Reviewed by Kristin
New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson delivers
an origin story worthy of a superhero, as well as a tiny bundle of cells
rapidly dividing and multiplying in an epic quest to become that most miraculous
of beings: a new human.
Leia Birch Briggs is a graphic novel artist who had a huge success
with Violence in Violet, or V in V, a comic which grew out of
sketches she began two decades ago. At
first a minor work, V in V exploded
in popularity when Leia uploaded a few pages onto her website. Suddenly a bit of a rock star in the comic
world, Leia is offered a deal to write a prequel. She is struggling to write her character’s
beginnings when she has a one night stand at a Comic Con with Batman; or that
is, someone cosplaying Batman.
What better than an unplanned pregnancy to throw a knot into
the somewhat structured life of a 38-year-old self-employed artist? And just to add another facet to the situation,
Leia is white and Batman is black.
Leia is also blindsided by a call home to Alabama to help
Birchie, her grandmother who has suddenly shown signs of dementia—unfortunately
in full view of half the town in church one Sunday morning. In fact, Leia’s phone is blowing up with
messages and calls before the pews have emptied. Birchie needs care, more than her comparably
aged African American maid/friend/companion Wattie can provide.
As Leia attempts to care for her grandmother and decide if
she will reach out to her Caped Crusader, old bones and racial differences in
the Deep South emerge in a way that will change her life and the lives of her
family forever.
What I love about Joshilyn Jackson’s books is that they are
full of imperfect people who usually manage to find some measure of redemption
and grace. Her characters feel very
real: so much like someone who we might know at church, at work, down at the
corner market, or maybe even a little closer to home. Sometimes Jackson’s stories make wild twists
and turns but I love being along for the ride.
Jackson puts her heart and soul into each novel she
publishes. The Almost Sisters is even closer
to her family than most of the others.
She is a Southerner (with a capital S) through and through, and explores
the meaning of family in every thread of her writing. For a special peek into what Jackson has
shared with her readers, check out this article in the Atlanta JournalConstitution.
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