Book Review: Take My Hand by Dolen Parker- Valdez

Thank you Berkley for my review copy.

I should have just minded my business when I saw Nia’s reaction in her stories about this book. Did I? Nope. Now look at me.  Within the first few chapters I knew where this book was heading and when it happened I was a mess. These poor babies and the sad part is that these things have happened in real life and continues to happen. Being poor AND Black at the mercy of government assistance is a terrible situation. The way folks were treated and taken advantage of in this book had me fuming.
This story touches on the challenges Black girls/women have when receiving proper healthcare especially those of a certain demographic. We also have the highest maternal mortality rate. Black women don’t receive proper healthcare treatment as do white women. This is something I’ve experienced first hand when I was at the emergency room for an asthma attack. Myself and another Black woman’s medical issues had been dismissed, while the white woman was given the royal treatment for a pulled muscle in her back. Mind you I’m there for an asthma attack!!
When the survey came in the mail about my experience you better believe I got that doctor in trouble. A few weeks later when I went back for another attack he was my doctor and what a complete difference. The things we have to do just to receive proper healthcare is terrible. 

Even though Civil is Black she isn’t poor, is well educated, sheltered and very naive when it came how other Black people were living. It was nice to see her mature throughout the story as she got older.
When I was younger my mom had me watch the movie Miss Evers’ Boys and reading this book reminded me of that movie. I recommend everyone watch as well because it’s not just Black women that were exploited medically either.
This was a heartbreaking and heartfelt book that will stay with me for a very long time and I can definitely seeing it be a top contender for one of my favorite reads of 2022!

Triggers: Abortion, racism.