Book Review: The Help

By: Sarah Asselin

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Aibileen lives in the rural town of Jackson, Mississippi, in the year of 1962, where the line between rules and cruelty are constantly being blurred. Working in the home of a white family, raising their white child, Aibileen is faced with racism in even the most basic forms of life. It isn’t until Aibileen meets Skeeter, an ambitious young journalist who fits just outside of society’s expectations, that Aibileen finds the courage to speak out.

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, is everything an important piece of fiction should be-compelling, wise, and real. Not only has this novel been acclaimed for its insightful look into the delicate culture that made the rural south in the 1960s, but it is still recommended for those wanting to understand the risks one must take to truly create a better future.