Culture 6 - Inclusive: FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF MELANIN SUN

Woodson, Jacqueline. FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF MELANIN SUN. New York: Scholastic, 1995. ISBN 0590458817

Melanin Sun is a 13 year-old boy. He is experiencing the typical things boys his age go through: hormone changes, girls, friends, insecurity. He has an extremely close relationship with his mom. When he finds out she's in love and who she's in love with it challenges what he thought was right. Readers will be moved by Melanin's emotions as he works through them in this story that may be more real than we think.

Jacqueline Woodson has created a character in 13 year-old, African-American, Melanin Sun that kids of similar and older ages will relate to. He is the type of person that boys and girls can understand no matter what race. He is quiet, observant, thoughtful, and writes about everything. He is living in an apartment in the city, has two close friends, is just beginning to show interest in a particular girl. He also shows how insecure he is around the opposite sex. It is important that readers bond with Melanin so that when his mother tells him her secret readers will be rooting for Melanin to find a way to be at peace. It's a coming of age story in a modern world with real emotion.
Many young people growing up today not only have to deal with the typical problems but also may worry about sexual preference. Because Melanin is quiet and thoughtful he seems to worry about his or at least how it appears to others. "I knew it was faggy to collect stamps but I didn't care. It was something I liked and as long as I didn't start wanting to kiss on Raphael and Sean, I was okay." His friends know he collects stamps and tease him so he is dealing with the inner conflict.
As an African-American Melanin and his friends also have issues with whites at times. Melanin and his mother go to the beach and he realizes "no one was as dark as me." When he gets teased by some white boys at the beach he feels "stupid then, dark and ugly. Alone. It made me hate white people in a way I hadn't thought about hating them before." His friends talk about wanting to beat them up but know they wouldn't. They all hold on to "the hate." This issue sets up part of the problem with his mother's secret.
When Melanin's mother tells him she is in love with Kristin, a woman, a white woman, his first reaction is that he will become what he has been reassuring himself he is not, gay. As he begins processing the new information he feels great anger, he wants to die, he punches walls, and cries. He screams obscenities at her and moves to feeling embarrassed because others will know what she is. Woodson does a great job of combining the actions and emotions so readers feel the fury inside Melanin.
Melanin retreats to his own world and works on putting some order back in his mind. When one of his friends makes a comment revealing he knows about Melanin's mother and her girlfriend the raw emotions come to the surface again in a physical fight that results in the ending of a friendship.
As the story comes to a close, Melanin is still dealing with wanting things to go back the way they were before the secret was revealed, ignoring his mother, yet wanting the love of his mother even though he doesn't agree with her choice. He feels so torn and Woodson writes to allow readers to feel the same. Melanin's close relationship to his mother finally results in a deep and sincere dialogue where the beginning of understanding is born for Melanin. His mother asks him to " ' see her [Kristin] as human, Mel. Just walk into one day without being so mad at me.' " Melanin wants to know how he's supposed to " 'walk out of it' " and she replies, " 'However you walk out of it.' " She gives Melanin some power in his feelings and how he views things but by asking him to keep an open mind he begins to see his mother as he did before. Melanin also questions Kristin about why she loves his mother. As he talks with her more he begins to allow himself to accept her thus accepting that this is his reality. He starts looking, also, for the time when this newness will be behind him. Readers are left with a sense of hope that Melanin will make peace with his new situation and hopefully more acceptance.
Woodson has done a terrific job revealing a side of this issue that most do not think about because it happens behind closed doors. Melanin shows us this is not an issue that kids go discuss with their friends. Woodson's descriptions of Melanin's thoughts and emotions bring him to life. Also, showing Melanin's and Kristin's conversations gives great insights to conversations that must have taken place before but aren't discussed openly in many circles. Woodson writes with a purpose, but it's the story and Melanin that will be remembered.

HORN BOOK GUIDE: "Woodson tells a powerful and ultimately hopeful story in this concise novel."

KIRKUS: "Melanin Sun's inner journey will leave readers moved and reassured."

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ISBN 9780399239892