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Light Skin Gone to Waste
In 1962 Philip Arrington, a psychologist with a PhD from Yeshiva, arrives in the small, mostly blue-collar town of Monroe, New York, to rent a house for himself and his new wife. They're Black, something the man about to show him the house doesn't know. With that, we're introduced to the Arringtons: Phil, Velma, his daughter Livia (from a previous marriage), and his youngest, Madeline, soon to be born. They're cosmopolitan. Sophisticated. They're also troubled, arrogant, and throughout the linked stories, falling apart.
We follow the family as Phil begins his private practice, as Velma opens her antiques shop, and as they buy new homes, collect art, go skiing, and have overseas adventures. It seems they've made it in the white world. However, young Maddie, one of the only Black children in town, bears the brunt of the racism and the invisible barriers her family's money, education, and determination can't free her from. As she grows up and realizes her father is sleeping with white women, her mother is violently mercurial, and her half-sister resents her, Maddie must decide who she is despite, or perhaps precisely because of, her family.
We follow the family as Phil begins his private practice, as Velma opens her antiques shop, and as they buy new homes, collect art, go skiing, and have overseas adventures. It seems they've made it in the white world. However, young Maddie, one of the only Black children in town, bears the brunt of the racism and the invisible barriers her family's money, education, and determination can't free her from. As she grows up and realizes her father is sleeping with white women, her mother is violently mercurial, and her half-sister resents her, Maddie must decide who she is despite, or perhaps precisely because of, her family.
232 pages, Paperback
Published October 15, 2022
About the author
Toni Ann Johnson
11 books76 followersToni Ann Johnson won the 2021 Flannery O'Connor Award for her linked short story collection LIGHT SKIN GONE TO WASTE, forthcoming from UGA Press in the fall of 2022.
A novella, HOMEGOING, won Accents Publishing's inaugural novella contest in 2020 and was released in May of 2021.
Short fiction and essays have been published in The Emerson Review, Hunger Mountain, Callaloo, The Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.
Online, her short fiction appears at Serving House Journal ("Home"), Red Fez ("Time Travel"), Vida Review ("The Megnas"), Coachella Review (Daughtered Out), and Aunt Chloe's Journal (This Side and That).
A novel, Remedy For a Broken Angel, was published in 2014 and received a nomination for a 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author.
Johnson is a screenwriter with a number of produced projects to her credit including, "Ruby Bridges" (ABC), "Crown Heights (Showtime), The Courage to Love (Lifetime) the TV pilot "Save The Last Dance" (Fox Television) and the feature film, "Step Up 2: The Streets" (Summit Entertainment. She won the 1998 Humanitas Prize and the 1998 Christopher Award for Ruby Bridges. In 2004 she won a second Humanitas Prize for Crown Heights. She is also the recipient of a fellowship to the Sundance Screenwriter's Lab.
Johnson has received support for her writing from Callaloo (Fellow 2016) The Prague Summer Program for Writers (Vaclav Havel scholarship, 2016) , One Story Summer Conference and The Hurston Wright Foundation.
A novella, HOMEGOING, won Accents Publishing's inaugural novella contest in 2020 and was released in May of 2021.
Short fiction and essays have been published in The Emerson Review, Hunger Mountain, Callaloo, The Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere.
Online, her short fiction appears at Serving House Journal ("Home"), Red Fez ("Time Travel"), Vida Review ("The Megnas"), Coachella Review (Daughtered Out), and Aunt Chloe's Journal (This Side and That).
A novel, Remedy For a Broken Angel, was published in 2014 and received a nomination for a 2015 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author.
Johnson is a screenwriter with a number of produced projects to her credit including, "Ruby Bridges" (ABC), "Crown Heights (Showtime), The Courage to Love (Lifetime) the TV pilot "Save The Last Dance" (Fox Television) and the feature film, "Step Up 2: The Streets" (Summit Entertainment. She won the 1998 Humanitas Prize and the 1998 Christopher Award for Ruby Bridges. In 2004 she won a second Humanitas Prize for Crown Heights. She is also the recipient of a fellowship to the Sundance Screenwriter's Lab.
