Summary

Chapter 1

In Chapter One, the author tells the reader that the character is black by referring to her as “an almost white person.” The character, a 12-year-old girl who attends Catholic school, is quite intelligent (the girl seated behind her wants to copy her exams), but is also depicted as plain and quiet. The author and narrator of the book, describes circumstances that drive humiliation and hurt, as Sister Evelyn posts failing and superior grades for all to see, and takes no notice of the girl who speaks only when spoken to....as if invisible.

Other painful events are described: someone close uses the wrong name to communicate (as if all black people look alike and it is easy to confuse their identity/name), a friend shares that a person of color must be hired – this friend is upset because there are so...