March 1, 1999
Novelist and memoirist Golden (The Edge of Heaven, LJ 11/1/97) writes from her own experience to inspire the strengths and gifts of female-headed families. Raised in a female-headed household and a single mother for ten years, Golden also interviewed seven single mothers and adult children raised in female-headed households. Her goal is to counter the weight of bad news surrounding these families by exploring the paths and perspectives of women who succeeded in creating a healthy environment for their children. Popular self-help titles on the topic abound; a scholarly title that shares Golden's goal of empowerment is African American Single Mothers, edited by Bette J. Dickerson (Sage, 1995). Highly recommended for public libraries.--Paula Dempsey, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago