The Unbelonging -

Joan Riley

The Women's Press

1985

144 páginas

4h 48m

ISBN-10: 0704328615

This is the story of an eleven year old black girl who comes to Britain to live with a father and new mother who she does not know. This was a common experience for some black children in the 60's and 70's. Hyacinth ends up in care through no fault of her own. The book explores her experience of 'care', the difficulties of adolescence, loneliness and isolation and her experience of being an immigrant in a racist society.

This is an extremely well written novel, it vividly portrays Hyacinth's life as a black child, who does not seem to belong anywhere. I read this book when it was first published in 1985 and have read it many times since then. As a former Probation Officer and now a Psychotherapist I regularly recommend the text to clients and qualified and unqualified practitioners.