Synopses & Reviews
The Butler family has had their share of trials — as sisters Althea, Viola, and Lillian can attest — but nothing prepared them for the literal trial that will upend their lives.
Althea, the eldest sister and substitute matriarch, is a force to be reckoned with and her younger sisters have alternately appreciated and chafed at her strong will. They are as stunned as the rest of the small community when she and her husband, Proctor, are arrested, and in a heartbeat the family goes from one of the most respected in town to utter disgrace. The worst part is, not even her sisters are sure exactly what happened.
As Althea awaits her fate, Lillian and Viola must come together in the house they grew up in to care for their sister’s teenage daughters. What unfolds is a stunning portrait of the heart and core of an American family in a story that is as page-turning as it is important.
Review
"Gray manages a large cast
of characters with ease, sharply differentiating between the voices of
hardheaded Althea, shrewd Viola, and hesitating Lillian, who narrate the
novel in alternating chapters."
Kirkus
Review
"This is perfect for fans of Brit Bennett's
The Mothers; readers will be deeply affected by this story of a family wrestling to support itself."
Publisher's Weekly
Review
"Gray's engrossing and moving debut novel considers secrets and lies and their effect on the families of three sisters."
Booklist
Review
"The inequities of the justice system, the fortitude of women of color, and the bittersweet struggle to connect are rendered ravishly in this bighearted novel." Oprah Magazine
Review
"Gray’s nuanced, lyrical debut is a moving examination of the ties that bind and — nearly as often — bless." People
Review
"If you enjoyed An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, read The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls…an absorbing commentary on love, family and forgiveness." The Washington Post
About the Author
Anissa Gray is a Senior Editor at CNN Worldwide and a contributor to Emmy and DuPont-Columbia award-winning coverage of some of the most consequential stories of our time. She began her career at Reuters as a reporter, based in New York, covering business news and international finance. Born in St. Joseph, Michigan, Gray studied English and American literature at New York University. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her wife.