Johnson has received support for her writing from Callaloo (Fellow 2016) The Prague Summer Program for Writers (Vaclav Havel scholarship, 2016) , One Story Summer Conference and The Hurston Wright Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 26, 2022
I enjoyed each of these short stories. Just as much as I loved the stories, I disliked every adult depicted. None of the adults revealed redeeming qualities.
October 12, 2022
Toni Ann Johnson has written a rare and intriguing perspective on race and class in an equally delightful and heart wrenching collection of short stories called, Light Skin Gone to Waste. Young Maddie's pure eyes simply tells us what happened in her family and neighborhood much like an innocent eye witness in court. Toni Ann writes about controversial topics with sophistication and eloquence; yet, her words are wrapped in a delicate tone we can all digest. This author makes us believe that Maddie's truth is a universal truth. What a new take on racism as seen from a wealthy black youth who could pass as white living in a white world where she's treated as the N word. Maddie doesn't fit in so well with the blacks or whites in her world. She has to suffer racism alone because of her narcissistic black parents who want to fit in with their white neighbors and colleagues more than anything. Toni Ann Johnson has broadened the literary world with creativity, knowledge and much a needed perspective. Through her (2021 Flannery O'Conor award-winning) latest work, Light Skin Gone to Waste, Toni Ann both entertains and informs her readers in ways that are sure to be life changing. Bravo! ~Pamela Mshana, PhD
November 28, 2022
Im not a big short story fan but these were very well done.
October 15, 2022
From the early pages, Toni Ann Johnsons draws you in with her engaging and hilarious characters' voices and immersive setting. These vibrant stories live and breathe on the page and they are linked in the lives of Maddie, her parents Phil and Velma and the people who weave through their lives. By the time you reach the end, you are left, wrecked, wistful, and satisfied. The characters and the world stay with you long after you've put the book down. Fabulous for a weekend read.
August 26, 2022
Read a digital ARC of this book and absolutely loved it.
January 1, 2023
Absolutely stunning! Cannot say enough about how beautiful and heartbreaking these stories are!
October 19, 2022
This is an extraordinary collection of short stories where the characters breathe so real on the page, it almost hurts to say goodbye to them. Centered on one family throughout varying narrative perspectives, Toni Ann successfully delves into varying characters, weaving intricate family dynamics while also touching on race, class and gender. Each story leaves a breathtaking punch with final lines and paragraphs that linger long into the next story. It is a powerful examination of flawed human nature and a riveting read.
December 19, 2022
This was a 4.5 read for me.
One of my fav reads for 2022
thoughts coming shortly
One of my fav reads for 2022
thoughts coming shortly
October 2, 2022
Light Skin Gone to Waste
What a beautiful way to tell a story. The setting is the early 1960s, when Dr. Arrington, a Black psychologist and his family move to a suburb, not far from New York City. Toni Ann Johnson has created the ‘feel’ of the 1960s as her characters live the experience of blatant racism that enveloped our country.
Although we see the story through several characters, I felt most drawn to that of young Maddie, as we watch her grow up and struggle with how things are in her world and that of her parents. In a series of extremely well-written short stories, we follow the family through their years of turmoil.
Near the end of the book, Maddie (who is now 15) is forced to sit down and eat dinner with her parents:
Maddie refuses to eat it.
Not that she’s still dieting. She knows there is no diet or anything
else to be done to her body or soul that will make her fit into this
place.
She’s done trying.
One day, as soon as she can, Maddie will move from this asylum
and into her future. She can hardly wait until it’s time for her to go.
This says it all. Maddie’s experiences, some quite subtle, others more obvious, will twist your heart into knots.
This book will withstand the test of time. Toni Ann Johnson’s characters are phenomenal and will live in the memories of her readers long after the book has been put back on the shelf.
What a beautiful way to tell a story. The setting is the early 1960s, when Dr. Arrington, a Black psychologist and his family move to a suburb, not far from New York City. Toni Ann Johnson has created the ‘feel’ of the 1960s as her characters live the experience of blatant racism that enveloped our country.
Although we see the story through several characters, I felt most drawn to that of young Maddie, as we watch her grow up and struggle with how things are in her world and that of her parents. In a series of extremely well-written short stories, we follow the family through their years of turmoil.
