea of white faces! Not only is she lost, treated like she's invisible, and the lone black girl, but she's learns that sometimes having any friend at all can be a lot more difficult than she thought as she's faced with new and more complex problems that help her realize tht her life might not be as hard as she thought it was.
This is a good book about the difficulties faced by a fourteen year old girl as she tries to find her place in what feels like a completely foreign world. Her parents are adamant that she is acting not only as a representative for her family but also as a representative for her race. That's a lot of pressure to put on a fourteen year old girl, especially when she surrounded by a sea of white faces! Not only is she lost, treated like she's invisible, and the lone black girl, but she's learns that sometimes having any friend at all can be a lot more difficult than she thought as she's faced with new and more complex problems that help her realize tht her life might not be as hard as she thought it was.
July 30, 2011
Tiphanie Jayne Baker's parents move her from her home in Denver to a suburb in Brent Hills, Colorado. She no longer lives around the black kids she's known all of her life. This ninth grader is now the only black girl and one of only two black students at Brent Hills High. She isn't sure who her friends are or if those she thought were her friends really were. Where does she fit in?
Tiphanie: She had to deal with difficult classmates (one in particular), assumptions about black people, and uncomfortable situations, but she was a strong girl.
Jackie Sue: It seemed her large vocabulary gave her the confidence she needed around those who thought so little of her. Knowing so many different words made her feel like there was at least one thing about her that made her as important as anybody else. If she had a more loving mother, maybe she wouldn't have felt so less than.
Mae (Jackie Sue's mother): She was hanging on to her accomplishments of the past and blaming her daughter for her problems in the present. I wasn't happy with her.
Morris and Annie Baker (Tiphanie's Parents): It's a lot of pressure for any black person to be expected to be an example for the whole African American race, but that was what these parents expected of their young daughter. It was great that Mr. and Mrs. Baker worked hard to get ahead in the world, but for people who believed others were against them because of the color of their skin (and I'm sure many were) they had their own racist, uppity attitudes. They move their child to a place where she had to go to a predominately white school, but then Mrs. Baker has a problem with her daughter having a white friend? Or would she have been okay with Jackie if she didn't consider her mom white trash? No matter what skin color, we all have issues.
This was a good, thought-provoking read. I had mixed feelings about the choice Jackie Sue made in the end.
Tiphanie: She had to deal with difficult classmates (one in particular), assumptions about black people, and uncomfortable situations, but she was a strong girl.
Jackie Sue: It seemed her large vocabulary gave her the confidence she needed around those who thought so little of her. Knowing so many different words made her feel like there was at least one thing about her that made her as important as anybody else. If she had a more loving mother, maybe she wouldn't have felt so less than.
Mae (Jackie Sue's mother): She was hanging on to her accomplishments of the past and blaming her daughter for her problems in the present. I wasn't happy with her.
Morris and Annie Baker (Tiphanie's Parents): It's a lot of pressure for any black person to be expected to be an example for the whole African American race, but that was what these parents expected of their young daughter. It was great that Mr. and Mrs. Baker worked hard to get ahead in the world, but for people who believed others were against them because of the color of their skin (and I'm sure many were) they had their own racist, uppity attitudes. They move their child to a place where she had to go to a predominately white school, but then Mrs. Baker has a problem with her daughter having a white friend? Or would she have been okay with Jackie if she didn't consider her mom white trash? No matter what skin color, we all have issues.
This was a good, thought-provoking read. I had mixed feelings about the choice Jackie Sue made in the end.
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July 24, 2012I've now read all three of the books by author Traci L. Jones. They are perfect for middle grade girls. Each features a strong female protagonist determined to reach her goal.
In STANDING AGAINST THE WIND Patrice Williams must leave her grandmother's home in Georgia and move to Chicago with her mother. After only eight short weeks, Patrice's mother ends up in prison leaving Patrice with an aunt she barely knows.
