Super Short Summary

The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe is a historical novel based on the true story of Anita Hemmings, the first black graduate of Vassar College. The story follows Anita as she navigates the challenges and deceptions of passing as white to access the prestigious education denied to her by racial segregation in the late 19th century. The narrative focuses on her senior year, the complexities of her friendship with her wealthy roommate Lottie, and her burgeoning love for a white classmate, ultimately questioning the cost of her aspirations versus her true identity. The book addresses issues of racial identity and the societal limitations imposed on people of color during the Gilded Age.