ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! I highly recommend this book. The storytelling is seamless as we switch between the two perspectives. The characters, the storylines, the themes... and oh my, what a twist!

Wow. Get ready for this book to blow up, and rightfully so. Told in two voices, we get to know Ella, a black teenager with a hard home life, struggling with her identity, and dreaming of an escape from her every day, and we meet Miss St. James, a white graduate student running full force from her past and into Ella’s orbit. An unlikely friendship emerges between the two, but there is more than meets the eye simmering under the surface of their relationship. I found the story to be gripping and emotional, and I think it would be an exceptional read for older teens for enjoyment or even in a school setting. Highly recommend.

This story is about 2 POVs (points of view), Ella and Ms. St. James. Ella is a 12-year-old African American girl from a small rural town called Ricksville. This is the poor side of town. Ella lives with her Ma, stepfather, older sister, and 2 brothers. She doesn’t know her father and her stepfather doesn’t care for her because of her very dark dark skin. Her older sister is treated nicely and fair because of her light skin. Ms. St. James is an older Caucasian woman from the North. She has a tragic past and ends up in a mental hospital. After her release from this hospital, she has a new outlook on life and a new identity. Ms. St. James ends up in Ricksville to do her thesis on the civil rights movement, migration, and racial tension in the South. She has a past that she wants to forget but it comes back to bite her in the story. The secondary characters bring the story to life and full circle. The characters are likable, relatable, and realistic. I could relate to and understand some of the characteristics of some of the characters.
The cover of the novel is beautiful. That is what caught my eye in wanting to read it. The cover has Ella at the river. The cover gives the significance of the storyline. The cover has vibrant colors and is very detailed.
The themes of this book are abandonment, abuse, colorism, racism, body image, loss, and family dysfunction.
I have never read anything before by this author and it will not be my last.
I recommend this book to book clubs because this book will be a great book discussion.

I give this book 4 stars.

Amazing debut novel that I highly recommend.

Parts of this novel were a bit predictable and hard to read but it dives deep into the racism and colorism of America.

Ms. St. James was a totally unlikable character, as was Ella's mom and stepfather (really all of her older siblings). I knew deep down that "Ms. St. James "(Kate) would always be a racist. The way she lashed out at Ella at the end was predictable and I had a feeling it was coming.

I felt bad for Ella, but I see why she befriended Kate. Kate was the only person who gave her the attention she wanted when it was clear that Mr. Macabre loved and cared about Ella. I would even guess that Nate did too.

It did take a while for me to really get into the book and it picks up about 50% in.

I do suggest that you put a trigger warning for this novel because it does deal with molestation, colorism and racism. Sensitive readers may not take kindly to some parts in this novel.

Overall, I would recommend this book as it was an amazing debut and I will definitely read more by Nyani Nkrumah.

I will be adding this to my most recommended list in 2023. It is every bit as good as The Secret Life of Bees and would be a great book club read. The story focuses on an unique friendship between Ella, a preteen black girl growing up in rural Mississippi and Ms. St. James, a white woman from Princeton, that rents a home on the street. The book takes place in the 80's but alternates to the civil rights movement. However, what stands out is the racism and classism that continues today. The voices of the main characters are so authentic and drew me right in.. This book needs more press and I will be purchasing it for my library.

4.5 Stars

This is a gripping and at times heart wrenching read. This is a wonderful debut novel. The writing is beautiful and the author does a great job building all the characters with amazing depth and believable flaws.

As a reader we follow two perspectives. One of a 12 year old black girl named Ella and a young white woman named Miss St James (Katherine). Present day the story is set in the 80s but then the story has flash backs of Katherine's past set in the 60s. Katherine's past is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. It's ugly and I was upset in a good way.

This story deals some hard hitting topics such as racism, escaping sins of a father, and sexual assault, The language in this book can be hard to read at times.

