The Parker Inheritance

Bibliography
Johnson, V. (2018). The Parker inheritance. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.


Plot Summary
When Candice has to spend the summer with her mom at her grandmother’s house because of renovations, she is less than thrilled. With no Internet connection, she doesn’t know what she’s going to do. But then she finds a letter containing a mystery that peaks her interest. With help from her neighbor, Candice learns more about the history of Lambert, South Carolina and what secrets it has kept.


Critical Analysis
There are so many layers within this novel. Not only is there a mystery, but it is also historical fiction as it flips back and forth from the past to modern times. Racism, sexual identity, divorce, and bullying are all touched upon at some point or another.

The timeline of the plot switches from current day with Candice and Brandon to the past, mostly focusing on Enoch and Siobhan Washington. Enoch was introduced as an 11-year old in 1914 and described as a “tar baby” by another person of color. “He was darker than all of his siblings. His skin was like moist soil that had just been turned. Like swirling ash rising from a fire” (pg 48). The light or darkness of skin tone is an important theme of the book. As a dark skinned Black man, Enoch eventually grows to resent himself. He marries a lighter skinned woman in the hopes to have lighter skinned children. Reggie, the man his daughter eventually falls in love with, uses the lightness of his skin to blend in with white people. Skin tone continues to play a huge role. For example, in Hollywood, lighter skinned actors are cast in roles written for darker characters - Starr in Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give is described in the book as much darker in tone than her movie counterpart, Amandla Stenberg. Eventually, Reggie becomes so used to his new identity, that he lets his heritage fall to the wayside a bit. That is, until he meets up with Siobhan again, who reminds him and shapes him into a better person.

Candice and Brandon themselves receive microaggressions in the form of the assistant principal, Mr. Rittenhauer. The two are getting help during the summer from the school librarian. When they are caught in the building unaccompanied, Mr. Rittenhauer assumes the worst of them. “‘Son, the only thing I hate more than a thief is a liar. Want to try that again?’” (pg 131).

The importance of church for the family is emphasized even though Candice’s mom opts out. She attends with Brandon and his family, and she becomes inspired. Not only that, but they receive help from one of the deacons who had knowledge of Enoch “Coach Dub” Washington. And the extended family dynamic is shown with Brandon’s family with his grandfather living with him, his sister, and his mother. Candice’s family is slowly going through a shuffle with her parents divorce and her father’s new love interest.

It is never fully revealed if Brandon is gay or not. There are subtle hints especially in how he is bullied by Milo and his gang, but it’s possible that Brandon isn’t sure himself, so it’s left to interpretation for the reader. However, the idea that he might be gay does open up the conversation for Candice and her father.

This is an important book to be in any library. Candice and Brandon are smart children who solve a puzzle that some adults ignored or fell short with. They are never ashamed of who they are and are there to support one another. Many different themes and ideas are presented that could start a lot of interesting conversations in the classroom.


Review Excerpt(s)
Odyssey Award Nominee (2019)
Coretta Scott King Book Award Nominee for Author (2019)
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction & Poetry Nominee (2018)

"Johnson's latest novel holds racism firmly in the light. Candice and Brandon discover the joys and terrors of the reality of being African-American in the 1950s. Without sugarcoating facts or dousing it in post-racial varnish, the narrative lets the children absorb and reflect on their shared history. The town of Lambert brims with intrigue, keeping readers entranced until the very last page. A candid and powerful reckoning of history." - Kirkus Reviews

“A dazzling and emotional read that deals with serious topics such as bullying, racism, and divorce." - Booklist


Connections
-Activities

• Mini-lesson on Juneteenth and its importance to African-American history. “The paster started off talking about the importance of Juneteenth, equating the plight of black slaves to Israelites in ancient Egypt” (pg 99).
• Pair with The Westing Game - Raskin, E. (1978). The Westing game. New York: E.P. Dutton
• Candice’s mother was the first African-American city manager. Showcase more “firsts” - Misty Copeland, Madame C.J. Walker, Althea Gibson, etc.
• Provide puzzle sheets for early finishes - Sudoku, crosswords, etc. - to help students understand the mindset Candice and Brandon may have been in.
• Research historically black colleges or universities (HBCU) - Perkins High School, where Candice and Brandon learned the most about James Parker and Enoch Washington with the help of the curator of the Memorial room, started as a one room school house for freed slaves in 1868. HBCUs were created before 1964 to serve the African American community. “‘Perkins was one of the first schools for black children in the region. Maybe even the state,’ he said” (pg 45). It may be difficult to research elementary or secondary school houses in your state, but students can learn about HBCU’s that were created.