In 'Such a Fun Age,' Kiley Reid explores the complexities of race, privilege, and the dynamics of modern relationships through the lens of a young black woman named Emira Tucker. After being accused of kidnapping while babysitting a white child, Emira's life intersects with her employer, Alix Chamberlain, leading to unexpected revelations and moral dilemmas. The narrative delicately unpacks societal expectations and the reality of performative allyship. As their lives entwine, both women grapple with their own identities and the impact of their choices. This thought-provoking debut novel challenges readers to reflect on their assumptions and the intricacies of human connection in today's world.
By Kiley Reid
Published: 2019
""It was a strange thing to be in a world that felt so small, yet so full of unseen boundaries.""
A Best Book of the Year: The Washington Post • Chicago Tribune • NPR • Vogue • Elle • Real Simple • InStyle • Good Housekeeping • Parade • Slate • Vox • Kirkus Reviews • Library Journal • BookPage Longlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize An Instant New York Times Bestseller A Reese's Book Club Pick "The most provocative page-turner of the year." --Entertainment Weekly "I urge you to read Such a Fun Age." --NPR A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both. Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right. But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other. With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone "family," and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times.
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“"It was a strange thing to be in a world that felt so small, yet so full of unseen boundaries."”
Such a Fun Age
By Kiley Reid
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Kiley Reid is an acclaimed author known for her provocative and incisive storytelling. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Iowa Writers' Workshop, Reid's debut novel, "Such a Fun Age," has garnered widespread acclaim and was nominated for several prestigious awards. Known for her sharp wit and keen observations, Reid explores themes of race, class, and identity in contemporary society. Her writing style deftly blends humor and social commentary, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with readers.
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