Near the end of the book, Maddie (who is now 15) is forced to sit down and eat dinner with her parents:
Maddie refuses to eat it.
Not that she’s still dieting. She knows there is no diet or anything
else to be done to her body or soul that will make her fit into this
place.
She’s done trying.
One day, as soon as she can, Maddie will move from this asylum
and into her future. She can hardly wait until it’s time for her to go.
This says it all. Maddie’s experiences, some quite subtle, others more obvious, will twist your heart into knots.
This book will withstand the test of time. Toni Ann Johnson’s characters are phenomenal and will live in the memories of her readers long after the book has been put back on the shelf.
October 19, 2022
Light Skin Gone to Waste follows a light-skinned Black family as they move into an all white neighborhood, and the social impact on this choice for each of them. Phil, the patriarch, is a psychologist who is chasing his capitalist dreams and as he falls out of love with his wife, tries to fix his negligence to his family with his tenuous access to privilege. Velma, caught in this marriage she’s unsure she wants freedom from and a motherhood that drains her, is cold with a sense of vengeance and an unwillingness to be judged by the white folks around her. And Maddie, their daughter and a semi-autobiographical portrait of the author, grasps for social survival among peers who emphasize her difference as they progress through school. With all the layers of strain between them, the family becomes biting of one another, each one trying to scratch out a space that reflects their ideal reality.
Maddie is the center of the collection and her coming of age vacillates between the confused tenderness of losing friends because of the racism of their parents to the assertion of identity as a young woman.
Johnson teases out an intersection of race and class in a way I haven’t read in contemporary fiction. This collection is worth your time and heart.
Maddie is the center of the collection and her coming of age vacillates between the confused tenderness of losing friends because of the racism of their parents to the assertion of identity as a young woman.
Johnson teases out an intersection of race and class in a way I haven’t read in contemporary fiction. This collection is worth your time and heart.
November 29, 2022
Man this book takes me back. I read it twice. Maddie (and Toni's) predicament is that she's caught in a cultural no-man's land where she's too Black for some too Light for others. These stories are about identity and coping with small-mindedness from unexpected quarters--including her own family.
But there's more going on. A philandering father, toxic mother. Some of the stories are very hard to handle--but TAJ's strength shines through.
Toni Ann Johnson straddled two worlds growing up, Black and White and all the while complete emotional warfare at home. You don't have to be a person of color to feel her pain. These are linked stories with a family saga set in that most unique of selfish decades, the 70s. A most deserving recipient of the Flannery O'Connor Award.
But there's more going on. A philandering father, toxic mother. Some of the stories are very hard to handle--but TAJ's strength shines through.
Toni Ann Johnson straddled two worlds growing up, Black and White and all the while complete emotional warfare at home. You don't have to be a person of color to feel her pain. These are linked stories with a family saga set in that most unique of selfish decades, the 70s. A most deserving recipient of the Flannery O'Connor Award.
Read
October 19, 2022This riveting and stunning collection of 10 stories captures the emotions of an African American family living in predominantly white suburbs. Through the 10 short stories, Toni has beautifully captured myriad emotions of love, acceptance, heartbreak, and betrayal as the family goes through a roller coaster of events in their lives. Each story, though starting at different periods in time, reflects the emotions of the family as they try to carve their existence living in white suburbs while at the same time trying feverishly to balance their identity and ethnicity. The collection can be read as a novel and also a single story at a time and yet it captivates the readers with its brilliant lyrical verses and gorgeous wordplay. I highly recommend this award-winning collection to readers. A must-read.
January 13, 2023
Moving set of short stories about a wealthy black family living in a rural white community. I feel for Maddie, having experienced some of the things she has went through in the book. The author beautifully talks about these experiences with both humor and tenderness.
March 29, 2023
A series of connected short stories with not one redeemable adult character in sight. This is the type of book that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading it. There’s just so much to unpack. I want to read a series about grown up Maddie.
November 14, 2022
Excellent short story collection, examining the integration of an upwardly mobile African-American family into a segregated White Community in Upstate New York. Told through multiple voices, this is the tale of a vulnerable young girl, struggling to navigate the complexities of this fraught environment.
