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Fifth Born
When Odessa Blackburn is three years old her beloved grandmother dies, and so begins her story, set in St. Louis, Missouri, and rural Mississippi. As the fifth born of eight children, Odessa loses her innocence at first when her drunken father sexually abuses her, and then again when she alone witnesses her father taking the life of his own brother.
Fifth Born is Zelda Lockhart's debut novel, lyrically written and powerful in its exploration of how secrets can tear apart lives and families. It is a story of love, longing, and redemption, as Odessa walks away from those whom she believes to be her kin to discover the true meaning of family.
Fifth Born is Zelda Lockhart's debut novel, lyrically written and powerful in its exploration of how secrets can tear apart lives and families. It is a story of love, longing, and redemption, as Odessa walks away from those whom she believes to be her kin to discover the true meaning of family.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
August 8, 2010
I happened to finish this book on the same day that I started attending training sessions for my upcoming internship at an agency that supports victims of domestic violence. I was surprised by how often Odessa and her family came to mind throughout the training-- the horror of what happens to them in this novel is really only surpassed by the knowledge that it isn't fiction for many, many people. A difficult but powerful read that I would recommend to anyone interested in child/family welfare.
May 22, 2022
When I saw there was a sequel to this book I wanted to re-read the book for a full refresher.
I was totally intrigued with the story the first time and even more intrigued the second go round. This is a Bittersweet story. My heart hurts for the pain and suffering of the Fifth Born but hopefully there is peace for her in the end.
This story is so relevant in today's society. Family incest, mental and physical abuse is very much happening within so many families. Shame on the mother's and or father's who indulged in this behavior and or look away while their child is left to suffer with the hurt and the shame of such behavior.
Kudos to the author for keeping the conversation going on such a sensitive topic!!
I can't wait to read the sequel!!
I was totally intrigued with the story the first time and even more intrigued the second go round. This is a Bittersweet story. My heart hurts for the pain and suffering of the Fifth Born but hopefully there is peace for her in the end.
This story is so relevant in today's society. Family incest, mental and physical abuse is very much happening within so many families. Shame on the mother's and or father's who indulged in this behavior and or look away while their child is left to suffer with the hurt and the shame of such behavior.
Kudos to the author for keeping the conversation going on such a sensitive topic!!
I can't wait to read the sequel!!
May 5, 2011
I found this book to be a very disturbing read, in that the subject matter was quite heavy to digest. Although Fifth Born was a rather well written and quick read, I was disappointed by the way in which it ended, and wish that author Zelda Lockhart could have expanded more upon it. The reader is introduced to the main character Odessa, portrayed as a meek and sensitive child throughout the entire novel. It would have been great to see Lockhart capture a more content and strong minded Odessa within the conclusion of the novel.
July 2, 2018
cant wait to read the second part to this tragic but beautiful story they should have killed loni ass if i could go inside of a book i would have killed his ass for them odessa ella mae i hope yall find love and happiness with in each other
June 9, 2012
This is one of the most twisted books I've read in quite a while. Spanning generations of incest, cruelty, abuse, neglect...the matriarchs left me stunned and I wanted to kill all of the men in the family. Focusing on a little girl trapped in one of the worst family's you'll ever encounter, this book is like a punch to the gut. All you can do stand by and watch what happens. You will feel helpless and infuriated as the main character pulls you deeper and deeper inside her pitiful tale. And, just when you didn't think you could handle anymore, the author delivers several mouth-gaping blows in the last few chapters. Tis a shame the author has not written another book. She is truly gifted and is an exemplary storyteller. Read with caution if you tend to stick to PG books.
January 7, 2017
Great read. I've never experienced so many emotions in 224 pages. I went from feeling pissed off, to excited, and sadness in a matter of chapters. Just a wonderful read!
This is my first read by Zelda Lockhart, I'm looking forward to reading more.
This is my first read by Zelda Lockhart, I'm looking forward to reading more.
