The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Kathryn Stockett has taken the literary world by storm with her first novel, The Help. Set in the volatile 60's. this excellently written book deals with black domestic workers employed in white households in Jackson, Mississippi. Motivated by memories of her own family's household maid, the author attempts to accurately create a scenario of the thoughts, emotions, and struggles of these strong black women.

Eugenia Phelan, better known as Skeeter, returns home from college to the family planatation, without a job or potential husband. She lands a position with the local newpaper writing a column on household hints; unfortunately a subject with which she is totally ignorant. She enlists the help of her friend's maid, Aibileen, who is more than knowledgable about cleaning and running a household.

Getting to know Aibileen, and thinking back on the the black maid who helped raise her, Skeeter begins to realize these strong ladies all have stories to tell. She asks Aibileen if she would tell about her life and ask other maids to do the same. Even though Skeeter promises they will remain anonymous, the ladies are very nervous about the repercussions should their identities become known. Skeeter convinces a publisher in New York to consider such a controversial book.

A "book within a book" the women decide to call their book "Help". Some of their tales revealing the prejudice and ignorance of the 60's seem incredulous today, but will certainly enlighten the reader of the plight of black people then and the efforts it took to allow them to take a real place in American society.

This is possibly the best fiction work of 2009. Not only it it a "hard to put down novel", it deals accurately and courageously with a sensitive subject. Buy, borrow, or check out a copy and endulge yourself in what could be a true American classic. This one's a '10' folks.