The story is a provocative exploration of the complex friendship between two girls, Twyla and Roberta, who meet in a shelter during their childhood and encounter each other at various points throughout their lives. Their intermittent interactions over the years reveal the deep-seated racial tensions and societal prejudices that shape their realities. The narrative deliberately obscures the girls' racial identities, challenging the reader to confront their own assumptions and biases about race and privilege. As the two women's lives intertwine, their shared history and the changing social landscape of America force them to grapple with their personal and collective memories, ultimately questioning the very nature of their recollections and the impact of race on their experiences.

The 6905th greatest book of all time