The plot didn’t seem like unrelated vignettes to me: one event after another took away more and more of the Malones’ security and settled life and the things that were important to Deza, as described above. I thought Curtis did a beautiful job showing her unhappiness at what she was losing but her resilience in adapting to each new circumstance, the way in which she found something to strive for in each place (i.e. in the camp, working the daily rounds and mentoring the new kids)and her sensitivity in appreciating their new situations (i.e. noting when the camp was forcibly broken up that the children who were “fresh” to the camp were the only ones who really seemed shocked, essentially because they weren’t used to having everything taken away from them yet).

On the point about her teeth, there are multiple times throughout when she mentions biting down on them to distract herself from something she didn’t want to think about, and it was clear from the writing that biting down on them caused her a lot of pain (I think she mentioned it feeling like sparks at one point) — it’s almost matter-of-fact to her that they hurt, and so she doesn’t dwell on it, but it’s repeated enough to be clear that it’s a real problem. Also Curtis does a great job of showing-not-telling with this, when she gets an apple and has to cut it up small to be able to bite it, and has to mush up some other food so she can eat it.

Deza was telling the story of her family- desperately trying to stay together- and what happens to hard working people without safety nets. I loved how CPC really got into her head- I felt like I knew her. I cannot imagine how she and her mother and brother remained so resilient and kept going on. And her Father’s mental health crisis- who wouldn’t crack under such pressures. Seeing what a bad hand can do to someone’s spirit is devastating. I am hopeful for the Malones- they work best together and that’s how they end up. Not all better- but together.

Also, seeing the African American lens of the Depression- and also seeing how different the American experience is still today for people-especially children- of color- has frankly been a call to order for me in this election year.

I see Deza as an agent of change. She is able to adapt to horrific changes, endure terrible dental pain and just manage, and continues reading, thinking, and growing. I think the MIghty Miss Malone would go on to do big things as an agent of change- as an adult.

I do think this book will be even more divine on the re-read.

Nina, I’m really fascinated that you found the voice, character, and setting here stronger than in CROW. I had the exact opposite reaction. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts when we get to that one.

I came into this thinking I would absolutely not be rereading this and now I think I might have to. I’m having a hard time being excited about that when I almost didn’t finish it the first time around.