Rating: 
Summary: Intensely touching and thought-provoking
Review: A book to be read by everyone... one that breaks down so many barriers to reinstate faith in the human race
Rating: 
Summary: Turned off by mother's life.
Review: While I enjoyed and appreciated the insights and the writing style of McBride, I was thoroughly disgusted by his mother's life. It is certainly admirable that her kids turned out the way they did, but there is simply nothing admirable about bringing twelve children into a world of poverty and racial conflict. I can't understand why most of the reviews of this book paint Mr. McBride's mother to be a hero, when in fact she was irresponsible and troubled. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story of triumph over tragedy, and the wondeful insights Mr. McBride had to offer.
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Summary: Amazing Book
Review: I was baby sittin some kids, and found this book among the books in the shelves. the title took my attention.. Color of water!!! When i read the first page, i was taken, i forget all about the Kids :)) It is a book that is hard to put down. fast, stimulating, and very touchy... I strongly recommend this book!!
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: Just a Book that touches the bottom of your heart well said by an extremly talented young man. A definite must read
Rating:
Summary: Offers great insight in the lives of biracial families
Review: James Mcbride did an outstanding job of capturing the heartwrenching story of his mother's life and the confusing tale of his own. My hat goes off to him for writing the BEST memoir I've read.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and honest
Review: I found this book to be engaging and to have a refreshing honesty and grit. I appreciated the author's ongoing racial ambivalence and found this to be an intriguing central theme to the story. Nonetheless, there was a certain amount of sloppiness and a few contraditions throughout, such as the gap in the story about the sister Helen who ran away. After devoting quite a bit of space to the story of Helen as a teen, we found out later that she graduated from college and married, but how she got from runaway teen to responsible adult was left out entirely. Also, we learned that in the "orchestrated chaos" of the McBride-Jordan household, the younger children went to bed early, yet all seemed to be available to eat the food their mother brought home at 2:00 a.m. from her workplace cafeteria. Overall, however, I recommend this without reservation, especially for blacks or whites who are still trying to come to terms with the effects of racism in our society.
Rating: 
Summary: A really touching book.
Review: I never intended to buy this book but for some reason I had a change of heart. I'm glad I bought it. It was a story of pure courage and strength. I can imagine that it was not easy for the author's mother to be estranged from her family in that way. To raise so many children while facing so many difficulties is certainly an achievement. I tip my hat to her and I only wish that I could meet her. Many of today's mothers can certainly learn from this lady.
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming account of a person caught between two cultures
Review: I found this book to be wonderful reading. I grew up among Jewish people and yet because my mother was not I was not accepted. I felt for Mr McBride and what he must have gone through. As I read the book I could not put it down, always wanting to know more about him and his remarkable mother. I pray that someday my own son will speak of me half as kind as Mr McBride speaks of his mother.
Rating:
Summary: A book that I plan to use in my classes
Review: I loved this book! Although, like one reviewer, I kept finding myself looking for pictures, I would have loved to have seen some. I enjoyed the style, the alternating narrative between the story of his mother in her words and his own story and the convergence of the two. I agree that this book should be read by all, and I plan to use in when I can in future courses I teach concerning racism and its operatives in our culture. The book was informative, tender, and full of connections to time-dependent cultural practices - a great dose of history with a personal connection. It is amazing how one Jewish woman, excommunicated from her family, raised and educated 12 children in a context of prejudice and discrimination. There are great lessons for all of us in these stories. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Very good; fast read; would have liked more depth
Review: I did not plan to read this book. A friend of mine was outside reading it & I read the first page and was hooked. I will give it my 9th grade son to read for the summer. Would have liked more depth into how 12 children got thru college. Hard to believe there weren't more horror stories in their upbringing (drug, gang issues). Would really have like to see more pictures of the family.
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