December 25, 2022
I was engrossed in the well-crafted storytelling by Toni Ann Johnson. The dialogue is vibrant and true and it takes a skilled writer to achieve this. The book title "Light Skin Gone to Waste" is so perfect and appropriate. It centers around Maddie who is the only child of color growing up in a white neighborhood in Monroe New York. Children are innocent and open until they are taught otherwise. The otherwise is fear and racism that a young Maddie has to endure and be bullied by. Home is not a safe haven with a highly intelligent, philandering psychiatrist father who is nothing short of a narcissist is not compassionate to his daughter's suffering. Her mother is no safer since she is difficult and physically abusive. Maddie and those around her cleverly weave these stories together where strength and empowerment win in the end for our central character. I highly recommend this book.
November 4, 2022
NOT A WORD GOES TO WASTE
Toni Ann Johnson's linked story collection is a searing and touching portrait of marginalization, its insidious power born of both racism and narcissism. Throughout the collection, Johnson weaves a rich tapestry of character and place, beseeching us to root for young Maddie's survival amid a dysfunctional family and the world writ large. Thanks to sharp writing rooted in deeply felt humanity, we feel like she'll get there.
Toni Ann Johnson's linked story collection is a searing and touching portrait of marginalization, its insidious power born of both racism and narcissism. Throughout the collection, Johnson weaves a rich tapestry of character and place, beseeching us to root for young Maddie's survival amid a dysfunctional family and the world writ large. Thanks to sharp writing rooted in deeply felt humanity, we feel like she'll get there.
November 23, 2022
WOW. What a great read. Read this book in two sittings. So eye opening - to learn about a young black girl ....who lived only 10 miles from my house - having a completely different experience growing up.
I am a white man who grew up not knowing any black people until about age 13. My parents never discussed race - it never came up in conversation, I had no frame of reference. Maddie's story sucked me right in. So interesting to tag along on her journey - Her father moving his family to an almost all white
neighborhood - and the ensuing fallout of racism the family encounters. Her characters are so finely drawn - we feel as if we know them personally.
We are rooting for Maddie every step of the way.
Ms. Johnson's tale of family dysfunction is laced with humor - and pain - and reads together as a novel.
Recent winner of the Flannery O'Connor Award, Toni Ann Johnson is a writer to put on your radar.
Also be sure to check out her earlier novel REMEDY FOR A BROKEN ANGEL - a searing lyrical tale of absent mother and angry daughter - and her other story collection HOMEGOING - so good.
Best American Short Stories series - heads up !
I expect to see one from -Light Skin Gone To Waste- included for 2023.
I am a white man who grew up not knowing any black people until about age 13. My parents never discussed race - it never came up in conversation, I had no frame of reference. Maddie's story sucked me right in. So interesting to tag along on her journey - Her father moving his family to an almost all white
neighborhood - and the ensuing fallout of racism the family encounters. Her characters are so finely drawn - we feel as if we know them personally.
We are rooting for Maddie every step of the way.
Ms. Johnson's tale of family dysfunction is laced with humor - and pain - and reads together as a novel.
Recent winner of the Flannery O'Connor Award, Toni Ann Johnson is a writer to put on your radar.
Also be sure to check out her earlier novel REMEDY FOR A BROKEN ANGEL - a searing lyrical tale of absent mother and angry daughter - and her other story collection HOMEGOING - so good.
Best American Short Stories series - heads up !
I expect to see one from -Light Skin Gone To Waste- included for 2023.
January 16, 2023
So good. Not exactly enjoyable, but so well-written. As a biracial girl growing up in the 80s, the racial exploration/isolation writing was so honest it hurt. Bravo!
September 6, 2023
Toni Ann Johnson's "Light Skin Gone to Waste" is a a captivating read. This novel explores complex themes with grace, sensitivity, and unflinching honesty. From the moment I cracked open its pages, I was captivated, and by the time I turned the final page, I was left in awe of Johnson's storytelling.
Set against the backdrop of contemporary America, "Light Skin Gone to Waste" delves into the intricate layers of identity, race, and self-discovery. Johnson's writing is both poetic and poignant, weaving together the lives of her characters with a tapestry of emotions that range from heartache to hope.
