logo

49 pages 1 hour read

Toni Morrison

God Help The Child

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Toni Morrison's God Help the Child, Bride, a glamorous woman scarred by childhood trauma and racism, struggles to cope after her lover, Booker, leaves abruptly. She confronts her past by visiting Sofia, a woman partly convicted due to her false testimony, and later seeks Booker in a small town. Their story intertwines with the lingering impacts of familial tragedy and past abuse as they reconcile their relationship. The book addresses child sexual abuse and its effects.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Toni Morrison's God Help The Child is lauded for its lyrical prose and profound exploration of childhood trauma and racial identity. Critics praise Morrison's narrative power, though some find the character development uneven and the plot structure fragmented. Despite these critiques, the novel stands out for its emotional depth and compelling themes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read God Help The Child?

A reader who appreciates Toni Morrison's God Help The Child is likely drawn to literary fiction that delves into complex themes of racial identity, trauma, and motherhood. Fans of Morrison’s Beloved and Alice Walker’s The Color Purple will find similar emotional depth and narrative power, exploring nuanced African American experiences with poetic prose.

Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Contemporary

Publication Year

2015

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.