The Darkest Child

By: Delores Phillips

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

A new edition of this award-winning modern classic, with a new introduction

In 1958 Georgia, the shade of a 13-year-old black girl's skin can make the difference in her fate. Tangy Mae is the smartest of her mother's 10 children, but she is also the darkest complected. The Quinns - all different skin shades, all with unknown fathers - live with their charismatic, beautiful, and tyrannical mother, Rozelle, in poverty on the fringes of a Georgia town where Jim Crow rules.

Rozelle's children live in fear of her mood swings and her violence, but they are devoted to her. Rozelle pulls her children out of school when they are 12 years old so that they can help support her by going to work - as domestics, as field laborers, or down at "the farmhouse", where Rozelle takes her oldest daughters to turn tricks for her.

Tangy Mae has been offered the opportunity to apply to an integrated high school and might even have the chance to graduate if she can somehow avoid her sisters' fate. Can she break from Rozelle's grasp without violent - even fatal - consequences?

©2004 Delores Phillips (P)2018 Recorded Books

Fabulous story

What a book! This gem sat in my library for way too long. This is a heavy, but fantastic listen full of characters to which you will feel an emotional connection. The writing is rich and poetic, and Ms. Turpin always gives a stellar performance. This story will stay with you long after you have finished it.

A must read!!!

I found myself emersed in every word. I dared to know an understand every secret held by the Quinn's. I knew some of those Characters when I was little, like Ms Pearl and old uncle's like crow.
This book made me angry, made me cry an reminded me how cruel an evil people can still be towards black people and each other. This book showed the heart of man regardless of bloodline and race. It showed the broken fabric of a people once told they can never be anything but...the darkest child.
Humanity must come to a better understanding If not we as a collective people will always an forever remain lost. I searched frantically for the sequel, unfortunately with Dolores Phillips untimely passing I can only create my own ending and for me God made all things right for her. This reality is the one I pray for as I'm certain based on what's happening with hate an racism all these centuries later, true reality tells me it most likely did not. I highly recommend this read, it will touch your soul and dare you to look deeply at the many darkest children that remain left behind.

Strong Female Characters

Murders, Prostitution, Ghosts, and Hatred for ones female children kept me glued to this Historical Novel of a Southern Black Families’ survival. A single mother and her 10 children, who never knew their fathers, tried to survive any way they can. This is not an adolescent novel but a commentary on life for African Americans in the south in the second half of the 20th century. Revenge and insanity keep you listening because you want to know who survives the poverty, racial hatred and injustices, childbirth and abortions. If you liked “Sing, Unburied, Sing”, you will love this novel.

Everything that could go wrong did until the heroine graduates high school and leave her insane mother who had already killed 3 of her child. Recommend for those who love being frightened.

Moving story with superb narration. Highly recommended!

This audiobook kept me riveted throughout. It was as though I moved into this dysfunctional family as an observer.
It is a shame the author passed away and never finished the sequel. I was invested in the story and wanted to know what the future held for the narrator, tanji May.

Wow!!

This book made me angry, sad, disgusted. But ohhh, Tangie! What a powerful young woman! Bahni Turpin’s voice transports you into the story! Wonderful book, Ms. Phillips!!

Stellar Reading and Listening Experience

Deeply moving characters and story. Sad, hard poverty effected children who cope with mother's mental illness.

Story hit home for me...

one of my favorite novels. well written, great and unnerving story. narration could have been better but did not take away from the story. saddened that this was Delores Phillips only novel before her passing. thoroughly enjoyed, cried and clutched my pearls from this story. listened to it 4 times....preparing to listen for a fifth!

Devastatingly good read

The writing was only matched by the reader who gave such a great performance I was moved to tears more than once. So sad the follow up book wasn’t finished.

Powerful Read

Though hard to get through at times, I still enjoyed and would recommend it completely

Outstanding

An amazing story that captures the true essence of each character. It’s definitely our loss that the author was unable to complete the sequel, as I’m sure it would have been as spectacular as the original. She had an amazing voice.