Product Description

Now swinging on the far side of forty, best friends Patrice Barber and Cherry Hopkins came of age in the sixties, becoming single mothers by choice. So who would have dreamed that these two ex-revolutionaries would find themselves trying to compose a la-de-dah wedding invitation for their soon-to-be-married children?

But a shattering truth from their radical past is about to rear its head and alter the course of their lives, forcing Patrice and Cherry to hit the road on an urgent mission of forgiveness and compassion, of making amends and letting go. . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2442377 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-04
• Released on: 2000-01-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 288 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Two African American women whose premeditated single motherhood was a political statement 20 years ago animate Lattany's funny and poignant third novel. Patrice Barber and Cherry Hopkins, both in their late 40s, share a friendship dating back to the 1960s, when they participated in the civil rights movement. Patrice's son, Toussaint, and Cherry's daughter, Aisha, have been inseparable since childhood, and no one is surprised when they become engaged. In a contrived plot device, Patrice tumbles to the coincidence that Toussaint and Aisha share an allergy and an identical pattern of moles. Neither Cherry nor Patrice has ever admitted the identity of the men who sired her child. Confession time on both sides: the father of both turns out to be poet and revolutionary Eugene Dessalines Green, whose current whereabouts are unknown. The young people adjust to half-sibling status with what is almost a sense of relief, but Patrice determines to locate Green's other offspring to prevent other instances of inadvertent sibling romance. Enlisting Cherry's aid, Patrice ferrets out Green's other lovers, women like themselves?independent, proud, intelligent and without regrets. Green's reappearance is yet another coincidence, but Lattany handles it well. Patrice and Cherry, their worldly-wise children and the magic man who reenters their lives are some of Lattany's (Guests in the Promised Land) most mature creations, and she uses them to demonstrate that true kinship resides in the heart rather than in the bloodline. Author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
YA. A delightfully engaging story. Cherry Hopkins and Patrice Barber, two middle-aged African-American women, discover they share more than their youthful experiences during their Freedom Riding days of activism and Black Power rallies. Single mothers by choice, they realize while preparing for the wedding of their very traditional offspring, that these young people share the same father. This shock of discovery sets Cherry and Patrice off on a mission to locate the rest of the kinfolk that may exist and the man, Gene Green, who started it all. Meanwhile, the youthful lovers, now turned brother and sister, find their father, blind and alcoholic, living on the streets. Humor and pathos mingle throughout the everyday trials of living for these likable, creative, determined, middle-class females and their equally talented and resourceful children. The coming together of the generations, the merging together of contrasting values, and the richness of African-American culture and traditions make this story an excellent addition to YA collections.?Dottie Kraft, formerly at Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
During the 1960s, Cherry and Patrice rejected all of society's norms, joined the Black Panther party, and raised children as single women. Now at 40-plus, these lifelong friends are forced to reconcile with their past. Cherry's daughter, Aisha, and Patrice's son, Toussaint, are in love and about to marry. The impending marriage sends the mothers on a mission to untangle some family skeletons. This quest uncovers an old acquaintance, Eugene Dessalines Green, the carefree poet, and the knowledge that he is father to both Aisha and Toussaint. As disturbing as the truth may be, these women, with their "take on the world" attitude, learn to accept their mistakes and, more important, learn from them. Lattany has woven an incredible story about the complexities and frailties of love and relationships and the primacy of family. Kinfolks is about recognizing that no matter how strong or weak the bloodlines, in times of trouble, family is the one certainty that people really count on. Lillian Lewis

Customer Reviews

Something I Would Have Done
This book was a joy to read, while I first thought the plot came a little too fast, as I continued to read, I realized I didn't know what the plot really was. The bond between the Patrice and Cherry reminded me of my older sister and her girlfriends. The women in the book handled the issue with grace and maturity, no kiddy, catfights. (As seen on the raunchy talk shows.)You go ladies! While this book is a work of fiction, it shadowed my own life. I have recently located my 'kinfolk' and the initial reactions were welcoming.

As a child, I couldn't understand why my Dad would greet our friends with the question, "Who are your folks?" I just thought it was because he knew everybody, and he does.

We later found out the reason, it was to make sure we were not kinfolks.

I'm looking forward to reading other books by Kristin Hunter Lattany.

I Laughed, I Howled! Hilarious
Readers who were teenagers or in their twenties during the sixties can definitely "relate". Two dsyfunctional friends/parents Cherry and Patrice find out their children who are about to marry have the same father and the story takes off. Cherry and Patrice begin looking for Eugene Green's other children of the sixties. They even recognize a son of his living in the neighborhood. Just how many women were charmed by Eugene Green during the "free love" and "I don't need a husband" era. In their search, their friendship is strengthen, they set real priorities, and there is personal growth and action for both of the friends. Meanwhile, the children having to fend for themselves not only "grow up" a little, but find and help their biological father. Well written. Delightful and funny. This book gives new meaning to our parents statement "who are his people"?

Free Love + I Don't Need a Husband = A Mess!
What do you do when you find out that your child is about to marry their half-sibling? You call off the wedding and go looking for any other kids that the father might have been a sperm donor for. Kinfolks is an entertaining and compelling read with a strong social message that takes us into the lives of Patrice and Cherry as they go on a venture to find the other mothers and offspring of one Gene Greene. Life in the ‘60s was made for peace, love and casual sex…but some 20/30 years later when the results begin to rear their heads in friends and significant others not realizing they’re related its time to take action before an accident happens. If you’re looking for a well-written, solid read with colorful characters and an enlightening storyline then look no further than Kinfolks by Kristen Lattany.