Patrice hates Chicago. It is cold and windy. She spends her days working hard to earn straight A's in school, keeping her aunt's apartment clean, cooking meals on time, and taking care of her two younger cousins. When the principal suggests that Patrice apply for a scholarship contest to an African-American boarding school in the South, Patrice believes it may be her only chance to make something of her life. She is determined to complete the application on time and win one of the coveted scholarships.
It is 1975 in FINDING MY PLACE. Tiphanie Baker's father receives a promotion which requires the family move from the heart of Denver, Colorado, to the suburbs. Tiphanie is one of only two black students attending ninth grade at Brent Hills High. She misses her old life. Her parents insist that given time she will be just as comfortable here as she was in Denver.
Tiphanie struggles as she attempts to fit in to her new surroundings. Not only does she have to make a place for herself in Brent Hills, but she also finds that on visits back to her old neighborhood, she no longer fits in there. Through it all, she is determined to "find her place."
Author Traci L. Jones's last book is SILHOUETTED BY THE BLUE.
In STANDING AGAINST THE WIND Patrice Williams must leave her grandmother's home in Georgia and move to Chicago with her mother. After only eight short weeks, Patrice's mother ends up in prison leaving Patrice with an aunt she barely knows.
Patrice hates Chicago. It is cold and windy. She spends her days working hard to earn straight A's in school, keeping her aunt's apartment clean, cooking meals on time, and taking care of her two younger cousins. When the principal suggests that Patrice apply for a scholarship contest to an African-American boarding school in the South, Patrice believes it may be her only chance to make something of her life. She is determined to complete the application on time and win one of the coveted scholarships.
It is 1975 in FINDING MY PLACE. Tiphanie Baker's father receives a promotion which requires the family move from the heart of Denver, Colorado, to the suburbs. Tiphanie is one of only two black students attending ninth grade at Brent Hills High. She misses her old life. Her parents insist that given time she will be just as comfortable here as she was in Denver.
Tiphanie struggles as she attempts to fit in to her new surroundings. Not only does she have to make a place for herself in Brent Hills, but she also finds that on visits back to her old neighborhood, she no longer fits in there. Through it all, she is determined to "find her place."
Author Traci L. Jones's last book is SILHOUETTED BY THE BLUE.
October 27, 2018
I am writing this review from my memory of reading this book about a year ago. So apologies if I'm vague and get some of my facts wrong.
One scene that stands out, and is not particularly spoilery, is when the narrator (Tiphanie, if I recall) and her mother are trying to register for an advanced class at at Tiphanie's new school. Tiphanie is black and the school is overwhelmingly white. The clerk in the school office, who is white, is acting in a way that is obviously (to me, a reading in the 2010's) motivated by the racist view that black kids wouldn't do well in advanced classes. Tiphanie's mother, however, who is black and (I get the sense) much more affluent than this clerk pulls a certain type of social class rank to get the clerk to do the right thing. (I forget what pulling the "social class rank" was exactly. It might have been threatening to call the clerk's supervisor or, more likely, simply talking to the clerk in the firm, "no nonsense will be tolerated" voice that affluent people usually use when addressing servants. If it's the latter, I'm quite possibly reading more into the interaction than the author intended.)
I like that scene because it illustrates the (BUZZWORD ALERT!) intersection of class and race that this novel treats in greater detail in its story. Tiphanie, who is black but affluent and from a loving and supportive family, befriends another student, who is white but very poor and with an obviously abusive or dysfunctional family.
This novel offers no easy solutions. I won't spoil the ending, but it's believable. I originally rated this four stars, but I just now changed it to 5.
One scene that stands out, and is not particularly spoilery, is when the narrator (Tiphanie, if I recall) and her mother are trying to register for an advanced class at at Tiphanie's new school. Tiphanie is black and the school is overwhelmingly white. The clerk in the school office, who is white, is acting in a way that is obviously (to me, a reading in the 2010's) motivated by the racist view that black kids wouldn't do well in advanced classes. Tiphanie's mother, however, who is black and (I get the sense) much more affluent than this clerk pulls a certain type of social class rank to get the clerk to do the right thing. (I forget what pulling the "social class rank" was exactly. It might have been threatening to call the clerk's supervisor or, more likely, simply talking to the clerk in the firm, "no nonsense will be tolerated" voice that affluent people usually use when addressing servants. If it's the latter, I'm quite possibly reading more into the interaction than the author intended.)
I like that scene because it illustrates the (BUZZWORD ALERT!) intersection of class and race that this novel treats in greater detail in its story. Tiphanie, who is black but affluent and from a loving and supportive family, befriends another student, who is white but very poor and with an obviously abusive or dysfunctional family.
This novel offers no easy solutions. I won't spoil the ending, but it's believable. I originally rated this four stars, but I just now changed it to 5.
May 10, 2013
Tiphanie lives in Colorado, but in a neighborhood with mostly African Americans. But her parents are offered better jobs and they move 30 minutes away, to a new neighborhood that is definitely not what she is used to.
The school, Brent Hills, only has one other African American student. Tiphanie's not sure what she's going to do. How is she going to make friends here? And when Tiphanie thinks she'll never find a friend and forever be ignored, she meets Jackie Sue.
Jackie Sue is a white girl, who proudly proclaims she is "walking trailer trash" and has an impressive vocabulary. Tiphanie begins to feel more comfortable at her school and soon begins making more friends.
But she still has some worries: Something is wrong with Jackie Sue and she won't tell Tiphanie what's wrong. And it seems Tiphanie doesn't really fit with her old neighborhood or old friends anymore. Has she really changed all that much?
This book surprised me. It was okay at first, but it ended up being really good. I stayed up most of last night reading it and I didn't want to stop.
Tiphanie is a good character, a strong character and is willing to stand up for herself and others. She is also trying to find her place, find where she fits in. I think the book also teaches that anyone can be racist. Even Tiphanie's parents seemed a bit prejudice themselves. I think she learns though that people are people and anyone can be a jerk.
I did feel bad for her because her parents expected so, so much from her. But it was a really good book with good characters and teaches some stuff.
The school, Brent Hills, only has one other African American student. Tiphanie's not sure what she's going to do. How is she going to make friends here? And when Tiphanie thinks she'll never find a friend and forever be ignored, she meets Jackie Sue.
Jackie Sue is a white girl, who proudly proclaims she is "walking trailer trash" and has an impressive vocabulary. Tiphanie begins to feel more comfortable at her school and soon begins making more friends.
But she still has some worries: Something is wrong with Jackie Sue and she won't tell Tiphanie what's wrong. And it seems Tiphanie doesn't really fit with her old neighborhood or old friends anymore. Has she really changed all that much?
This book surprised me. It was okay at first, but it ended up being really good. I stayed up most of last night reading it and I didn't want to stop.
Tiphanie is a good character, a strong character and is willing to stand up for herself and others. She is also trying to find her place, find where she fits in. I think the book also teaches that anyone can be racist. Even Tiphanie's parents seemed a bit prejudice themselves. I think she learns though that people are people and anyone can be a jerk.
I did feel bad for her because her parents expected so, so much from her. But it was a really good book with good characters and teaches some stuff.
