Jacksonville Public Library

Tell them what you want, Laverne Merritt-Gordon (with Beau Grosscup)

eng

autobiography

illustrations

no index present

non fiction

Tell them what you want

1255186385

Laverne Merritt-Gordon (with Beau Grosscup)

"Tell Them What You Want is an inspirational coming-of-age story of an African-American girl (Bernie) growing up amidst the immense local and national social turmoil of the 1950s to mid 1980s. Her journey begins in an abusive stepfathers 'devil house' and ends in personal and professional triumphs that seemed destined to be out of reach. Sent as a 'state kid' to a south-west Ohio college town, Bernie confronts both personal and institutional obstacles with youthful naivety and determination. A teenage mother intent on protecting self and son, Bernie encounters many interesting and provocative people, some who put financial, educational, physical, and social obstacles in her way. Others mentor her through the racism, sexism, and politics of the time. A combination of drama and humor, Tell Them What You Want is a story of losing and finding family, of relationships good and bad, acts of heroism large and small, and finally of an adult woman's commitment to a future of protecting the little girl inside her who simply won't let go."--Back cover

Devil house -- Fire! -- Belly out -- State kid -- Choosing to live -- Little Miss Curiosity -- Getting educated -- Going uptown -- Deep thinking -- Looking through stained glass windows -- Lessons from a high school yearbook -- Sammy -- Going too fast -- The worst news ever -- Ostracized -- State kid, again -- Taking charge -- Finding Walter -- Baby Byran -- Life with Sammy -- A promise kept -- I'm black and I'm proud -- Franklin Jacks University -- Sammy, still -- It's my body! -- The pillow rapist -- Finding Louis Montrell -- Sink or swim! -- Looking back, going forward -- A graduation for two -- Epilogue: just the two of us, building castles in the sky