The novel's protagonist, Camille, is a character who will undoubtedly linger in your thoughts long after you finish reading. Her journey of self-acceptance as she grapples with her racial identity and societal expectations is deeply moving. Johnson's exploration of the concept of "passing" for another race is both thought-provoking and eye-opening, shedding light on a topic rarely tackled in contemporary literature.
Johnson tackles tough issues with grace and nuance. She doesn't shy away from addressing the harsh realities of racism, colorism, and the enduring legacy of slavery, but she does so with a delicate touch that never feels heavy-handed. Instead, she invites readers to engage in a meaningful dialogue about these crucial topics, leaving us with a profound sense of empathy and understanding.
The cast of characters in "Light Skin Gone to Waste" is equally compelling. Each one is expertly crafted, adding depth and dimension to the story. The dialogue is authentic, making it easy to connect with the characters on a personal level.
Toni Ann Johnson's storytelling is a triumph of literature, and "Light Skin Gone to Waste" is a shining gem. This is a novel that will challenge your preconceptions, tug at your heartstrings, and ultimately leave you feeling enriched and enlightened.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants not only a captivating read but also a powerful exploration of race, identity, and the human spirit.
Set against the backdrop of contemporary America, "Light Skin Gone to Waste" delves into the intricate layers of identity, race, and self-discovery. Johnson's writing is both poetic and poignant, weaving together the lives of her characters with a tapestry of emotions that range from heartache to hope.
The novel's protagonist, Camille, is a character who will undoubtedly linger in your thoughts long after you finish reading. Her journey of self-acceptance as she grapples with her racial identity and societal expectations is deeply moving. Johnson's exploration of the concept of "passing" for another race is both thought-provoking and eye-opening, shedding light on a topic rarely tackled in contemporary literature.
Johnson tackles tough issues with grace and nuance. She doesn't shy away from addressing the harsh realities of racism, colorism, and the enduring legacy of slavery, but she does so with a delicate touch that never feels heavy-handed. Instead, she invites readers to engage in a meaningful dialogue about these crucial topics, leaving us with a profound sense of empathy and understanding.
The cast of characters in "Light Skin Gone to Waste" is equally compelling. Each one is expertly crafted, adding depth and dimension to the story. The dialogue is authentic, making it easy to connect with the characters on a personal level.
Toni Ann Johnson's storytelling is a triumph of literature, and "Light Skin Gone to Waste" is a shining gem. This is a novel that will challenge your preconceptions, tug at your heartstrings, and ultimately leave you feeling enriched and enlightened.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants not only a captivating read but also a powerful exploration of race, identity, and the human spirit.
December 14, 2022
Here we have the story of a successful, good-looking family — handsome psychologist dad, stylish tastemaker mom, smart cute daughter — that also happens to be the only Black family in a well-to-do white neighborhood. When the three first move into town, white neighbors break windows, throw eggs, hold protests. As time goes by the place grows more tolerant — meaning the racism gets toned down from the overtly violent to the microaggressive variety. The daughter grows up feeling like an unpretty outsider in her neighborhood, but also a not-quite-with-it outsider when she visits her Black relatives. Meanwhile the family itself has its own secret issues: the father’s a philanderer, the mother still traumatized from her early years in the foster system —
I’ve gotten to know Toni’s work because she was a fellow writer in L.A. — where unlike me, she still remains, writing scripts and plays in addition to short stories. Read her debut, Flannery O’Connor award-winning collection for nuanced stories that tackle the many isms that plague us today — racism, classism, colorism, sexism — with all their broader political implications, deeply personal complications, and occasional surprising moments of connection.
I’ve gotten to know Toni’s work because she was a fellow writer in L.A. — where unlike me, she still remains, writing scripts and plays in addition to short stories. Read her debut, Flannery O’Connor award-winning collection for nuanced stories that tackle the many isms that plague us today — racism, classism, colorism, sexism — with all their broader political implications, deeply personal complications, and occasional surprising moments of connection.
March 23, 2023
Light Skin Gone to Waste is a captivating novel written by Toni Ann Johnson that explores complex themes such as racial identity, sexual abuse, and the human spirit's resilience.
The book is beautifully written, and the author's vivid description of the cultural context of Monroe and the offensive language used by the characters is haunting. Maddie, the main character, has to endure hurtful comments, and the way she grits her teeth through them is both realistic and heart-wrenching.
