Leaving Cecil Street

A riveting tale about a back-room abortion that has devastating consequences for two teenage girls on a close knit Philadelphia block circa 1972 Block parties were king in this West Philadelphia neighborhood, especially the year Cecil Street decided to have two. These energetic, sensual street celebrations serve as backdrops to the story of best friends Neet and Shay and their families. When Neet becomes pregnant by one of the corner boys, Shay arranges an abortion that goes terribly awry when Neet begins to hemorrhage. Neet is left unable to bear children and to Shay''s horror slips under the spell of her mother Alberta''s severe, esoteric religious beliefs. Shay is left to struggle with the grief of losing a cherished friendship, while she also bears witness to the the disintegration of her parents'' marriage. The story climaxes during the second block party, during which time it is discovered that Neet and Alberta have disappeared from Cecil Street-the holy-roller mother, Alberta, having finally been set free from the shackles of her church by none other than Shay''s father.

About the author

Diane McKinney-Whetstone is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Our Gen, Tumbling, Lazaretto, Tempest Rising, Blues Dancing, Leaving Cecil Street, Trading Dreams at Midnight, and Family Spirit. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s Literary Award for Fiction, which she won twice. A past lecturer a the University of Pennsylvania, her work has appeared in The Atlantic, Essence, Philadelphia magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, Greg.

Product details

• Authors: Diane McKinney-Whetstone
• Publisher: Harper Perennial USA
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.03.2005
• EAN: 9780060722890
• ISBN: 978-0-06-072289-0
• No. of pages: 320
• Dimensions: 135 mm x 202 mm x 20 mm
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; FICTION: Women, DRAMA: Women Authors, FICTION: Romance / Historical / American, FICTION: African American & Black / Women, POETRY: American / African American & Black, FICTION: Historical / World War II, FICTION: African American & Black / Historical, FICTION: Romance / African American & Black, FICTION: Friendship, FICTION: Own Voices