5 stars
The Help tells the story of black maids working in white homes in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, a 22-year old white lady, dreams of being a writer. After coming up with the idea to write a book from the help’s persepective she talks to Aibileen, Minny, and a dozen other maids about their experiences. The book becomes a best seller and the white women of Jackson start to recognize themselves in the book, although their names had been changed. Although The Help deals with heavy topics, this book keeps a light tone. It not only allows the women of Jackson to hear the maid’s perspective, and to reconsider the lines drawn between black and white, but it also allows the reader to do the same.
Student, Grade 12