Wow, the writing in this book is phenomenal. Story is about a young, poor Black girl of about 3 or 4 (Annette), whose daddy runs off and she and her mom endure a lot of struggles to achieve a better life. This book contains some heavy themes—racism, child abuse, prostitution, and even murder, but it is not a depressing read at all. It doesn’t beg for your sympathy—it lets the characters voice their often different opinions about the events. It also encompasses love, family, friendships, and the human will to persevere. The characters were rich in their depth, the dialogue seemed very natural and the plot kept my attention. This is one of my favorite novels I’ve read this year, and led me to buy the sequel: God Still Don’t Like Ugly. Highly Recommended