A Memoir of a Kidnapping.
At just eighteen months old, Shane McCrae's life took a dramatic turn when he was separated from his parents and relocated to suburban Texas. Born to a mother of white heritage and a father of Black descent, his maternal grandparents, driven by their desire to conceal his Black identity, made the heart-wrenching decision to spirit him away. In the ensuing years, they exerted significant influence and control over Shane, convinced that they were acting in his best interest.
While his grandmother held a deep affection for Shane, she harboured an intense aversion toward people who shared his racial background. Meanwhile, his grandfather vigilantly policed any perceived indications of Blackness that manifested in his grandson. Within the confines of their home, the mere existence of Shane's Black identity became a subject of profound contention, forever framed as a burdensome aspect of his identity.
With such a harrowing read, it is good to go in with as much of an empty mind as you can and get a real feel for what the author is conveying.
Thank you so much to the author - Shane McCrae as well as the team at Canongate Books for the ARC.
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