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Karina Barrett

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Push

by Sapphire (Goodreads Author)

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Karina Barrett said: "
The book Push, by Sapphire has recently been made in to a major motion picture. I am a firm believer that the book is much better than the movie. I wish I had read the book before watching the movie and not vice versa. Throughout the book the main c
The book Push, by Sapphire has recently been made in to a major motion picture. I am a firm believer that the book is much better than the movie. I wish I had read the book before watching the movie and not vice versa. Throughout the book the main character Precious Jones struggles to deal with her identity as a teenager growing up in Harlem, New York, and as a new mother. It becomes clear very early in the novel that the author you to know the characters first hand and she tries to get you involved with the characters’ lives. In the beginning of the novel Precious is an illiterate girl, meaning she is unable to read and write. This made it particularly difficult for her to perform well in an academic setting, so she just decided she would stoop showing up for school. As the book progresses you can see the progress in precious as she grows and learns that the only way to provide a better future for her and her children, is to do something about it herself- And that's just what she does.
The book is written in a way that may be difficult for some readers. It is written in exactly the same way Precious would've spoken if she had been having a conversation with you. The book is written how an illiterate person would write a book; using "fahver" instead of father, and "twelf" for twelve. As you can imagine, this is difficult to read at first but as you progress further into the book it becomes natural for you to read in such way, and I found myself even hearing Precious’ voice as I absorbed every word of her hardship.
Precious is a tough cookie. Her experience of growing up in Harlem was nothing compared to the experiences she had growing up with her mother. Her mother is a vicious woman, who constantly abuses Precious verbally, physically, sexually and mentally. Not only is she abused by her mother, but she is also sexually abused by her father, who just so happens to impregnate Precious, not once; But twice. Precious’ father began having sex with her when she was only 3 years old! His abuse never stopped over the years she grew up. He would disappear for a few months, after returning for only one thing, sex. Not sex from Precious’ mother, but from Precious herself. The fact that her father would prefer to have sex with Precious over Precious’ mother, makes her mother extremely jealous and is the reason behind the hatred she has for her daughter.
Precious had her first baby, Mango, when she was only twelve years old. Four years later when Precious is sixteen she becomes pregnant for the second time with Abdul. Since she is obese, pregnancies are extremely difficult for her. With no help from her mother precious searches for guidance and support, and finally turns to a school that specializes with people who have extremely difficult lives. This school and her new teacher Mrs. Rain, helps transform precious and makes her realize she needs to make changes in her life. She begins to learn, and read and is able to comprehend sentences, all skills that she was unable to do previously. Mrs. Rain, helps precious find a shelter for young teenage mothers and she is able to move in and stay there for the remaining two years of her high school career. At the conclusion of the book Precious passes the GED exam and talks about how she will be going to college and will try and find a job, and shows that the American dream is true, and that anyone can rise up from the slums.
In conclusion, I feel that this is a must read book for every one of all ages. This book gave me a greater appreciation of where I live, and the family I come from. It shows that I may sometimes take the privileges I have for granted. I like to think that this book has made me a better person. This book also shows how the American dream plays out in a real life scenario, and how a person can make something of themselves even if they were told their whole life that they wouldn’t amount to anything. Precious is a role model for girls everywhere and exemplifies that you don’t know how strong you are, until being strong is the only thing you have left. ...more "

Oct 26, 2012 07:15AM · see review