Black Coffee discussion

This is where we will be discussing The Girl at the Back of the Bus by Suzette D. Harrison.

I watched in awe as Miz Rosa stopped those men on the bus with her clear, calm “no” and I thought about that word. What if I said no? What if I refused to follow the path these White folks wanted for us? What if I kept this precious baby?


Montgomery, Alabama, 1955

On a cold December evening, Mattie Banks packs a suitcase and leaves her family home. Sixteen years old and pregnant, she has already made the mistake that will ruin her life and disgrace her widowed mother. Boarding the 2857 bus, she sits with her case on her lap, hoping that the driver will take her away from disaster. Instead, Mattie witnesses an act of bravery by a woman named Rosa Parks that changes everything. But as Mattie strives to turn her life around, the dangers that first led her to run are never far away. Forging a new life in a harsh world at constant risk of exposure, Mattie will need to fight to keep her baby safe.


Atlanta, Georgia, present day

Ashlee Turner is going home. Her relationship in ruins, her career held back by prejudice, she is returning to the family who have always been her rock. But Ashlee’s home is not the safe haven she remembers. Her beloved grandmother is dying and is determined to share her story before she leaves…


When Ashlee finds a stack of yellowing letters hidden in her nana’s closet, she can’t help the curiosity that compels her to read, and she uncovers an old secret that could wreak havoc on her already grieving family. As she tries to make sense of what she has learned, Ashlee faces a devastating choice: to protect her loved ones from the revelations, or honor her grandmother’s wishes and follow the path to the truth, no matter where it may lead.


For readers of The Help, Orphan Train and Before We Were Yours comes a beautiful and heartbreaking novel about redemption, family secrets and the spirit of survival found at the hardest time.


Will you be joining the discussion?




Reading Schedule (tentative):

Chapters 1 - 9 -- August 15
Chapters 10 - Epilogue — August 29

This books sounds SO good, I will be joining in on the August read and discussions.

I will be joining in this read. Hopefully, I can get a copy of it by August 1st.

I’m in

This book sounds so interesting, great selection!

This book sound very interesting. It’s on sale now $3.99 kindle

Just got my copy. 🙂

Just got my copy. I’m very excited to read and participate.

Love the synopsis. I will try to join in

I am joining the group read/discussions.

I got the kindle version; I'm all set!

Getting my copy soon, ready to sit down and read!

I'll have to pass--I have a huge pile of books here already that will be due during August. and my reading seems to have slowed down (but also, I have been reading some longer books again.)

Will have to catch up on September. Will be away out of the country.

hi all, does anyone know if this book is included with a kindle unlimited plan?

No. It isn’t.

thanks! i grabbed the kindle version. i am going to start it tonight or tomorrow

Reading Schedule (tentative):

Chapters 1 - 9 -- August 15
Chapters 10 - Epilogue — August 29

I started today, enjoying it very much so far!

That’s great news!!!

Good morning Ladies, I’m ready!!!!! Starting today

started today as well. i too am enjoying it!

Me, too! 🤓

I'm getting used to the dual time narrative.

me too. i find it to be a nice break

I loved the pace of this book, it was a great read.

Are you going to join the discussion Bernie?

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "Are you going to join the discussion Bernie?"

Yes, that’s the plan

Just finished chapter 9! What a story! I want to keep going, but I’m determined to stay on the discussion schedule this month. 😊

this JT character is disgusting!

Yes, JT is disgusting and he is not alone. His character was popular for his kind.

Ok. I tried to read according to the schedule, but once again I failed. Lol. I really enjoyed this story!

I finished the book and enjoyed it as well.

Who guessed the connection between Ashlee and Mattie, before it was revealed. They had so much in common. Their stories were so interesting and whole separated, that I started looking for the connection.
I loved the 2 stories being told concurrently, I don’t remember reading this style of book before. I read quite a few novels this month, I believe this one is my favorite.

I very stupidly believed that Edward really loved Mattie, and would stand up against his parents, on her behalf. I didn’t know he would play the role of the cowardly lion, and peep out the window as the ladies were given the boot. While JT was disgusting, Edward wasn’t too much better.

Joy wrote: "BernieMck wrote: "I very stupidly believed that Edward really loved Mattie, and would stand up against his parents, on her behalf. I didn’t know he would play the role of the cowardly lion, and pee..."

I purposely don’t read book synopsis’, because I don’t want to know what’s going to happen.

Yes, I finished chapter 9, but kept going a little further. It's a good book in which the author overlapped the two stories with the past and present day. Love it. That Edward I think really had a crush on Mattie, but times were different. I would like a scene where he at least said something in her defense to his parents, versus standing looking out the window as they left.

Lulu wrote: "Ok. I tried to read according to the schedule, but once again I failed. Lol. I really enjoyed this story!"

I wasn’t going to say anything, but….🤣

Has everyone finished this book? It all good. If so, I will go ahead and finish it also. I stopped at chapter 11.

Cynthia wrote: "Yes, I finished chapter 9, but kept going a little further. It's a good book in which the author overlapped the two stories with the past and present day. Love it. That Edward I think really had a ..."

In my imagination, Edward did love Mattie and he did battle with his parents about her. However, money and position won out. I’m sure his parents, particularly his mother, gave him an ultimatum and he chose not to fight them.

I finished. Once I started, I couldn’t stop.

Dosha (Bluestocking7) wrote: "Has everyone finished this book? It all good. If so, I will go ahead and finish it also. I stopped at chapter 11."

I think the majority of us have finished. LOL!!

BernieMck wrote: "I very stupidly believed that Edward really loved Mattie, and would stand up against his parents, on her behalf. I didn’t know he would play the role of the cowardly lion, and peep out the window a..."

I still think he cared about her. Maybe he couldn't do anything because he was so young and his parents were in control of him....more so his mother. It seems as if she ran the house. Even when Mattie and her mother left, it doesn't seem as if the husband wanted them gone, but he really couldn't get a word in because the mother ran the show.

One of my favorite quotes in this section :

“Once you put that outfit on, they ain’t never gonna let you take it off. So, you ain’t putting it on at all.”

I loved Dorothy Banks!

Trudy wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Yes, I finished chapter 9, but kept going a little further. It's a good book in which the author overlapped the two stories with the past and present day. Love it. That Edward I thi..."

I agree!!

I did love the references to Rosa Parks and her strength which help carry Mattie through her life. I thought that was very inspiring.

Trudy wrote: "One of my favorite quotes in this section :

“Once you put that outfit on, they ain’t never gonna let you take it off. So, you ain’t putting it on at all.”

I loved Dorothy Banks!"

Dorothy Banks was such a loving mother! I honestly did not think she would be as loving and supporting as she was. She was a perfect mother for a situation like this!

Did you feel like the story was realistic? As far as the family tree?

Lulu wrote: "Trudy wrote: "One of my favorite quotes in this section :

“Once you put that outfit on, they ain’t never gonna let you take it off. So, you ain’t putting it on at all.”

I loved Dorothy Banks!"

..."

I was surprised, too. I thought she was going to go off, but I’m thinking that her response reflects a woman who has been through and learned from some tough times.

Lulu wrote: "Did you feel like the story was realistic? As far as the family tree?"

I did feel like the story was realistic, at no time did I feel otherwise. It all felt believable to me.

Well, I have to admit, I fell in love with this story. I believe that it all could have and most likely has happened to countless families over the years. The parts regarding the tree are believable also.