Saving Savannah

Savannah Riddle and her parents are known for their status in the upper echelon of African American society in 1919 Washington, DC. But lavish parties and clothes can't quell the unrest in Savannah's heart. She used to revel in the comforts of wealth, but the aftershock of WWI and new racial and gender tensions challenge Savannah to find a greater purpose for her life. With help from Lloyd, a working class West Indian man, Savannah learns ideologies of revolution that far surpass DuBois' "talented tenth." Bolden is a master at presenting (Black) American history to young people. The story is riveting, with imagery that places readers in the midst of the early 20th century, although having the voice alternate between Savannah and her childhood best friend Yolande (who wants to settle into the comforts of wealth) leads to imbalance. The author's note is beautifully done, revealing the intricate details of street names, people, and even magazine covers that color Savannah's journey toward truth. A must-read, and a great addition to any curricular study of WWI.

Following Inventing Victoria, Bolden returns to the world of upper-class African-American society in historical Washington, D.C., where she explores the tumultuous changes of 1919--the fight for women's suffrage, the New Negro movement, the growth of anarchism--through the eyes of 17-year-old Savannah Riddle, who has grown increasingly embarrassed, even repulsed, by her privileged life. Missing her brother, who has defied their parents' expectations by becoming a photographer in Harlem, and irritated by her best friend's frivolity, Samantha determines to "widen her world." She befriends the cleaning woman's daughter, Nella, and Nella's cousin Lloyd, a socialist-leaning activist, and begins to volunteer at the all-black National Training School for Women and Girls. Her world does widen, and her perspective radicalizes, as she experiences how other people live, even as anarchist actions escalate, bringing danger to her community. While Savannah's characterization lacks some nuance, the story is richly complex in its historical detail, and it builds to a revelatory climax. Enhanced by a comprehensive author's note, this is a valuable portrayal of affluent African-American society and of post-WWI life. Ages 13--up. (Jan.)