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There are currently 44 member reviews
for Take My Hand
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Barbara B. (Evansville, IN)
Realistic Fiction About Birth Control
Take My Hand is realistic fiction at its best. A black nurse in 1970's Montgomery Alabama takes a job at a family planning clinic where she becomes a beacon of hope for her poverty stricken patients. Soon, she discovers she is giving injections of a controversial drug, Depo-Provera, to very young girls. The nurse is Civil Townsend, and she wants to improve the lives of her patients, not realizing that her role will create medical consequences for the young ladies. Ms Townsend is an excellent role model as she refuses to give the drug. She also continues her schooling to become a doctor, which is admirable.
Today, long term studies indicate that Depo-Provera still carries an elevated risk for breast cancer, and it offers no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. It is not approved for birth control use in the United States, but is manufactured in Belgium and France for use in 80 countries. More than a million women currently use the injections worldwide.
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Rosanne S. (Franklin Square, NY)
Take My Hand
Have you ever been so moved that you took to action? In Take My Hand, (inspired by true events) Civil Townsend becomes the catalyst for one of the biggest cases in American courts. This outstanding book holds no punches when relating another American tragedy propelled by Racism.
The author did an amazing job at identifying all the issues, portraying all the feelings and delivering the facts to readers like myself who were unaware of the events in Mobile, Al.
That this book should surface now as history is somewhat repeating itself is incredible. I was struck by the powerful feelings it evoked in me as I read. I kept asking myself "how" and "why" but at the same time thinking "yet" and "again".
I hope this book and this author get a lot of attention. Dolen Perkins-Valdez is as brave and courageous as her character Civil. As This book needs to be read by everyone and shared again and again so that it's powerful message ignites women everywhere to stand up for what's right and just and fair.
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Bonne O. (Hartwell, GA)
The Quest for Racial Perfection
With meticulous research, the author weaves a fictional story around a sensational historic court case held in Alabama in 1973 involving reproductive rights for women.
The drama unfolds on two fronts, the US Governments role in the court case and the people closely involved. The narrative centers around the affected family, their nurses and an array of friends, all African Americans, who are attempting to navigate a tragedy in a bigoted southern environment.
I enjoyed this book because the subject was a revelation for me. It read like a crime novel exposing the extent and enormity of the practice of racial sterilization. This book is intended to bring these past atrocities to light and broadcast awareness to those who can voice dissent.
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Theresa P. (Arkport, NY)
US History often shocks me
I was graduating from high school when Take My Hand takes place. I knew about Roe vs. Wade—but had no idea about the sterilizations of thousands of women. To read about a young nurse who recognized the inappropriate tubal ligations that her young patients are subjected to, and the court case that resulted from her protest of the practice, was a gripping narrative. Based on historical figures, the unfolding of events for the nurse, her coworkers, her patients, and their family make for a great, revealing read. Our history is not always our finest.
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Shirl (Wisconsin)
Deeply touching book!
"Take My Hand" is a deeply touching book. I would have liked to think this forced sterilization of poor black women happened much longer ago than it actually did. I had just recently gone into the working world in 1973, so it brought me back to the reality of how women were sometimes treated in that time. I was aware of earlier concerns around sterilization of women with disabilities, but had not been aware of the same being true for poor black women. And that it was still happening in 1973! It shocked me as well, that these girls were so very young and had no prior awareness of what was going to be done to them. While this story is fiction, I appreciated the author's notes about it being based on fact. Also, I found the story especially authentic due to the initially mixed feelings of some of those involved. I felt the author presented this as not always an evil attempt to abuse women, but rather sometimes a terribly misguided action. This gave the story greater depth and impact for me. It is definitely a book I would share.
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Lloyde N. (Olympia, WA)
Overlooked Gem
One of my favorite genre of books is historical fiction. I started out not enticed by this book because it involved young women and abortion. Then, I realized I had volunteered working and providing music therapy for other young girls in Salem, Oregon who had their children as young as 12 about 8 years later. Yes, a whole room full of young mother's who had stories to tell and needed help and support with their choices. At times I felt overwhelmed caring for mothers and their children. But these young mothers had taught me much as I embraced their stories and lives.
Perkins-Valdez writing style is eloquent and illustrates a period in American history that has largely faded away. I plan to do further reading on this subject to see if more information is available.
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Diane T. (Slingerlands, NY)
Some things just don't Change
"Take My Hand" by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a gut wrenching story, albeit fiction, based on true accounts of forced sterilization of girls and women of color. One might think that this takes place in "the dark ages", yet this happened in the 1970's, a mere 50 years ago. The book is voiced by a young nurse, working her first job in a Federally run Family Planning Clinic in Montgomery, Alabama. The nurse, Civil, is a black woman, daughter of a physician, who wants nothing more than to bring the women she attends to the much needed medical care that they don't have. The realization of what is happening under her watch spurs her to try to right an egregious wrong.
Perkins-Valdez speaks in a voice that is straightforward without bleeding heart melodrama. This makes the telling even more poignant. Her characters and their interactions are direct, giving this book a powerful message to all.
How ironic it is that those if us who were fortunate in choosing this book to read and review are doing this as the Supreme Court votes not to stay a Texas law to prohibit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Yes, the difference is the later is out in the open and the former was in secret and unauthorized. Yet the bottom line is the complete disregard of the bodily right of a woman to decide what is best for her! Some things just don't change!!
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