Summary

The Author’s Note of the novel reads, “The African-American scientists, inventors and pioneers mentioned in chapter 30 are all real people and their achievements are very real. When I was at school, we didn’t learn about any of them– except Robert Peary, the white European-American explorer. I wish we had done. But then, if we had, maybe I wouldn’t have written this book” (1).

The prologue takes place three years before the novel truly begins. It opens with Meggie laughing and chatting with Jasmine, her employer, while their children play outside. They are expecting Jasmine’s husband, Kamal, to arrive any minute. Sarah, Jasmine’s assistant, is clearly nervous about Kamal’s arrival. Her anxiety is shared by Meggie and Jasmine. When Kamal arrives, he interrogates Meggie regarding her whereabouts the previous evening. She does not realize that Jasmine uses her...