The Help

Kathryn Stockett

Feb 2009 · Penguin

About this ebook

The #1 New York Times bestselling novel and basis for the Academy Award-winning film—a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don’t—nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who’s always taken orders quietly, but lately she’s unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She’s full of ambition, but without a husband, she’s considered a failure.

Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town...

Ratings and reviews

The Help, #1 New York Times best seller, by Kathryn Stockett is an amazing story of how a bold white woman strives to reveal to the public how the colored maids of Jackson, Mississippi, live and thrive. Stockett involves the reader in such intimate experiences that colored maids go through , so that the reader can come to an understanding of how harsh their lifestyles are. Stockett develops the characters so that the reader can sympathize and relate to each and every one of them. Her great use of vernacular and description put the icing on the cake of such a wonderful message. The time is in the early 1960’s, and the place is Jackson, Mississippi. Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, a young 22-year-old graduate from Ole Miss, sets out to share the story of black maids working in Southern homes. But she faces many challenges with trying to find colored women that will trust a white lady enough to tell her her story. Once she overcomes that battle, and the book is published, the local women begin recognizing their attributes and roles in the book and set out for vengeance. The novel is an inspiring story of how one white woman gives the voice to colored maids and brings out second thoughts in other whites on how the lines between black and white should be drawn. Kathryn Stockett wants to provide the reader with real life experiences of how black maids in the South live. The Help shows the reader the every day trials colored maids go through. Stockett wants the reader to feel the pain and compassion that the maids had, along with the tense feelings between that of black and white. Stockett uses Skeeter as a figure to portray her theme of not giving into conformity. Throughout the novel ,Stockett provides many experiences that appeal to the readers emotions and thoughts. Hopefully, after reading The Help the reader will take the matter of racism to the heart and learn to stand up for what is right. The most intriguing part of The Help is easily the wonderful use of description and vernacular. The chapter in which Skeeter Phelan is on a date, transfers the true feelings through to the reader with its magnificent description and details. For example, Skeeter is kissed and it is described, “Right in the middle of Robert E. Lee Hotel Restaurant, he kissed me so slowly with an open mouth and every single thing in my body-- my skin, my collarbone, the hollow backs of my knees, everything inside me filled up with light.” Stockett’s marvelous details make the reader feel the butterflies of a first kiss, along with the rush of new love that is developing. Stockett also uses amazing vernacular. For example, Aibileen says, “We was in my living room and the nights had started to get warm. Minny’d gone in the kitchen to stand in front a the icebox. Minny don’t stop sweating but for five minutes in January and maybe not even then.” This quote shows the reader the vernacular of the Southern maids, and also indirectly provides information that leads the reader to assume there was no air conditioning. The fact that the blacks don’t even have air conditioning shows the reader the true poverty level maids live in. The use of vernacular gives the reader the knowledge to determine the difference in white and black, and it shows the total opposite living conditions they have. Stockett’s use of vivid details and great vernacular portray the meaning of the book perfectly. Although I am not the kind of person that enjoys reading, I thoroughly enjoyed The Help, and I couldn’t seem to put it down. I was shocked by the brutal truth of the condition of colored maids in the South, but I was also touched by the personal feelings I got to experience along with the characters. I have come to realize, through the novel, that no one should give in to conformity, and everyone should be treated equally. The Help provides many life lessons that everyone should learn. Overall, I was pleased with this book. Although the truth was shocking, it gave me a new perspective on life

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is an inspirational story about black maids working in Southern homes in Jackson, Mississippi. Stockett’s powerful writing puts the reader into the lives of each character’s trials and hardships. Her reasoning for writing this book is to inform others about racism and following dreams. Stocket’s picture perfect details and diction help bring this story to life. Many of us often forget about how servants used to be treated and how their life was a struggle. The time is the 1960’s. The three main characters: Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter are brave and intriguing women. Their honesty and courageous personalities lead them to writing a book that later gets published. It has always been Skeeters dream to be writer and she takes a leap in faith, and writes about the black maids in Mississippi. Aibileen is a tremendous help towards the book, and takes a huge risk of telling her personal story. They created a friendship filled with trust and truth that changed all three of their lives. Stockett mainly wants the reader to understand the way maids and servants were being treated, and their challenging lives. The women’s fears and troubled times are expressed in The Help. The author wants one to feel their pain and hardworking lifestyle. The maids were constantly cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, and on top of all of this, raising the white woman’s children. They cared for the young kids more than the mother in most cases. This kind of relationship is expressed in Aibileen’s love for Mae Mobley and her ignorant mother, Miss Leefolt. Aibileen said, “Ever so often, I come to work and find her bawling in her crib, Miss Leefolt busy on the sewing machine rolling her eyes like it’s a stray cat stuck in the screen door.” The author really wants us to feel like we are in each characters position by switching the point of view in every few chapters. From Aibileens and Minny’s point of view, we feel how they felt in the homes. They felt mistreated and not like a regular white women. They had to use separate bathrooms, and shop and live in different places. They work as hard as they can every day doing tiring and physical jobs. Aibileen and Minny don’t have that much time off from work, but when they do, they loved going to church and focusing on their own house and children. On the other hand, Skeeter, the graduate from Ole Miss has a different life style of her own. She is very tall with distinguished features. Her mother is always on her about how she needs to get a man, and how she presents herself. Her love for writing is an inspiration to follow ones dreams, because after her risk taking mind, and time consuming writing and editing, all of her hard worked paid off. She also was raised by a maid named Constintine. She loved her maid, but when she left for college, her mother fired her because of a racist reason. Skeeter is a nice girl with a good head on her shoulders. The most intriguing concept of The Help is the magnificent detail and descriptions. The author really makes one feel like they are there, in that moment. The three women have to be in secret about the book, and sometimes you can feel the intensity. She describes there homes and lifestyle, and I feel like I am sitting right there with them. One example of these moments is when Minny has to hide from Mr. Johnny. Minny says, “ I slip in and keep the door cracked. I crouch up on the toilet seat so he can’t see my feet under the door. It’s dark in here and hot. I feel like my head’s on fire. Sweat drips off my chin and splats on the floor. I feel sick by the thick smell of gardenia soap by the sink. I hear the footsteps, I hold my breath.” While reading these lines, Stockett’s use of diction appeals to the senses which is what draws one into this book. The humor and passion is what really makes one think about how we

This book stimulates some deep soul-searching. It's far more than a story about civil rights and racial issues. What lessons and messages are we giving our children? Are we allowing ourselves to be bound by supposed social lines that can't be crossed? Do we allow ourselves to be manipulated by charismatic, popular, or powerful people? Do we cultivate hatred, fear, and distrust of those who are different - either race, social standing, education, or financial status? Or are we courageous enough to stand up for what we know to be morally right, teach our children love and tolerance, and the beauty to be found in different cultures? If we happen to be in a position of authority over others, do we treat them as equal human beings, respect their dignity, and express simple appreciation for whatever work or services they perform for us? Another addition to my "must read" list and personal library.

About the author

Kathryn Stockett was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in English and creative writing, she moved to New York City, where she worked in magazine publishing and marketing for sixteen years. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and daughter.