Checkered Fences [Paperback]

Alma Hudson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2008

Checkered Fences is not only a novel of remarkable insight, but a tribute to our world's changing social and political climate. Author Alma Hudson writes with extraordinary vision and clarity, bringing racial issues to the forefront with delicate balance and thoughtful compassion. It's the late 1970s in California; a time of racial turbulence, but change is in the air and Diane Jones, an African-American 18-year old honors student will come face to face with those changes.

Diane takes a job as a nanny to a prestigious white family, Jerry and Ann Shaw, before entering college. She quickly becomes a respected friend and member of their blended family, paying special attention to their eight-year old son, Chad, Ann's son from a previous marriage. Their eldest son, David returns home for the summer and an immediate attraction sparks between Diane and David. They began a secretive love affair.

Can Diane's proud, traditional family accept a white man as Diane's love interest and will the Shaw's value her as their son's potential partner? As their love affair blossoms, they decide to make their relationship public. This story of an interracial love during the turbulent 70s deftly explores the ugly racism that propelled our nation's conscious to change toward a more diversified culture. Written with sophisticated realism, Hudson's novel stands out as a literary piece of significance during our present-day political climate.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviewed by Geri R. for Readers Favorite

This story was very poignant, ....  Ms. Hudson developed characters that were believable, and showed raw emotions ....  I was pleased to see the transformation take place in Diane.  This book was a delight to read, and one that I had a very hard time putting down. A short novella great for an afternoon read!

Glenda A Bixler "Glenda"  - (VINE VOICE)

Diane believes that God placed David in her life for a reason, ending her book with 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8...Love never fails...

No, this isn't the usual kind of love story; or is it? Should their race differences have kept them apart?  ...I recommend you check out Checkered Fences by Alma Hudson.

From the Author

This book is based upon my family's history and it's very special to me.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 92 pages
• Publisher: Eloquent Books (October 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606931911
• ISBN-13: 978-1606931912
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #507,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Political

More About the Author

I started writing in college, writing for the college newspaper. I was very much encouraged to write by my high school instructor Mr. Walker. He saw much potential in me and asked me at each high school reunion, "Why aren't you writing"?

Well Mr. Walker I'm proud to tell you that my second book "The Trouble With Change" is an "Award-Winning Finalist in the "Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Lit" category of the 2011 International Book Awards" and is Best Book in the category of Women's Literature in the 2011 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards.

Since I grew up in the 60's and 70's living through many issues that shaped the way I am today, brought about positive change in America, and are in the forefront of the news today; I wrote my first book "Checkered Fences". I wanted to document that era and bring positive discussion to these issues. Issues such as domestic violence, racism, women rights, interracial relationships, and diversity.

I wrote my second book, "The Trouble With Change", to let everyone suffering from domestic violence know that there is hope even when you think things are hopeless. I was motivated to write this book from my own personal experiences with domestic violence.

I like to write stories that affect Urban Communities and I work in legal management. I possess an Associate's and Bachelor of Arts Degree and live with my two children and husband, Eugene in Lancaster, California.

http://www.internationalbookawards.com/2011awardannouncement.html

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Checkered Fences, June 3, 2009

By 

Wanda Harris (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Checkered Fences (Paperback)

In small town USA, racial barriers were in full force in the 1970's and were almost impossible to overcome. Checkered Fences is a book that delves into the racial issues of the time. The highest barrier of all was against love and romance between black and white. The insight and the tug of war between two young people is well illustrated in Checkered Fences and teaches the reader to open their mind and their heart to what could be in spite of what is. I loved Checkered Fences.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love and Racism in the 70s, May 18, 2010

By 

Dinah - See all my reviews

This review is from: Checkered Fences (Paperback)

Checkered Fences takes us back a time we need to remember. There are plenty of books that deal with interracial relationships, but few go into the inner-mind of the person living through the incident and the family tragedies that are occurring during the relationship. Checkered Fences lets you see the real struggle of living through the personal life tragedies and as well as trying to maintain a relationship that at that time most people didn't attempt, especially black women. We need to remember so we can appreciate.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Story Began Long Ago..., March 2, 2010

By 

Glenda A Bixler "Glenda" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Checkered Fences (Paperback)

Checkered Fences, fiction based upon a true story by Alma Hudson, takes us back to the 1970s. The time is right, but one of the main families in the story probably should have lived sometime about 2000 or later. They are a white family. Diane Jones, the main character, is an 18-year-old African-American honors student, but she was also working as a nanny for Jerry and Ann Shaw... Diane's mother also worked for the Shaws.

Diane had a strong, traditional family. In fact, her father had picked out his wife by seeing her hard at work in the fields, and claimed her as his bride. So, it wasn't a surprise to Diane or her mother when Diane's father started to bring home young, suitable men so that Diane could pick her husband.

Except Diane was not interested in getting married at this time. She wanted to go on to school, Her father made it quite clear that if she got herself pregnant out of marriage, that he would not support her.

Diane looks back on her childhood's happier times and knew she loved her father dearly, but there was never enough money and the children started working early. Christmas came and went, and there were never any presents. The only thing Diane ever received were taunts from neighborhood children about what they got! She also shares the type of discrimination and fear she faced as a young girl at school, only to come home to fear her father when he got drunk and abused her mother. Until she got brave enough to speak back to her father, to prevent his beatings.

So when her father crudely told her about sex and what the boys would want from her, it wasn't surprising that she decided she didn't want anything to do with all of that; so she got as much work as she could find in order to earn a scholarship or money for college.

When her mother told her about the nanny job, it seemed a wonderful opportunity. Not only was she hired immediately, but she was given extra money to take the kids out for lunches and she was given the keys for her to drive one of the family's cars. Diane was amazed how she was being treated, but she knew better, she continued to act professionally and kept a distance from the family as would most employees.

But then their son David came home; Diane and David were immediately attracted to each other. Diane, however, was the one who kept insisting that a relationship was impossible, while David just pursued her...

It was the 1970s, but, to this day, Diane believes that God placed David in her life for a reason, ending her book with 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8...Love never fails...

No, this isn't the usual kind of love story; or is it? Two people meet each other and fall in love. Should their race differences have kept them apart? Should their families have disowned them and forced tradition on their children? If these questions are those that you have asked, or if you just enjoy a romantic story, I recommend you check out Checkered Fences by Alma Hudson. There is a main answer provided her in this story. It began a lot earlier than the 1970s though...it began when the book of Corinthians was first written...

G. A. Bixler