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Reviewed: Apr 30, 2008

Breaking Away by Kristin Lattany
Ballentine Books, April 2003
305 Pages, Paperback, $9.95
ISBN: 0345442490
Genre: Fiction

RAW Rating: 4.0 (out of 5)

University Race Relations
 
Bethesda (Beth) Barnes grew up in a household where she and her sister led a sheltered existence.  Their parents never wanted them to know about the harsher realities of life for African Americans.  They kept from their daughters the true state of race relations in America.  As a result, Beth grew up looking at life through rose colored glasses, never seeing (or not paying attention to) the inequities and injustices Blacks faced at the hands of the racists views of some white Americans.  Although she works at a prestigious university as a professor, it doesn’t really faze her that her's is only one of a few faces of color on staff.  She becomes complacent and tries to go along to get along.  In any event, she loves her job, her students and the man in her life.  Life couldn’t be better.

Then the unthinkable happens. Beth gets approached by four African American female students about an incident that has rocked their world.  While practicing for a Greek show on campus, the young ladies were humiliated and debased by a group of White male students.  They were cursed, called racially insensitive names and had garbage thrown at them.  They intend to pursue a lawsuit challenging the university’s policy on harassment and want Beth to be their faculty advisor.  Although not entirely sure about the merits of the case, Beth takes on the job and is immediately propelled into the chasm of racial injustice and just how far some are prepared to take it.  This case and the near simultaneous loss of her father and sister will force Beth to take a long look at the way she was raised and the life she currently lives.  Will she go along or break away?

In BREAKING AWAY, Kristin Lattany has written a thought-provoking, suspense-filled chronicle on race relations that could be representative of any university campus in America.  Lattany writes in such a way it causes you to look within yourself and question your complacency as far as race.  Have you been going along to get along, or have you stood up for your rights and those of others?  Her characterizations are excellent and go a long way in providng insight and explanation as to motives.  I was able to identify with many of the emotions emitted and the thought processes that were derived.  Although this is my first read by this author, it was well worth the effort and I’m sure others will benefit from this insightful read.

Reviewed by Brenda M. Lisbon, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Brenda M. Lisbon is an avid reader and a big supporter of school-sponsored reading activities for children in her community.  She and her son reside in Bishopville, SC.

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