Push

Sapphire

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harrowing experiences

resilience amidst adversity

brutal realities of abuse

graphic language and vivid descriptions

urban struggles and societal neglect

hope and empowerment through education

emotional journey of determination

complex and layered characters

visceral connection to character

phonetic spelling and informal language

urgent reading experience

poignant fiction addressing serious

supportive figures like ms. blue rain

Push by Sapphire is a raw and harrowing story following the life of Precious Jones, a teenage girl who has endured unimaginable abuse from both her parents. Illiterate and pregnant twice by her own father, Precious finds hope and strength through education and the support of a caring teacher. The book delves into themes of injustice, pain, and the resilience of the human spirit, painting a vivid picture of Precious's journey from a life of abuse and despair to one of determination and empowerment.

Sapphire's writing style in Push is characterized by its rawness and simplicity, effectively conveying the brutal realities faced by Precious. The novel's graphic language and vivid descriptions provide a stark portrayal of Precious's struggles, while also highlighting the importance of education and self-worth in overcoming adversity. Through Precious's narrative, readers are taken on a poignant and emotional journey that explores the darkest corners of human experience with a glimmer of hope shining through.

Characters:

The characters are complex and layered, with Precious embodying resilience amidst adversity, while supportive figures like Ms. Blue Rain offer hope and encouragement.

Writing/Prose:

The prose captures Precious's voice authentically with phonetic spelling and informal language, evolving as her literacy improves, creating a visceral connection to her character.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on the harrowing experiences of Precious Jones, who faces unimaginable abuse and struggles to find hope and empowerment through education.

Setting:

The story unfolds in Harlem, New York, against a backdrop of societal neglect and urban struggles, amplifying the character's challenges.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, yet the emotional weight of the narrative compels readers, creating an urgent reading experience.

I was left back when I was twelve because I had a baby for my fahver. That was in 1983.1 was out of school for a year. This gonna be my second baby. My daughter got Down Sinder. She's retarded. I had ...

Notes:

The novel 'Push' is about Claireece 'Precious' Jones, a 16-year-old girl who faces extreme abuse and hardship.

Precious is pregnant with her second child, both fathered by her own father.

The book portrays significant themes such as educational opportunity, self-discovery, and overcoming adversity.

Sapphire, the author, uses a phonetic writing style to reflect Precious's illiteracy and inner voice.

The narrative of 'Push' is deeply emotional and challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about society.

Precious's story highlights the statistics of abuse, with 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys experience sexual abuse in the U.S.

The character of Precious evolves through education and support, particularly from a caring teacher named Ms. Rain.

'Push' is considered an inspirational novel despite its heavy themes and doesn't provide a traditional happy ending.

The book was adapted into the award-winning film 'Precious,' which further popularized its story.

Sapphire, who is a performance poet, blends poetry with prose in her storytelling, adding depth to Precious's journey.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Push include high levels of child abuse, incest, sexual violence, and graphic depictions of trauma.

From The Publisher:

Precious Jones, an illiterate sixteen-year-old, has up until now been invisible to the father who rapes her and the mother who batters her and to the authorities who dismiss her as just one more of Harlem's casualties. But when Precious, pregnant with a second child by her father, meets a determined and radical teacher, we follow her on a journey of education and enlightenment as she learns not only how to write about her life, but how to make it truly her own for the first time.

Ratings (12)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (5)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (1)
Did Not Like (2)

Reader Stats (20):

Read It (15)
Want To Read (5)

What can you read after
Push?

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About the Author:

Sapphire is the author of American Dreams, a collection of poetry that was cited by Publishers Weekly as "one of the strongest debut collections of the nineties." Push, her novel, won the Book-of-the-Month Club's Stephen Crane award for First Fiction, the Black Caucus of…

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