THE HOUSE YOU PASS ON THE WAY

The House You Pass On The Way By Jacqueline Woodson 114 pages

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/893772116

 

Staggerlee is different.  Her father is black and her mother is white.  Her paternal grandparents were famous African American performers. And then there is her budding sexuality.   When her adopted cousin Trout comes to visit, Staggerlee finally has someone she can talk to.  (And yes, her name is from the legend of songs and snaps/dozens, THE Staggerlee. )

This is a beautifully written book that brings the fictional town of Sweet Gum to life, from the statues of Staggerlee’s grandparents, to the thick mud that clings to Staggerlee’s boots and ruins Trout’s loafers, to the easy talk and laughter of the men that work for her father.  Staggerlee is complex and very self-aware, very in touch with her feelings, and very observant.  This story resonates with her emotional honesty.

(Warning: some of the following might be considered “spoilers”.)

One thing I really liked about this book was how the question of sexuality was not decided.  Neither Trout nor Staggerlee knew if it was a phase or permanent.  Since many teenagers go through a homo-emotional (if not sexual) stage during early puberty, I liked how this was left open-ended.

One thing I found a bit jarring was that Staggerlee did not feel comfortable telling anyone about her feelings for a girl, until she met Trout.  While Trout had confessed to her aunt, Staggerlee had felt intuitively that she could not tell anyone.  This was never fully explored.  Even in a bi-racial family, and a family that had suffered such losses during the Civil Rights era, was sexuality was still closely guarded? Or was it the town of Sweet Gum? We will never know. 

I recommend this book to anyone who likes Judy Blume, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Mildred D. Taylor, in addition to all Woodson fans.