Expecto Patronum discussion

So, I’ve tried to read this book three different times and have finally realized that it’s not gonna happen. One thing that I was sorry not to find out was why Riordan made it a point for Sadie, whose father is black to look 100 percent white. This doesn’t happen often in life (actually it almost never does) it struck me as super odd and problematic as soon as I read her description. I gave Riordan the benefit of the doubt, but I’ve been discussing the book with a member of our book club and according to them, Sadie’s whiteness never does have anything to do with the plot.

Turn on any sitcom featuring a black family and you will immediately see that the girls in the family are inexplicably light skinned and obviously look half white, while the males are largely dark skinned. This is a suspicious issue and if it really didn’t have anything to do with the plot, I’m super super irritated with the author. It was so unnecessary. Discuss.

Agreed! There was no plot point involving her whiteness, nor does it make any sense for her to be white. It's super rare for someone to be mixed and end up 100% white, but we continue to see people in media be super light skinned or white passing.

ngl, I honestly forgot that Sadie was supposed to appear 100% white or even be white passing after a couple chapters. There was legit no reason for her to be so. I should also point out that her beauty was referenced on and off, but I don't recall Carter being referred to as handsome at any point.

I came up with a bunch of weird plot reasons for her to look 100% white and I was so baffled when you told me that there was legit no actual reason for it. It’s super hollow diversity.

I appreciated the bit about their father teaching Carter that he had to dress and act a certain way in order not to be perceived as threatening because he was a young black male so... that was cool... but yeah, sorry, messy ass book is messy.

I was like, um... okay? when she was described as 100% white in appearance. I just doesn't make sense. It's one thing if he made her have Albinism, which I have yet to see in a book. It's another to make her mixed and 100% white in appearance. But having one character with Albinism wouldn't have worked with the plot and all the running around in the sun etc. without protective cover (hats, umbrellas, the strongest sunscreen available) wouldn't have fit his vision. However, making Sadie 100% white in appearance has no place in the plot other than to make her white. I don't understand why she couldn't appear mixed. If he really wanted her to favor her mother, she could've appeared mixed but favored her mother in physical features.

Now that I'm thinking about it, it kind of seemed like Sadie and Carter's grandparents didn't want much to do with Carter because he looked like his dad. No calls, no letters, etc. That's extremely telling as well.

There's def some pretty big problems with this one.