This book is great for those who love literary fiction and seeing two different up bringing collide. A friendship that is formed even right maybe not the best intentions at first:

I look forward to see what else this author writes in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad for this advanced reader copy, My review is voluntarily my own.

I will be posting my review to the.floofs.booknook and retail sites at publication.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for sending this book for review consideration. I appreciate the opportunity to read. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

WOW!! This book is a five star read. From page one to the last, it pulled me in and held me tight. Buckle up, its an emotional, wonderful ride!

This book is told via two points of view – Ella, a twelve-year-old black girl, and Ms. St. James, a young white woman. The novel is set in the 80’s but jumps back in time to the 60’s when we dive into Ms. St. James’ childhood memories. The story comes full circle when Ms. St. James moves back to Mississippi as an adult to write her graduate thesis on the different views of black and white Americans post the civil rights movement.

Ella is the first to befriend the out of place white lady who has moved into a very racially segregated neighborhood. The friendship is not easy nor simple. But it drives the novel in beautiful and delicious ways.

The novel is a heavy coming of age story, pulling the reader through deep topics: hate, prejudice, race, sexual assault, self-worth, escaping past binds, the meaning and influence of family, sins of the father, poverty…so many things that grip the heart. I teared up over what Ella had to endure. I was appalled (in the best of ways) over Ms. St. James’ secrets and her own dark past.

All the characters are well fleshed out, likeable and believable. From the main characters to all the side characters with less page time. Everyone is authentic and relatable. I particularly loved Ella. Watching her grow and change was delightful.

I would love to say more, and be less vague, but I do not want to ruin the review with spoilers. Suffice it to say, this is a great read, one I highly recommend. Perfect for reading groups looking for a solid historical fiction discussion/study on racism in America. The author’s writing style is strong throughout, I liked it a lot and am excited to see what else she publishes. Hard to believe this is a debut novel. Very, very, very well done! Kudos, Nyani Nkrumah!

Disclaimer: My interest in this novel was piqued by it being an Amistad offering (I’m rarely disappointed by this publisher’s catalog) and the publisher’s description references parallels to Alice Walker’s work and an appeal to fans of The Secret Life of Bees. My expectations were tempered by the momentary glance at the cover art which mistakenly gave me Young Adult Fiction vibes which led me into thinking it would be an age-appropriate period piece aimed at a younger audience - I was wrong.

Although the novel is set in 1982 it feels as if it is decades earlier due to the rural Ricksville, MS township setting - a smaller town akin to infamous Philadelphia, MS – where fact and fiction revisit the horrific murders of Civil Rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner which happened only 18 years earlier in this novel.

One of the prime narrators is Ella, a bright, inquisitive, insightful 11/12-year-old African American girl whose observations and astuteness allows the reader to absorb the adult conversations/gossip, stay abreast on town happenings, and via her astute reasoning, eavesdropping (i.e. listening in on “grown folks’ business”), and connections with the town elders - the reader is fully aware of what is happening and the potential harmful fallout of certain events. The other narrator, Katherine, is a White Princeton graduate student, who settles in Ricksville for research – in the middle of the Black section of a still very segregated town. Through flashbacks and alternating chapters, we learn of Ella and Katherine’s personal struggles, secrets, and the “friendship” that they form based on their ulterior motives and deep-seated needs.

The supporting characters all have rich backstories that inform their decisions, opinions, and motivations – these characters are products of their environment - they are complex and wounded - some are wise, some are bitter, some are mean, some are resentful, some are entitled, some are defeated. With relevance and timely themes that explore concepts of colorism, African pride, reparations to enslaved people, the plight of the Black and Southern White farmers, the systemic disenfranchisement of African Americans via redlining, voting rights, denial of fair housing, bank loans, inheritance, etc. are cleverly woven into the plotlines.

This debut offering handles sensitive socio-political content very well – I was pulled in immediately and immersed in Ella’s and Katherine’s story. Will we meet them again?

