Vanishing Half

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The Vignes twin sisters, identical yet divergent, grow up in a small southern black community and run away at sixteen, leading to vastly different adult lives. A decade later, one sister returns to her roots, raising her black daughter in the town she sought to escape, while the other passes for white, concealing her past from her white husband. Despite the physical and emotional distance, their lives remain intertwined, setting the stage for their daughters' fates to intersect. Spanning generations and locations from the Deep South to California, and covering the 1950s to the 1990s, the narrative weaves a compelling family saga that delves into the complexities of identity and the American history of passing. It examines how the past influences personal choices, desires, and expectations, while exploring the various reasons individuals may feel compelled to live outside their origins. Critics have praised the author as a significant voice, noting her ability to portray characters grappling with their impulses and addressing provocative themes with intelligence and dark humor. The work is described as beautifully written, evoking deep emotional resonance and lingering reflections on family and identity.