Out of the Shadow of Poverty

Living the American Dream through Faith

Non-Fiction - Self Help
230 Pages
Reviewed on 06/27/2012
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Joy Hannabass for Readers' Favorite

"Out of the Shadow of Poverty: Living the American Dream through Faith" by R. Jenkins-Oliver with Lakiesha Oliver is a memoir about a girl and her family making the most of what life handed to them. This family stuck together during the good and bad times, and the children were taught how to thrive and survive when times are difficult. The homes, schools, stores and other tangible things are now gone, but not forgotten by the author. Rudy had such dreams and visions that she was determined to move from the poverty stricken life she was in to a more productive life. Growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s was not easy for an African American girl, and there were many difficult situations she had to face, but Rudy was still determined not to let anything clog her way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir of Rudy, though at times it was an easy read, as she talked about some of the setbacks she endured. The story is very well-written and I found myself weaved together with the characters as she told her story, feeling sorry for her, and feeling the heartbreak she was facing. And I liked her spunk! She takes a situation that is out of her control with determination, and chooses to trust God with the outcome. I also enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the setting, giving me and other readers a feeling of how life was back then. And learning some of the Geechee/Gullah ways and dialect was really new and interesting for me. I highly recommend this wonderful book for anyone to read, so go grab a copy for your own enjoyment.