Somebody's Someone: A Memoir
by Regina Louise

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Book Reviews of Somebody's Someone: A Memoir

Book Review: A Child's Story
Summary: 3 Stars

This is Regina Louise's story of her life from ages 10-15. In these years, Regina shifted from home to home, with a simple request that any child has - to belong and be loved by someone. As the story opens, Regina is living in Texas with a surrogate grandmother, Big Mama, whose house is full of other people's children. In this house, Regina was abused by her "siblings" and ignored by Big Mama. After one of the older children in the home beats Regina at about age 11, she is sent on a bus ride alone to North Carolina to live with her mother, Ruby.

Her time with Ruby seems hopeful, as Ruby is stable and working. But, as the story progresses, and Regina's sister, Doretha comes to live with them, things fall apart. Ruby's boyfriend, Mr. Benny begins making advances at the girls. Doretha fights back and ends up fighting Ruby and getting put out, while Regina sits quietly by, realizing that Ruby wouldn't believe her anyway, and desperately wanting her mother's love and approval.

When Regina finally tells her mother of Mr. Benny's advances, Ruby sends Regina to live in California with her father and his wife. Her time with her father is unsuccessful, and she ends up in foster care, where she becomes attached to one of the counselor's, Ms. Claire. To tell the details of what occurs while Regina is in foster care, would give away several important details and themes that emerge in this.

It was easy to suspend reality and to act like this was merely a story, rather than a detailed account of a girl's life. The book is written in first person, simple narrative form with broken English, as though you are reading out of Regina's journal, or someone merely transcribed her words, spoken into a mini-tape recorder. I often found myself hearing her voice as I read her words. While I would recommend this book, it is not for the light-hearted reader, looking for an uplifting story. Even as I finished this book, I was still not sure if the story was complete. I guess I was looking for a nice, tidy ending, where everything falls into place and all ends well. That satisfaction was not realized until I found her website,
and read a little bit more about how she is now.

Tameshia
R.E.A.L. Reviewers

African-American & Black Books

• Books > Subjects > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National
• Family & Childhood
• Memoirs
• Specific Groups > Women