One Sentence Summary
The Vanishing Half is the story of twin sisters, Stella and Desiree Vignes, whose lives take radically different paths after they run away from their small southern town.
Book Genre
This novel is a work of contemporary fiction that deals with themes of race, identity, and family.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of The Vanishing Half is identity and the consequences of making decisions that shape our lives and define our individual futures. In this case, the core of the story centers around twin sisters and their unique paths in life.
Key Ideas
- Identity and Choice: The story revolves around the idea that decisions we make shape our identity and destiny, and that different choices can result in vastly different outcomes.
- Secrets and Lies: The story explores the impact of secrets and lies, and how they can both protect and harm us.
- Family Bonds: The bond between family members is also a source of strength as well as potential conflict.
Main Parts of the Book and Short Summary
The Vanishing Half is the story of twins Stella and Desiree Vignes, who grew up in the small southern town of Mallard. The girls were raised by their single mother, and they dreamed of leaving their oppressive home for a better life in a bigger city. One day, when they were sixteen, the twins set off on this dream, each going their own way. Stella wanted to go to the city and become successful, while Desiree longed to return to Mallard and find a man to marry and start a family.
Ten years later, Stella has built a successful career and chosen to pass as white. Meanwhile, Desiree lives happily back in Mallard with her beloved husband and daughter. When tragedy strikes, the sisters must confront their past and their own identities as they try to understand what it means to be twins, sisters, and family.
Key Takeaways
The Vanishing Half is a story about identity, family, decisions, dreams, and second chances. It provides readers with an opportunity to reflect on the consequences of our actions and to ponder questions of identity and race. The story shows that all of us are shaped by the past in different ways, and that the decisions we make can determine the fate of our future.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Brit Bennett is a bestselling and award-winning author, essayist, and critic. Her debut novel, The Mothers, was a New York Times bestseller as well as a finalist for the National Book Award. Her essays and stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, and The Paris Review, among other publications. She is currently a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellow.
Target Audience
The Vanishing Half is a novel for adults who enjoy fiction exploring the complexities of intersecting identities, truth, and family.
Publisher and First Publication Date
The Vanishing Half was published by Riverhead Books, a division of Penguin Random House, in June 2020.