Rebecca, Not Becky: A Novel

by Christine Platt, Catherine Wigginton Greene, Nicole Lewis (Read by), Christine Lakin (Read by)

Overview

In the vein of Such a Fun Age, a whip-smart, compulsively readable novel about two upper-class stay-at-home mothers—one white, one Black—living in a "perfect" suburb that explores motherhood, friendship, and the true meaning of sisterhood amidst the backdrop of America’s all-too-familiar racial reckoning.

De’Andrea Whitman, her husband Malik, and their five-year-old daughter, Nina, are new to the upper-crust white suburb of Rolling Hills, Virginia—a move motivated by circumstance rather than choice. De’Andrea is heartbroken to leave her comfortable life in the Black oasis of Atlanta, and between her mother-in-law’s Alzheimer's diagnosis, her daughter starting kindergarten, and the overwhelming whiteness of Rolling Hills, she finds herself struggling to adjust to her new community. To ease the transition, her therapist proposes a challenge: make a white girlfriend.

 When Rebecca Myland learns about her new neighbors, the Whitmans, she's thrilled. As chair of the Parent Diversity Committee at her daughters’ school, she’s championed racial diversity in the community—and what could be better than a brand-new Black family? It’s serendipitous when her daughter, Isabella, and Nina become best friends on the first day of kindergarten. Now, Rebecca can put everything she’s learned about antiracism into practice—especially those oh-so-informative social media posts. And finally, the Parent Diversity Committee will have some… well, diversity. 

 Following her therapist’s suggestion, De’Andrea reluctantly joins Rebecca’s committee. The painfully earnest white woman is so overly eager it makes De’Andrea wonder if Rebecca’s therapist told her to make a Black friend! But when Rolling Hill’s rising racial sentiments bring the two women together in common cause, they find it isn’t the only thing they have in common. . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798212701099
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	12/05/2023
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 5.70(h) x (d)

About the Author

Catherine Wigginton Greene is a writer and filmmaker whose storytelling focuses on strengthening human connection and understanding. Her feature documentary I’m Not Racist . . . Am I? continues to be used throughout the US as a teaching tool for starting racial dialogue. A graduate of Coe College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Catherine is currently pursuing her doctorate from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

Platt and Wigginton-Greene both live in Washington, DC.

Christine Platt writes literature for children and adults that centers African diasporic experiences—past, present, and future. She holds Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in African and African American studies as well as a juris doctorate in general law. She currently serves as Executive Director for Baldwin For The Arts.

Nicole Lewis is a voice artist and Earphones Award–winning narrator.

Christine Lakin is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and acclaimed television actress, best known for her roles as Alicia “Al” Lambert on the hit family comedy Step by Step and as Joan of Arc on Showtime’s Reefer Madness.

Editorial Reviews

Platt and Wigginton Greene drop a big spoon into the stewpot of race, relationship, class, and age, and serve the reader one sip at a time. Some of it is sweet. Some, sour. Some of it is even a bit spicy. But all of it…yes all of it, is delicious (and might even be healthy). Masterfully done!”

author of Long Way Down Jason Reynolds

Narrators Christine Lakin and Nicole Lewis offer a humbling story on racism in small-town America. De'Andrea, a Black entrepreneur, is heartbroken to leave Atlanta behind when she moves to Rolling Hills, Virginia. Once there, she reluctantly joins the Parent Diversity Committee, run by her enthusiastic white neighbor, Rebecca, at their daughters' school. While the women have seemingly opposite personalities, a bond develops between them. De'Andrea is depicted as a strong, opinionated person, while Rebecca is steadfast yet pensive. Secondary characters are dynamic and add more layers of individualism. The plot explores racism through relatable characters and a blossoming friendship. G.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

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