Thanks to Amistad and NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

Wade in the Water is a worthy debut novel. Nyani Nkrumah has written an emotional story set in a segregated Mississippi town. Ella, a young Black girl, and Ms St James, a white woman from Princeton, form an intense and complicated relationship. The story is told in their alternating voices. I’m confident that this book will be a popular book club selection.

Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: January 17th 2023 by Amistad Press

Trigger warning: molestation, racism, and colorism

Thank you to #netgalley and #amistad publishing for the advanced reader's copy of #wadeinthewater by #nyaninkrumah. Set in 1982, in rural, racially divided Ricksville, Mississippi. Ella, a black, unloved, precocious preteen, and Ms. St. James, a mysterious white woman from Princeton who appears in Ella's community to carry out some research. The two form an unlikely and complex friendship.

Absolutely amazing debut novel. I cannot wait to see more works from the author. The book evoked so many emotions. You really felt for Ella. I like that the book ended positively, especially since it had so many heavy themes. I feel like this should be required reading. The topics are heavy but are important and need to be discussed. 5 stars! I really hope this book is promoted well because it is potentially an award winning novel.

Told in alternating point-of-views, Wade the Water revolves around Ella, a 12-year-old black girl, and her love/hate friendship with an older white woman, Katherine St. James in 1980's rural Mississippi. This is a compelling coming-of-age novel with family secrets and racial issues. Thanks to author Nyani Nkrumah, publisher Amistad, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This impressive debut by Nyani Nkrumah came as a very welcome surprise. Unlike the ordinary novel of a friendship between a preadolescent Black girl and an older Princeton female graduate student in 1982 that I expected, Nkrumah has written a moving story that humanizes the ongoing struggle between Black and White inhabitants of a segregated Mississippi town located near Philadelphia, site of the infamous murder of three civil rights activists in the 1960s. The novel grabbed me from the start and kept me in its thrall to the end. Highly recommended.

Wade in the Water by Nyani Nkrumah is something truly special!
A strong, well written debut!

Ella and Ms. St. James's story is will I'll be thinking about for days!
Set in 1982 Ricksville, Mississippi these two opposites form a friendship unlike anything I've ever read before.
The way Nkrumah captures the setting and lives from this time was beautiful but heartbreaking.
The special relationship these two, plus others, develop with each other is heartwarming.
I felt WITW was at times emotional, gripping and enthralling. In which I couldn't stop reading.
I enjoyed their story, the secrets that unfold along the way and the bond these two had.
This beautifully written debut draws you in from the very first page, and keeps you immersed until the final sentence.
An absorbing, page turning coming of age story that will keep readers mesmerized until the last shocking revelation.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Amistad,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

Wow - This book gets 5 stars
This book follows Kate Summerville's life on a farm in 1960's Mississippi & her return to that area as an adult to write her graduate thesis on the different views of black & white Americans after the civil rights movement . Ella is the first one to befriend the white lady who had moved into a very racially segregated neighborhood. The author did an amazing job with the characters-especially young Ella & helping us to see the world through her eyes, I felt Ella's sadness & loneliness & her struggle to figure everything out. I felt her pain & the angst as she searches for the friends that she can trust to answer her infinite questions.
I have read many books that attempt to explain the horrible racism that was normal in the American South & the incredible events that took place especially in the 1960's. I know it's far from over. Perhaps the most profound statement of this book was Mr Macabe's " that there are good people, bad people, and those that are in between".

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for graciously allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable book, but it took until about a third of the way in until I was truly invested. I enjoyed the writing style of the author. I believe that she has great promise and the potential to be superb with the right story. I don't feel that this was that story. It seemed uneventful and anti climactic. There are good bones for a great novel here, but I feel we need more of a story to bring it forward.

This was a very unique story - one like I have never read. It is in two perspectives, a little girl and an older white lady in the 1980s. A heartbreaking coming of age story that will have you captivated until the very last page.