August 31, 2015
Captivating, Deeply Moving, Page Turner! A Powerful Read! I Loved It!
April 23, 2008
The book 5th born was a book that i just ordered the other day. My mother asked me to read the book she told me that she thought that it was not a good book but we like different things in life so i might like to book when i picked the book up i found out that it was not at all a good book i wanted to put it down but i cant stop reading a book once i start it so i finished it.As i read on the book got interesting it began to teach me things about life that i myself never want throw but other people have. The story explains RAPE and what rolls your family plays in it when its one of your family members that is doing the raping. This book also talks about abuse.
First i would like to start this off with the word Family and what it means family means 1 or more people that share the same line of blood.Odessa Blackburn is the fifth born of eight kids. 3 years old was the age that she last seen her grandmother the only person that treated her better than all the other kids. When her grandmother died she was caste away just like all of the other kids. As the years want past she is pushed way to the back of the family. You could say that she was the black Cinderella of her family. She cooked, clean, and took care of the younger kids. At the age of 5 as she took her nape for the day her father came in drunk as always but this day was different. When Odessa mother heard her husband come in she got up and locked her bedroom door. Do you think that she know what he would do next? Did she think of her kids or just of her self? When he could not get in the room to go after her mother he came into Odessa’s room and raped her.
This book was a good book i think that you should read this book. This book is a book that you and your child should read cause it is a good family book. After i finished reading this book i past it on to my aunt. This book will give you mixed emotions i my self cried, laughed, and cried even more. This book is a powerful book to read and i had fun reading it.
First i would like to start this off with the word Family and what it means family means 1 or more people that share the same line of blood.Odessa Blackburn is the fifth born of eight kids. 3 years old was the age that she last seen her grandmother the only person that treated her better than all the other kids. When her grandmother died she was caste away just like all of the other kids. As the years want past she is pushed way to the back of the family. You could say that she was the black Cinderella of her family. She cooked, clean, and took care of the younger kids. At the age of 5 as she took her nape for the day her father came in drunk as always but this day was different. When Odessa mother heard her husband come in she got up and locked her bedroom door. Do you think that she know what he would do next? Did she think of her kids or just of her self? When he could not get in the room to go after her mother he came into Odessa’s room and raped her.
This book was a good book i think that you should read this book. This book is a book that you and your child should read cause it is a good family book. After i finished reading this book i past it on to my aunt. This book will give you mixed emotions i my self cried, laughed, and cried even more. This book is a powerful book to read and i had fun reading it.
August 5, 2015
This was a very heart breaking story. The things that Odessa went through as a child made me very sad. I felt the author gives readers a glimpse of what some children unfortunately have to endure in life.
January 3, 2015
This was a very powerful story of how closing your eyes and pretending that thing in life are not happening, can not only effect you but the people around you.
December 12, 2012
Odessa's voice is s clear and honest in this book that it is hard not to really care about her and her situation. This book is about a family and their secrets. The problem is, Black women and little girls went from being play things for White men during slavery to being play things to black men after slavery. But when men will rape their own flesh and blood, their daughters, sisters, and/or nieces or even grand daughters, where is the justice. Exp. when the mothers just stand by. They don't even say anything, just watch or listen to it happen. This book broke my heart, it was really hard to read it without getting upset. It's fiction but these kind of things still happen in today's society. Odessa's story is sad but at least ends on a happy note. A very powerful story about what it means to be a mother and how our mistakes ruin future generations.
January 25, 2013
A sad but true story of family curses/secrets that embed themselves in families through generations. At some point I asked myself, when will this madness end. I really wanted Loni to get what he deserved for the harm and pain he had caused soo many women in the family. I wanted Bernice to see Loni for what he was and choose her children over him. I wanted Grandmemma to be alive (until I got to the ending of the book). I wanted Odessa to be free of this awful family that she was a part of. I felt all kinds of emotions while reading this book.
Reading a book like this will have you counting your blessings. We all have some junk in our families but this right here..................#MYGOD.