The book's structure, which is set up as a series of vignettes, is a unique and intriguing approach that adds to the story's depth. The chapter featuring Velma and Gertie's exchanged monologues is especially interesting, and the unexpected ending of their relationship leaves a lasting impression.
For readers who have read Homegoing, the book feels like a continuation of the story, albeit with younger characters. Maddie's journey, including her start of voice lessons, is a joy to follow.
Overall, Light Skin Gone to Waste is a thought-provoking and beautifully written book that delves into complex themes with grace and depth. Readers will find themselves captivated by the characters and their stories, and will be left with much to reflect upon after finishing the book.
The book is beautifully written, and the author's vivid description of the cultural context of Monroe and the offensive language used by the characters is haunting. Maddie, the main character, has to endure hurtful comments, and the way she grits her teeth through them is both realistic and heart-wrenching.
The book's structure, which is set up as a series of vignettes, is a unique and intriguing approach that adds to the story's depth. The chapter featuring Velma and Gertie's exchanged monologues is especially interesting, and the unexpected ending of their relationship leaves a lasting impression.
For readers who have read Homegoing, the book feels like a continuation of the story, albeit with younger characters. Maddie's journey, including her start of voice lessons, is a joy to follow.
Overall, Light Skin Gone to Waste is a thought-provoking and beautifully written book that delves into complex themes with grace and depth. Readers will find themselves captivated by the characters and their stories, and will be left with much to reflect upon after finishing the book.
March 21, 2024
Toni Ann Johnson explores race, colorism, identity, class, family, & belonging in Light Skin Gone to Waste. In 1962 Dr. Philip Arrington, arrives in the small, mostly blue-collar town of Monroe, New York, to rent a house for himself & his new wife. They’re Black, something the man about to show him the house doesn’t know. With that, we’re introduced to the Arringtons: Phil, Velma, his daughter Livia (from a previous marriage), & his youngest, Maddie. They’re educated. Sophisticated. They’re also troubled, arrogant, & throughout the linked stories, falling apart.
We follow the family as Phil begins his private practice, as Velma opens her antiques shop, & as they buy new homes, collect art, go skiing, & have overseas adventures. It seems they’ve made it in the white world. However, young Maddie, one of the only Black children in town, bears the brunt of the racism & the invisible barriers her family’s money, education, & determination can’t free her from. As she grows up & realizes her parents imperfections, Maddie must decide who she is despite, or perhaps precisely because of, her family.
In Monroe, both Velma and Phil are fleeing lives of neglect & trauma, reshaping their world into something gleaming and glittery. I respect the fact that Phil doesn’t care what his white neighbors think of him. He worked hard, earned his phD & stands firm on his family’s right to live in the affluent town. He falls short by neglecting to see the impact it has on his family, especially Maddie. Phil’s narcissist ways drives him to make decisions that negatively affect those around him.
Velma is a character! I love her strong personality and no nonsense attitude. Those white folks didn’t know what to do with her🤣 but she’s so focused on upward mobility that she also fails to “see” Maddie. Maddie feels that her experience is constantly invalidated. She’s an outsider in her town and feels like an outsider in her family. Her parents fail to protect & guide her. Some of what she had to endure almost caused me to stop reading. Told mainly from the perspective of Maddie, each story is an emotional journey through the complexity of an upper-middle-class Black family attempting to live their lives in a virtually all-white community. Highly recommend!
We follow the family as Phil begins his private practice, as Velma opens her antiques shop, & as they buy new homes, collect art, go skiing, & have overseas adventures. It seems they’ve made it in the white world. However, young Maddie, one of the only Black children in town, bears the brunt of the racism & the invisible barriers her family’s money, education, & determination can’t free her from. As she grows up & realizes her parents imperfections, Maddie must decide who she is despite, or perhaps precisely because of, her family.
In Monroe, both Velma and Phil are fleeing lives of neglect & trauma, reshaping their world into something gleaming and glittery. I respect the fact that Phil doesn’t care what his white neighbors think of him. He worked hard, earned his phD & stands firm on his family’s right to live in the affluent town. He falls short by neglecting to see the impact it has on his family, especially Maddie. Phil’s narcissist ways drives him to make decisions that negatively affect those around him.
