Precious by Sapphire

Released: 2009

Precious is about an illiterate urban teen who is pregnant for the second time by her father. She attends a special school and finally learns to read.

This urban novel has been in the spotlight for quite some time, and has even been made into a movie featuring Monique and Mariah Carey.

Okay, so I think it's great that Precious learns to read and write and eventually comes to feel happy about school and makes some friends.

From a literary standpoint, I didn't find Precious too unique. In fact, it's a modernized, urban version of The Color Purple by Alice Walker.

                                    

Precious does not have a happy ending though, so if you are looking for something truly enlightening, perhaps this book isn't for you. The monstrosity of violence in this novel is very raw, and not for the faint of heart.

It's easy to see why the rest of the world, including Oprah, loves this book. It's just another cruel reminder of what some children in parts of our country are exposed to.