Summary of plot Jane Pittman is born into slavery on a plantation somewhere in Louisiana. Jane is called "Ticey" during her days as a slave and has no parents; her mother died as a result of a beating when Jane was a child, and Jane did not know her father. ... After the soldiers leave, Jane refuses to answer when her mistress calls her "Ticey." ... The Author purpose in writing the book. ... The book is positive and negative of American life. ...

• Word Count: 1538
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

For most of McBride's life, he was yearning for an identity to call his own. ... In short, he did not have a group to call his own, outside of his immediate family. ... It appears so in the book, that religion knows no race, and therefore is very accepting to anybody, no matter who it may be. ... Later on in the book, when the family of Ruth McBride and her children move to Delaware, James McBride becomes increasingly involved with jazz. ... As a child, he understood that his family was different when he noticed that, "mommy looked different than the other mothers....

• Word Count: 1571
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Her first baby is taken by Alfonso and killed, while her second child seems to have been sold by her stepfather. ... Perhaps this is because she was so neglected and abused as a child-- she wants to give the other children what was never given her. ... At a market, she sees this child, Olivia, with her mother, who seems to have a lot of money. ... He even suggests that Shug has a sexually transmitted disease, something he calls the "nasty woman disease."" ... The following is a brief summary of Nettie's first letter to Celie: After Nettie had left their house (following ...

• Word Count: 4341
• Approx Pages: 17
• Grade Level: High School