Velma is a character! I love her strong personality and no nonsense attitude. Those white folks didn’t know what to do with her🤣 but she’s so focused on upward mobility that she also fails to “see” Maddie. Maddie feels that her experience is constantly invalidated. She’s an outsider in her town and feels like an outsider in her family. Her parents fail to protect & guide her. Some of what she had to endure almost caused me to stop reading. Told mainly from the perspective of Maddie, each story is an emotional journey through the complexity of an upper-middle-class Black family attempting to live their lives in a virtually all-white community. Highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2023
Light Skin Gone to Waste is an engrossing read about an affluent African-American family trying to build a life in an unwelcoming white community in the 1960s. I adored and sympathized with the character Maddie, a young girl who not only must deal with bullies and racism in her new neighborhood, but who also feels unloved and unseen in her dysfunctional family. With vibrant, humorous prose and a keen eye for details, Toni Ann Johnson has crafted a searing, evocative collection that will stay with the reader for a long time.
December 10, 2023
This "review" has been a long time coming as I've finally found time to read yet another book in my stack of books, piling up and spilling out of my bookcase, begging to be read. Toni Ann Johnson is an amazing writer that not only understands the craft, but teaches it a few tricks of her own. Never one to shy away from hard subject matter, Johnson addresses racism, trauma, and clearly exposes the "D" in a "dysfunctional" family dynamic that's painfully intriguing. Beautifully written, with seamless dialogue, and compelling characters. Which all combined makes it easy to see why it won the 2021 Flannery O'Connor Award for short fiction. Read this book!
February 12, 2023
I was already a fan of Toni Ann Johnson and recommend her other books but this the best one yet. It’s a stunning collection of linked short stories that feels like a novel as much as a collection. The writing is crisp and specific, eloquent and elegant, cynical and heartbreakingly emotional all at once. She captures the period perfectly. Maddie, the protagonist, goes through the wringer of childhood traumas but never loses her vitality and wit. I don’t want to write spoilers and I’m not sure what else to say except read this book. It is an exceptional piece of literary fiction.
March 22, 2023
A coming of age told in interwoven short stories.
I loved the historical setting and appreciated the authenticity of Maddie, the narrator. Sometimes I find child narrators of adult books make the tone feel more juvenile or simply miss the mark of childhood altogether.
Instead Maddie gives us insight and a reminder as to how powerless children can be and how often it’s those we love most that can leave the deepest scars.
I loved the historical setting and appreciated the authenticity of Maddie, the narrator. Sometimes I find child narrators of adult books make the tone feel more juvenile or simply miss the mark of childhood altogether.
Instead Maddie gives us insight and a reminder as to how powerless children can be and how often it’s those we love most that can leave the deepest scars.
September 24, 2023
A wonderful and moving collection of stories! Johnson's prose is masterful and each story had me holding my breath, wishing the best for young Maddie. Growing up Black in a racist New York suburb, Maddie experiences things no young person should. Through these linked stories, Johnson relays the complexities of racism, colorism, family dysfunction, and the hope of childhood in an exquisite, brave, and meaningful way. I will not forget this family anytime soon.
March 16, 2024
DNF.
The writing, particularly the descriptions, is good. I read the first two stories and liked both, especially the second one told in second person thru Maddie’s view.
The third story was a dealbreaker.
Without giving away any spoilers, the reason I slammed this book shut is because I’m a pet owner. I usually read everything I start, as a writer reading other writers is part of learning the craft, but that was it for me. Won’t be reading any more of this author.
The writing, particularly the descriptions, is good. I read the first two stories and liked both, especially the second one told in second person thru Maddie’s view.
The third story was a dealbreaker.
Without giving away any spoilers, the reason I slammed this book shut is because I’m a pet owner. I usually read everything I start, as a writer reading other writers is part of learning the craft, but that was it for me. Won’t be reading any more of this author.
January 17, 2023
A brilliant read that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. A poignant story beautifully and captivatingly told with a reminder to focus on what makes you truly happy rather than creating a perception of happiness to impress others. Despite hardships for the main character, it has a hope-filled ending and I throughly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews