Customer Reviews

Braided In My Hair

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When I was pregnant I was told to be careful and mindful of the things I said, because my unborn child could hear me, could feel my emotions. Do you believe that is true? How many times on television have we seen children recap things that occurred while they were too little to understand what was going on? Do you believe that is possible? Reading Tiffany Alexander's Braided In My Hair will make you think both are possible, if not true.

Daisy Anna Elizabeth Wray, like her name, was a handful. Her inquisitive mind always had her asking questions no other child would think of asking. She was smart beyond her years, but confused as any child would be trying to learn the ways of the world. Daisy had to learn how to let go and let God. Coming into a family where her mother was a teenager, suffering from the grief of losing her beloved father, when she became pregnant while looking for love; being raised by a grandmother who told you one thing but did something else. Even her intelligence could not shield her from a mean-spirited teacher; children who teased and called her ugly names; dealing with a lost, or the rejection she felt from her mother and sometimes God.

Daisy's grandmother, Florence "Mama" Wray, was devoted to the church, her family, and her job. Feeling as though she failed in her parenting of Daisy's mother, Laurel, she questioned if she would be able to raise Daisy properly. Would she be able to offer her what she could not offer her daughter?

Tiffany Alexander showed what is meant when they say it takes a village to raise a child in Braided In My Hair. Daisy had many key role models coming in her life at the right time; that is what I liked most. Even though, her mother was not there, someone was there to show her the way, and her conversations with God truly helped even when she half-believed. The editing toward the end of the book needed to be a little more refined, but I still enjoyed the book. I am passing this book on to my daughter, because I read things I know she could benefit from. I encourage and recommend anyone in a role model position for a young lady to pick this book up. You will be happy that you did.

Jennifer Coissiere

APOOO BookClub

A very poignant tale of growing pains. This book is detailed and engaging, easy to read and hard to put down. The characters are well thought out and inciting. A must read for all ages. Anyone searching for an answer will find it in these pages. Everyone will gain something from this story.

The world was not ready for Daisy Anna Elizabeth Wray when she was born in a dank Chicago apartment during a raging blizzard, and neither was her family. Daisy's mother Laurel had been sent from Ohio to Chicago after getting pregnant as a teen. Laurel's pregnancy devastated her deeply religious mother Florence, who was already struggling with the untimely death of her husband. Now, Florence would be responsible for raising her teen daughter's baby.

Daisy could be best described as a child who was an old soul. She was deeply introspective and always had a barrage of challenging questions. As she got older, Daisy struggled with the sense of rejection she felt from her teen parents, her difficulty relating to her peers, and her grandmother's often painful attempts at making sure Daisy didn't follow the path her mother Laurel took. Daisy also had a hard time making sense of her relationship with God and deciding whether or not to be baptized.

A trip down south to Mississippi to meet her great-grandmother helps Daisy bring her life into focus. A series of other events, and a subsequent trip to Mississippi bring Daisy further clarity and she begins to mend some of the wounds that have plagued her since birth.

Tiffany Alexander has written a heartfelt novel that examines how burdens and pain can be passed from one generation to the next. Though the opening chapters were a bit awkward, once the story got moving it was engaging. The complexities of the characters added depth to the story and allowed the author to include some unexpected twists and turns. BRAIDED IN MY HAIR is a story about resilience and perseverance on the journey of life.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

The characters are very real and engaging. You'll love this book if you've ever had your hair braided or been a child.