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      Betsey Brown

      by Ntozake Shange
      Published
      May 1985
      Main Genre
      General Fiction General Fiction
      Rating
      Pages
      208
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      About This Book

      An award-winning writer brings to life the story of a young girl's awakening amidst her country's seismic growing pains in the American South.

      "A lyrical coming-of-age novel." —New York Times

      Set in St. Louis in 1957, the year of the Little Rock Nine, Ntozake Shange's story reveals the prismatic effect of racism on an American child and her family. Seamlessly woven into this masterful portrait of an extended family is the story of Betsey's adolescence, the rush of first romance, and the sobering responsibilities of approaching adulthood.

      "Shange has re-created a humorous, charming, and heartbreaking vision of St. Louis and the Brown family that will delight young and old. She can conjure, as if by magic. . . . Betsey Brown is like an enchanting melody." —St. Louis Post-Dispatch

      "Ntozake Shange is a unique and gifted, literary executant and works under strong impulses to do things her own way despite settled conventions of craft. The author's peculiar chemistry (a synonym for talent), plus her singlemindedness, has brought her a decided victory. She has made Betsey Brown live. We care about the child and wonder what will happen to her, how she will fare. This doubtless was the author's intention—and mission." —Chicago Sun Times

      Genres & Themes

      Genres

      General Fiction

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      Formats & Editions

      Browse the different covers, formats, and publication history for this title.

      Paperback

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      Trade Paperback
      Jan 1987 St. Martin's ISBN13 9780312077280 ISBN10 0312077289
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      Trade Paperback
      Aug 1995 Picador ISBN13 9780312134341 ISBN10 0312134347
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      Trade Paperback
      Oct 2010 Griffin ISBN13 9780312541231 ISBN10 0312541236
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      Hardcover

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      Hardcover
      First Edition May 1985 St. Martin's ISBN13 9780312077273 ISBN10 0312077270
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      Hardcover
      Aug 1995 Turtleback Books ISBN13 9780613423472 ISBN10 061342347X
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      Hardcover edition cover
      Hardcover
      Aug 1995 Turtleback Books ISBN13 9780606226974 ISBN10 0606226974
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      eBook

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      eBook
      Oct 2010 St. Martin's ISBN13 9781429956635 ISBN10 1429956631
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      eBook
      Oct 2010 Griffin ISBN10 B004A90E62
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