February 4, 2016
When her family moves to an upper-class section of Denver, 14-year-old Tiphanie becomes the only Black girl at her new high school. Pressured by her Civil Rights-era parents to be “better just to be equal,” Tiphanie struggles to make friends until she bonds with Jackie Sue, a free spirit whose trailer park home life places her on the fringes, too. While the book’s examination of racial tensions may resonate with some readers, its flaws will frustrate others. Tiphanie’s ability to navigate her new school’s social cliques comes far too easily, and Clay, a racist bully who threatens the new friends, is inconsistently drawn. Jones’s simple writing style is marred by occasionally clumsy constructions (“ … I saw her throw a paper into the trash basket by her desk that looked an awful lot like my classwork”). Although set in 1975, there is nothing distinctive about the characters or plot to require or convey that setting. Instead, Jones simply grafts onto the text intrusive references to 70s pop culture (“… my parents were settling into our Friday night routine – pulling out the air popcorn popper … to watch M*A*S*H”). Consistent with the theme of racial tension, the book includes several ethnic slurs, but the language and plot are otherwise tame. Readers who find satisfaction in the friendships of Finding My Place, may also enjoy Ann M. Martin’s Here Today or Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
September 13, 2021
A story about a Black teenage girl, Tiphanie Baker, moving out to a suburb where she went to school full of Whites! She is the only of the two students in her new school who are Blacks. Finding her pace and place, she was struggling to fit in as a girl of a different colour. Being ignored a whole week as a new student, she found herself feeling so lonely and out of place until Jackie Sue came and greet her as a "loser" in a funny way. They became close since then.
This novel might be an easy read, fast paced and for young readers, though it actually discussed a lot on racism, where it was placed in 1975. The stigmatisation towards the Blacks were still tough (it can be seen that the "White" characters were not bluntly racist, but they were rather stick to the old belief of Blacks that made them scared to get close with them), but somehow the Bakers proved them wrong through their politeness and professionalism.
This novel might be an easy read, fast paced and for young readers, though it actually discussed a lot on racism, where it was placed in 1975. The stigmatisation towards the Blacks were still tough (it can be seen that the "White" characters were not bluntly racist, but they were rather stick to the old belief of Blacks that made them scared to get close with them), but somehow the Bakers proved them wrong through their politeness and professionalism.
June 20, 2011
One of my favorite parts was when they mentioned 'Looking Through the Windows' by the Jackson 5. It's one of my favorite songs and I didn't even know anyone but me knew about it(at least, not any normal people). But anyway, other than that, this book was just kind of okay. It was very bland. Every stereotype that could be used was used. "Poor me, I'm the only black girl in the school". "I have no friends". "Oh, now I'm meeting this white girl who has no friends" "Oh, and guess what? This girl doesn't fit in either and it's because she lives in a crappy neighborhood." "Oh, and she also has a secret that she won't tell me until the middle of the story"
In short, it was very predictable and I didn't feel like the characters were very believable. They said things that I can't imagine any teen saying, in the seventies or not.
Oh, and i didn't like anyone's name. Tiphinanie? Or however you spell it. Creative spelling, yes. Easy to read about a million times, no.
In short, it was very predictable and I didn't feel like the characters were very believable. They said things that I can't imagine any teen saying, in the seventies or not.
Oh, and i didn't like anyone's name. Tiphinanie? Or however you spell it. Creative spelling, yes. Easy to read about a million times, no.
July 17, 2010
I really enjoyed this story about Tiphanie Jayne Baker, an African-American girl transferring to an almost exclusively white high school in the 1970s. She has been raised by her proper parents to ALWAYS remember that she is an example and the best hope for this generation of black students. It's hard for Tiphanie to remember that sometimes in the face of blantant and not-so-blantant racism.
I thought Tiphanie would probably face more racism than seemed present in this book, but it was refreshing to read a story about a young black person with so much going for her. Tiphanie is a fiesty, loyal and relatable character. The mini-parental lectures that begin some chapters are genius! Highly recommended!
I thought Tiphanie would probably face more racism than seemed present in this book, but it was refreshing to read a story about a young black person with so much going for her. Tiphanie is a fiesty, loyal and relatable character. The mini-parental lectures that begin some chapters are genius! Highly recommended!
September 19, 2011
"Finding my place" takes place in the 1970's when people of colored skin were treated not as equal as they are today. It's starts with a girl named Tiphanie, who's parents are all about the movement, and creating a diverse American society. So what do they decide to do? Her father decides to get a job in a area full of white people and she finds her self in between "a bunch of barbies". She goes to please her parents and to have a friend. She finds herself with a another "outsider". A girl who announces herself as "walking talking trailer trash". wow. Being friends turns out to be an adventure and Tiphanie discovers that prejudice is not only for people with colored skin.
