This sharp-witted, timely novel explores cancel culture, anger, and grief, and challenges the romanticization of America's racist past with humor and heartβfor readers ofΒ Dear MartinΒ by Nic Stone andΒ GrownΒ by Tiffany D. Jackson.
Β
Harriet Douglass lives with her historian father on an old plantation in Louisiana, which theyβve transformed into one of the South's few enslaved peopleβs museums. Together, while grieving the recent loss of Harrietβs mother, they run tours that help keep the memory of the past alive.
Β
Harriet's world is turned upside down by the arrival of mother and daughter Claudia and Layla Hartwellβwho plan to turn the property next door into a wedding venue, and host the offensively antebellum-themed wedding of two Hollywood stars.
Β
Harrietβs fully prepared to hate Layla Hartwell, but it seems that Layla might not be so bad after allβunlike many people, this California influencer is actually interested in Harriet's point of view. Harriet's sure she can change the hearts of Layla and her mother, but she underestimates the scale of the challengeβ¦and when her school announces that prom will be held on the plantation, Harrietβs just about had it with this whole racist timeline! Overwhelmed by grief and anger, itβs fair to say she snaps.
Β
Can Harriet use the power of social media to cancel the celebrity wedding and the plantation prom? Will she accept that sheβs falling in love with her childhood best friend, whoβs unexpectedly returned after years away? Can she deal with the frustrating reality that Americans seem to live in two completely different countries? And through it all, can she and Layla build a bridge between them?
Β