The Whitest Wall by Jodee Kulp
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/09)
“The Whitest Wall” begins with the murder of a popular local man and the arrest of a transient. The transient obviously has some mental health issues, so we are left uncertain as to whether or not he really committed the crime. The story focuses on discovering his secrets and it also delves deeply into the lives of the people who are affected by this murder. Even if the individuals did not know the man killed, the situation opens up a lot of wounds and forces people to take looks at their own lives and events from their pasts. I found this aspect of the novel to be fascinating. So many internal issues are being brought to the present and dealt with. Some of these issues involve past childhood abuse, past and present racism, gang issues and the severely life altering affects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD).
The author Jodee Kulp does an incredible job of character development. She takes us into the minds and hearts of each of the people directly related to the story. She not only demonstrates how lives can be negatively affected by abuse and disrespect, she also demonstrates how people’s lives can be turned around with acceptance and friendship.
In the back of the book, she offers references and discussion topics regarding the story and FASD. I think that this material makes “The Whitest Wall” by Jodee Kulp an excellent choice for support groups dealing with this issue. It would also make good reading material for classes involving substance abuse. For myself, I just really enjoyed the story and look forward to the next two books that will follow in this series.
“The Whitest Wall” begins with the murder of a popular local man and the arrest of a transient. The transient obviously has some mental health issues, so we are left uncertain as to whether or not he really committed the crime. The story focuses on discovering his secrets and it also delves deeply into the lives of the people who are affected by this murder. Even if the individuals did not know the man killed, the situation opens up a lot of wounds and forces people to take looks at their own lives and events from their pasts. I found this aspect of the novel to be fascinating. So many internal issues are being brought to the present and dealt with. Some of these issues involve past childhood abuse, past and present racism, gang issues and the severely life altering affects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD).
The author Jodee Kulp does an incredible job of character development. She takes us into the minds and hearts of each of the people directly related to the story. She not only demonstrates how lives can be negatively affected by abuse and disrespect, she also demonstrates how people’s lives can be turned around with acceptance and friendship.
In the back of the book, she offers references and discussion topics regarding the story and FASD. I think that this material makes “The Whitest Wall” by Jodee Kulp an excellent choice for support groups dealing with this issue. It would also make good reading material for classes involving substance abuse. For myself, I just really enjoyed the story and look forward to the next two books that will follow in this series.
Check out the 2009 Winners
Multicultural
First The Oyster Cocktail, AuthorHouse Tomas Sancio
Second The Invincible Anita, iUniverse Lisa Lynn Ramos
Honorable Mention The Whitest Wall, Better Endings, New Beginnings Jodee Kulp
Multicultural
First The Oyster Cocktail, AuthorHouse Tomas Sancio
Second The Invincible Anita, iUniverse Lisa Lynn Ramos
Honorable Mention The Whitest Wall, Better Endings, New Beginnings Jodee Kulp
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