Marked by Fire

Abyssinia Jackson

by Joyce Carol Thomas

Abyssinia Jackson, born in an Oklahoma cotton field in the wake of a tornado, is the pride and joy of her family, church, and community until a series of natural disasters and personal attacks threaten to break her spirit, but Mother Barker and her lessons in folk medicine help Abby survive. Abby, born in an Oklahoma cotton field in the wake of a tornado, learns the secrets of folk medicine from the healer Mother Barker as she grows up

Genres: Young Adult, African American, Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1982

About the author

Joyce Carol Thomas was an internationally renowned author who received the National Book Award for her first novel, Marked By Fire, and a Coretta Scott King Honor for her first picture book, Brown Honey In Broomwheat Tea. Her other titles include I Have Heard Of A Land, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book; The Gospel Cinderella; cCrowning Glory; Gingerbread Days; and A Gathering Of Flowers. Ms. Thomas lived in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

[Joey · Rating 1 out of 5]

It bears a little resemblance to Toni Morrison’s THE BLUEST EYE ( 5 stars). Both deal with RAPE and were eventually banned from American studies since it is a children’s novel. However, it is not as astounding as T. Morrison’s. There is nothing new to it. The story is very plain and seems lack of strong elements to catch my imagination although I felt Joyce Carol Thomas’ may have –been- intention.

All I could I feel was that the characteristics of the protagonist, Abbysinia- she is possessed with Pollyanna attitude. She is innocent, positive about life, congenial, amiable and enthusiastic for her devotion to religion as she is influenced by her significant others despite the tragedy befalls her. In addition, the names of the characters add to the mood and tone of the plots and settings such as PATIENCE and STRONG, along with his THE BETTER WAY Barbershop, which might have symbolic meanings. Thus, I read it with a light touch.

Unlike Toni Morrison’s THE BLUEST EYE, the only problem with this is that it sounds lackadaisical. The passages are too weak, gentle and lack of strong, vivid words to feel the emotions-let alone the negative feelings of the characters. All I could feel were goody feelings as if the characters dissimulate their true feelings by turning to religion, as though I were one of the characters wanted to vent my stuffy feelings. So I was boggled at how come it met the standards of winning the NATIONAL BOOK AWARD. In comparisons with the other runner-ups, although I have not read them yet, I bet my boots that one of them should have been worth deserving of the award. But one thing I am certain about is that as I said before, panelists could be subjective. In this case, religious beliefs are one of the factors skewing their opinions.

The novel is said to have something to do with Joyce Carol Thomas’s personal accounts. She had deeper impression from her childhood experience in her hometown.

I don’t mean to underestimate it. Perhaps it is not my cup of tea or there is nothing new to the story since I have read such novel several times . I wish she had written it in a different style.

[Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no question that Thomas' novel is "good" - it won the National Book Award shortly after publication and - but I cannot decide on my assessment. It's certainly well-written. The prose is accessible and full of the kind of "local color" my college literature professors used to swoon over. Abyssinia - or "Abby" as she is usually called - is complex given the relatively short chapters Thomas uses for characterization, and the secondary characters were equally interesting.

However, I had a difficult time reconciling this with the "Young Adult" genre. There is no love-triangle; there are very few men depicted at all. There is no grand, world-saving plot. Abyssinia is barely-rebellious, attends church regularly, does well in school and is respected by the adults in the community (making a character like *that* interesting and easy to relate to was no small feat).

Were it not for Thomas' superb and lyrical writing, Marked By Fire could easily have devolved into a children's parable, rather than a compelling - if somewhat opaque - YA novel. There are certain points where the plot moves in cringe-worthy ways: Abby is literally born from Patience (her mother) and strength (her father is "Strong"). Later, her father inexplicably returns to the story after an extended absence at the most crucial moment, and never influences the plot again. However, I believe this may have been a deliberate choice rather than oversight. Perhaps it was Thomas' intention to paint a depiction of life that is not as tidy and believable as we are trained to expect.

Or perhaps I'm giving her too much credit.

[Nakia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I am but a cinder in the snow. Who could gaze at me long and deny I have not passed through the fire?"

Greatly enjoyed this read. Joyce Carol Thomas recently passed away, and reading a few tributes to her work made me want to pick up this highly praised YA novel which won the National Book Award in 1983 and the American Book Award in 1982. It also helps that she centered her works in Oklahoma (where my paternal grandparents are from), a setting that I've rarely seen in Black novels. Marked by Fire follows Abyssinia Jackson from birth through adolescence in the 1950s and 60s. You get tornadoes, cotton plantations, Black church and community, girlhood and womanhood, sisters and mothers loving and gossiping over quilt making and prayers circles. It is such a heartwarming, but sometimes tragic, story about growth and healing and love from elders to youth. Loved every poetic line, and really wish I'd had my hands on this as a teen. It is made of everything that I enjoy about Black historical fiction. Can't wait to read more about Abyssinia Jackson in The House of Light.

[Kanthalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book should be required. I read it in the 6th grade and recently just read it again. Then i read the series which is all connected and tells the story of Abby, Carl Lee, and their daughter.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw the musical that was made from this book a jillion times. Book and musical...awesome!

[Lorespar Sparling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagery and culturally poignant text. I love her references to the importance of roots medicine and the tornado which rattles the spirit

[Daylen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a decent book, it has a lot that I wish was answered. You go through her life but it doesn't seem normal, it's also in no way shape or forms good for anyone who isn't mentally mature to read. It deals with child rape and nearly drowning and other moments that made me (a 16-year-old boy) tremble. I wish there was more the book had. I just wanted some answers on small things.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tornadoes, a house fire, attempted murder (more than once), domestic violence, rape, ...this is not a light and happy read. I know the point is that the main character persists and rises above it all--but it was just too dark for me.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and well worth the read. My review is 4 stars only because the book is a series of glimpses into the life of the main character over the first 20 years of her life, which reads a bit like connected short stories and I’m not a short story person.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Excellent book.

[Mel Raschke · Rating 4 out of 5]

She has grown up--Abyssinia Jackson has--under a vast Oklahoma sky shaded with pecan trees and dotted by endless rows of cotton. She has the gift of song, a storyteller's talent, the love of her parents, and the affection and pride of her community. Then a tornado hits and drives Abby's family apart. A deranged neighbor targets her for a campaign of vengeful terror. And a physical assault all but breaks her will.

[Jon Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this book was good. It was more of a girly book and caught myself asking why am i reading this book. Abbi is born during a tornado storm. This is an early sign of her crazy and unreal life. What will abbi make of herself?? What does "fire" mean in the title? Why am i asking you alot of questions? Why did i read this book in 1982???

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because when it was first published in the 80s, it was banned in many libraries. The lead character is raped; it's not a graphic rape scene but I suppose the 80s were a far more conservative time. The book is okay. I don't think I would let my young reader read it though.

[Natalia Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think this was an exellent book

[Hori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read it just because I had it. The story was okay but I really don't like thing related to poetry and literature.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read Feb 2018
The language is lovely, but the characters were kind of 2D.