River, Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke

River, Cross My Heart

Breena Clarke

A deeply moving and enjoyable story of a young black girl, Johnnie Mae, growing up in the shadow of her sister's drowning in the Potomac river. This book is bursting with wonderful characters, the nature of grief and recovery. You may need a hankie, especially at the beginning!

Extract
Johnnie Mae had not seen her mother or father - certainly did not remember seeing them - since the drowning. She had not spoken to them. How would their voices sound? How might her own sound? Her throat and mouth felt like plaster.
Parallels
  • By the Light of my Father's Smile by Alice Walker
  • Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes