71 pages • 2 hours read
Kathryn StockettThe Help
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a 2009 novel set in Jackson, Mississippi, during the early 1960s, focusing on the lives of Black maids working in white households amidst the civil rights movement. The story is told from the perspectives of three women: Aibileen, an older maid; Minny, her outspoken friend; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, a young white woman who aspires to be a writer and aims to document the maids' stories to reveal the injustices they face. Please note that the book contains depictions of racism and the struggles of Black Americans during the civil rights era.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Help by Kathryn Stockett offers a compelling narrative with strong character development, focusing on racial tensions in 1960s Mississippi. Reviews praise the engaging storytelling and emotional depth. Criticism centers on clichés and the portrayal of dialect. Despite these issues, it's widely celebrated for tackling important social themes in an accessible manner.
Who Should Read The Help?
Readers who would enjoy The Help by Kathryn Stockett appreciate historical fiction focused on social justice and character-driven narratives. Fans of To Kill a Mockingbird or The Secret Life of Bees may find this story engaging, as it explores complex relationships against the backdrop of 1960s Mississippi.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Historical Fiction
American Literature
Modern Classic Fiction
Race / Racism
Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Civil Rights / Jim Crow
Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Identity: Race
Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice