Girl Divided

This is the question Jetta, is asking throughout the book. She was literally born divided — from head to toe, one side of her is a blue-eyed blonde white girl, while the other half is brown-eyed, black-haired African-American. And America is in the middle of a violent race war, with whites and blacks killing each other and claiming cities and regions for their own kind. At age 14: Jetta and her grandmother, are imprisoned in a black ghetto near New Orleans with little food and no real shelter. She befriends Tyler, a teenager who helps her escape. The two begin to make their way to Chicago, which has become a walled stronghold of the Black Liberty army, which Tyler wants to join.

Jetta’s journey becomes one of self-discovery. She meets Lo, a powerful white woman who claims to be her real mother. Lo has great plans for Jetta and her growing powers. Later, Jetta is reunited with Tyler and a black stranger named Strango and his wife Oya, who have powers of their own.

Jetta’s story is really the story of the destructive power of divisiveness and the never-ending battles of good vs. evil and destiny vs. free will. What will Jetta become and will she even have a choice? This is a very timely, thought-provoking novel that is reminiscent of “The Shack” with echoes of Stephen King’s “The Stand.” It was hard to read on an emotional level because current reality could be a harbinger of these events happening here. But “Girl Divided” is not easily put down and forgotten. It could be the “1984” of this time and should be read by politicians, students and anyone who is concerned with world affairs. Very good, but scary.
By Bookworm Sandy