You gotta "PUSH" (book review)

       “ Push!” Most likely this statement does not have much significance to you or your life. What is the first thought that came to your mid when you read the statement, “Push!” When I hear the word “push” I relate it with encouraging words, I can hear my parents telling me “Don’t give up, just push!” However, once you read the book “PUSH” you soon learn that for Precious Jones the statement “Push!” is actually of great significance and symbolism in her tough life. Precious Jones hears “Push!” at age twelve and sixteen when she is giving birth to both of her father’s children, which signifies all of the abuse she has withstood for the majority of her young life. But regardless of all the adversity Precious has been through, from being sexually abused by her father to physically abused by her mother, Precious “Pushes” forward in attempt to better herself by learning to read and write. 

        Sapphire, the author of “PUSH”, presents the book to readers in a format that resembles a diary as well as an autobiography. Sapphire tells the story through Precious’ voice, that is why the novel is filled with misspelled words, unstructured sentences, and slang is dominant. Sapphire makes the novel become very real to the reader by telling the story through Precious’ voice because it enables Precious’ character to come to live. Precious narrates her story by talking to the reader of her present activities, while having flashbacks of her difficult past. There were many times it felt as if one was reading Precious’ diary.

        The purpose of “PUSH” is to provide girls and women with encouragement. Precious Jones never really had a childhood; her father was sexually abusing her since she was “five or six”. Precious’ mother, Mary Johnston, rather than protecting her daughter allowed the abuse to occur, and instead blamed and battered Precious. But through all of her hardships Precious pushed forward and refused to become anything like her mother. Precious’ story encourages women and girls not to let the adversities they face to push them down, but rather push them forward. Precious’ story is uplifting, if she can overcome all the adversity that she has been through, it gives women and girls hope that they can do it too.

     Precious’ strength and courage should be an inspiration to all women and girls who read this novel.  Throughout the novel one sees that there are various times when Precious could have taken the easy way out with darn well good reasons, but she doesn’t. Not once does Precious consider abortion, as she states in the book “Abortion is a sin”.  When Precious is given the option to give her children up for adoption she refuses. Precious does not settle for her mother’s life, she has the courage and strength to be better for herself as well as her children. She knows that the key to her future success is education.

     “PUSH” is definitely an arousing novel because it attacks various issues that affect girls in our society. One of the main issues the novel focuses on is the reason why society dismissed Precious’ situation. Precious’ race (African American) had great influence in the matter, due to the fact that Precious was black no one stopped to question why she was pregnant at the age of twelve! The fact that African American girls are not viewed as “pure” by society seems to be a recurring issue in our society. How is it possible for a girl to be pregnant at twelve with no questions asked? Precious is suspended from school for being pregnant instead of having a counselor find out the reasons for her pregnancy. I am most certain that the situation would have not been the same had Precious been of a different race.

      Self-image is also a factor that is addressed in this novel. Precious feels that part of her misfortune is due to her race. Throughout the novel she tells the reader of how she feels invisible to the world due to her race. Precious feels that if she were white her life would be different. When asked by her teacher to write, “How we would be if life was perfect?”  Precious’ response is “I would be light skinned”. Society has made Precious feel that because she is black no one can see her, no one can love her, and no one cares about her.

     As a society we need to come together and change the racial perceptions held on girls, no girl is more valuable than another. “PUSH” teaches us that every girl is valuable, there is something Precious about all of us.

 

 

Words: 775