All the Finest Girls: A Novel.

Boston, MA Little Brown: Back Bay Books, 2001. Paperback First Ed thus; First Printing indicated. First Ed thus; First Printing indicated. Near Fine in Wraps: shows only the most minute indications of use: just a hint of wear to extremities; there are two very faint hairline creases at the backstrip and another at the front hinge; else flawless. Binding square and secure; text clean. Very close to 'As New'. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. 259pp. Trade Paperback. Despite her literary pedigree (her parents are William and Rose Styron), or maybe because of it, I wasn't expecting Alexandra Styron's first novel to be anything special. Boy was I WRONG! All the Finest Girls is a touching story of misplaced motherhood, dislocated identity, and fractured childhood. Addy Abraham is a troubled young girl, neglected by her actress mother and upwardly-mobile father. Frustrated and alone, her only emotional expression seems to be horrific temper-tantrums which, of course, do not help ingratiate her into her parents lives. Addy is a lost girl in need of love. Enter Louise, the nanny from St. Clair. Starved for affection and attention, Addy is immediately drawn to Louise and they forge a mother-daughter relationship. The novel opens with Louise's death and Addy's subsequent visit to St. Clair to attend the funeral. The story of Addy's childhood unfolds gradually, via flashbacks, as her adult self is forced to confront the ugly truth about her relationship with her "black mother." All the Finest Girls is a heart-rending and very personal exploration of race relations and individual identity told with aplomb and grace. I look forward to Alexandra's next novel.