A book that takes you back to the 70's and what life would be like for a teenager.
A book that takes you back to the 70's and what life would be like for a teenager.
October 4, 2010
Tiphanie's dad has just gotten a big promotion, so her parents have moved from inner-city Denver to the suburbs. Which means that Tiph has to switch schools - to a fancy one where she is one of only 2 black students. Adjusting to her new life and making new friends is really hard - especially in the racially charged seventies when the book takes place. The only girl who makes an effort to get to know Tiph at first is white, but from the wrong side of the tracks. Tiph learns quickly that money isn't everything...
October 21, 2010
Engaging story of two outsiders who become friends in a mid-1970s Denver suburb. Tiphanie is the only black girl at her new high school; Jackie Sue is one of the few poor girls there. Having gone to high school in the early '70s, I enjoyed the time period, but kept wondering when we started saying 'no way' and 'bogus.' And sure enough, there's a pretty egregious anachronism late in the book which made me cringe. Those details aside, Jones handles the usual challenges fairly well, and I did read it in one sitting.
July 31, 2011
Traci L. Jones did an awesome job writing this book. Taking place in 1975 in Colorado, the main character, high school freshman, Tiphanie Baker and her family move from a predominately African American neighborhood to the Subarbs. Although Tiphanie Baker faces mild racism the book is not mainly about that, it's more about moving out of your comfort zone, staying true to self, and finding "the place" where you fit in.
I love this book and this author is AMAZING she knows how to get readers intrigued and to never want to put her books down!
I love this book and this author is AMAZING she knows how to get readers intrigued and to never want to put her books down!
March 9, 2014
I love her book, "Standing Against the Wind" but this one pales in comparison. The characters aren't too believable. The plot is alright. The ending is simply terrible. If she is your best friend, why would you let her leave so easily? It's just an okay, quick read. I didn't get anything out of it. On a side note, I wish the author would dedicate this book not just to Black young ladies but also to any group of ethnicity that has been discriminated against. There are universal themes here. The author could have reach out to more people but she decided she didn't want to do that.
January 23, 2016
I love this author! She's won awards for her great books! I wanted to share this one with the 8th grade but it has lots of references to the 1970s and even though that's why I really got into it, I'm not sure my 8th graders will! But as an historical novel it's awesome. I may book talk it any way because the issues that Tiphanie (spelled right because it's her name!) faces as an African-American in an all-white school are the same today as they were 40 years ago! Very refreshing young lady!
June 7, 2010
Had high hopes for this one, & the storyline truly help promise...(plus, it just looked so groovy). Thus, my sheer disappointment was that much the greater. There were bright moments, but considering the subject matter, it could've been SO much more--gloss instead of meat meant an overall tone of superficiality.
November 26, 2010
I love books that tell a story in a unique perspective. This one, about a black girl attending a nearly all white school in 1975, has a unique perspective. The story itself doesn't break any new ground, prejudice, poor white trash friend, alcoholic parent, etc, but the setting was interesting and fresh. Oh and points off for a really boring and generic title.
June 8, 2012
Tipahanie is a spunky, outspoken character. She's brave, smart, and funny, and if you don't like her for the color of her skin she gives you what-for. This is a great book that shows that, when it comes down to it, people from all walks of life can still come together.
May 24, 2012
In 1975, Tiphanie Baker moves with her parents to a suburban town in Colorado, where she is the only black girl in her high school. How does Tiphanie find a place to fit in when she comes from such a different environment?
June 14, 2010
A fast read. YA. Traci Jones uses our obvious differences to highlight our obvious similarities. Ends abruptly, with little resolution.
October 22, 2017
so far, this is a really good read...teen fic take on the racism and changes a girl faces in the early 70's
March 7, 2011
My full in depth review here. Hope you like my review its just my opinion thanks, again. http://sonythebooklover.blogspot.com/...
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