Reading a book like this will have you counting your blessings. We all have some junk in our families but this right here..................#MYGOD.
September 14, 2012
This is definitely one of the saddest books I've read. Yet this book was still remarkable. I loved the protagonist. Actually, I felt sorry for her. No child should ever have a story like that to tell. Strangely enough I loved how it ended.
I didnt so much like how the last 4 or 5 chapters was all dialog. I think the author could have been a bit more creative in telling that story than 40 or so straight pages of dialog. I did love all the imagery, simile and color references. I Cant wait to read the next one.
I didnt so much like how the last 4 or 5 chapters was all dialog. I think the author could have been a bit more creative in telling that story than 40 or so straight pages of dialog. I did love all the imagery, simile and color references. I Cant wait to read the next one.
November 12, 2018
I enjoyed this read!
September 5, 2015
Well, I just don't really know what to say about this book. First off, its kinda hard for me to read a book that the words goes back to that scene. It wasn't hard to follow, but there was a few times where I had to re-read some parts of the book. This is about a girl name Odessa, but they call her Dessa for short. How she was raised and how she became the 5th child, but that didn't last, because her mom was having the kids like a gerbil. Its what this little girl went thru. Now from my understanding from my husband, who is from the south, alot of the older kids took care of the younger kids as what a mother should be doing, but pondered it off to the oldest kids to look after them, but in Dessa's case, she wasn't the oldest, but there is a reason why. Dessa has some issues going on, and actually the whole entire family, molestation, sex among the family, and young sex for the kids, and on, and on, and on, made me think I was watching a portion of The Color Purple...
I couldn't put a 3 star on this, because it just didn't flow for me correctly, and what I mean is alot, and I mean alot of back and forth, which will lose you if you grab a bag of popcorn....
I knew the twist with Ella Mae when she joined the story.
I couldn't put a 3 star on this, because it just didn't flow for me correctly, and what I mean is alot, and I mean alot of back and forth, which will lose you if you grab a bag of popcorn....
I knew the twist with Ella Mae when she joined the story.
October 19, 2012
OMG!!! All I can say is I loved this book, although it made my heart sick, I admired Odessa! No child should ever EVER experience what she went through, just unnecessary pain. If there was ever any one that should die mercilessly it was low down dirty Loni, I think he was let off the hook and that is the only reason I rated this book 4 stars. I will give more details on my thoughts after my book club discussion next week! SMDH the book had me actually yelling at it! BTW I check this book out on Wednesday at 6pm and finished it at 4am this morning finished it in 4 hours because I couldn't sleep until I finished it! WOW
December 25, 2011
This was one of those books I couldn't stop reading and then felt sad when it was over. Lockhart's beautiful prose grabbed me; she tells a powerful, painful story with poetic, raw honesty.
December 22, 2015
Where do I begin? Read this book. That is all.
January 27, 2020
Intriguing read..... heartbreaking at times. Definitely a page turner.
March 1, 2010
Fifth Born is the heart-wrenching debut saga of Odessa Blackburn, the fifth born child to verbally and physically abusive parents, in the tenements of St. Louis, MO. From as far back as she can remember, she has treaded lightly and second-guessed her moves to be the good, obedient child who seeks the love and approval of her parents. However, chaos and neglect reign supreme in the Blackburn household. Her father, an alcoholic and incestuous pedophile, nearly blinds Odessa in one eye during a drunken stupor and ultimately molests Odessa and other female members of the household whenever her mother is absent. Sadly, her mother discovers the incident and does nothing.
Throughout Odessa's young life, she sporadically gets encouragement from a teacher, an older sister, an uncle, and the belief in her deceased grandmother's unconditional love for her. She learns hard lessons but eventually becomes more self-reliant, self-assured, and starts to exhibit some traits of self-love. The salvation to her dark and painful existence comes from an unlikely source in an unexpected ending. She discovers that her search for truth was not in vain and it is a liberating reward for her lifelong quest. Lockhart's writing style reminds me of Alice Walker's - it is intense and pointed, but this new author has a unique voice all her own. A great debut novel!
Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO Bookclub, Nubian Circle Book Club
Throughout Odessa's young life, she sporadically gets encouragement from a teacher, an older sister, an uncle, and the belief in her deceased grandmother's unconditional love for her. She learns hard lessons but eventually becomes more self-reliant, self-assured, and starts to exhibit some traits of self-love. The salvation to her dark and painful existence comes from an unlikely source in an unexpected ending. She discovers that her search for truth was not in vain and it is a liberating reward for her lifelong quest. Lockhart's writing style reminds me of Alice Walker's - it is intense and pointed, but this new author has a unique voice all her own. A great debut novel!
Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO Bookclub, Nubian Circle Book Club
November 2, 2012
This was a well written book and really the ending made it a very great book. I felt like it was a such a heavy subject matter and the mood was sad and depressing. Zelda Lockhart knows hows to bring the characters to life along with the environment. In most cases of the book I felt transformed into the story. Its interesting how Ms Lockhart kept the point of view from young girls perspective showing the reader the innocence of it all. So while this book is a page turner, well written, very easy to read it was such a melancholy plot that I could not say I really loved it but that I liked it.
March 16, 2015
I hated this book. I guess I am getting sick of these books that pen incest and abuse. My fault, been reading too many books with this as its main topic. I know we live in an imperfect world and that humans are flawed, but for a mother knowing that her child is sexually abused and staying quiet is a bit much for me. I also didn't like the writing style which was more of journaling than a free creative style. I know there is a part two to this story but not interested in reading it!
November 15, 2012
This was such a raw gritty story of hate, abuse, deceit and secrets all carried within a family. It had me going through many emotions, sadness, anger, pride for Odessa, sympathy.... I can't image the turmoil such a young child had to endure and although she seemed so meek she took that pain and turned it into strength. This book drew me in and I'd definitely recommend it!
June 25, 2015
Fifth Born was a deep, touching look at the childhood of Odessa Blackburn. This novel was compelling & heartfelt as Odessa's pain was released throughout the pages. Although neglected at times, Odessa continued to seek love from her parents. Even though some parts were difficult to grasp, this was a well written story as the content & storyline held my attention. Good read.
January 23, 2011
This book has some really sad parts. And though I think feel about the main character the way the author probably intended the end of the book had a shocker that made me audibly say "wow". A more detail review about how I felt about this book will be posted on my blog.
March 29, 2010
Very sad story. The writing was very good. I felt pulled in from the very first page. This book felt like a roller coaster ride.
August 2, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It was very detailed.
July 27, 2012
a little too graphic, it makes me appreciate my level of crazy!
February 23, 2019
Wow!!! Ms. Lockhart hooked me in so many ways!! She took me back to my home town of St. Louis Missouri and the club meetings my family had once a month. The children all in one area or room reading, playing cards or just being kids while they met, played cards and just had fun...to now, with me living in Jackson Mississippi.
It is amazing how the sins of our father/mother hide in the background, only to push forth in cycles. Ms. Lockhart did a great job of showing why we need to listen to our children and trust our instincts. Holding in your past and blaming others or yourself for decisions people make because they thought it would be good makes things worse. The cycle the Lacey women went through could have been stopped. Loni should have been stopped! I am glad Odessa found her strength.
It is amazing how the sins of our father/mother hide in the background, only to push forth in cycles. Ms. Lockhart did a great job of showing why we need to listen to our children and trust our instincts. Holding in your past and blaming others or yourself for decisions people make because they thought it would be good makes things worse. The cycle the Lacey women went through could have been stopped. Loni should have been stopped! I am glad Odessa found her strength.
November 15, 2020
A tragic story of how generations of black women and their children suffered through generations of abuse. Sometimes in order to survive they had to ignore the abuse that was done to children in order for them and the rest of the family's survival. It was tragic and disheartening! It makes me angry when the abuser gets away with his abuse and keeps the cycle going.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews