by Piyali C.

Sadeqa Johnson’s late grandmother became pregnant with her mom at the age of fourteen. Her grandfather, however, did not marry her grandmother since he was very light skinned, and he was from the ‘right’ side of the tracks. She was dark skinned and poor. Johnson writes in the Author’s Note that the idea for this book, The House of Eve, came to her as a what-if. What if her grandmother had the money and opportunity to have the baby in a home for unwed mothers, gave the baby up for adoption, and went on to fulfill her dreams?  

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is a beautiful, searing novel about two young Black women in alternating narratives. It is 1948. Ruby Pearsall is on track to be the first in her family to go to college and accomplish her dream of becoming an optometrist. Ruby struggles to find even the few cents for bus fare to get to her ‘we rise‘ program in school so she can earn a scholarship to college. She is from the poorest area of North Philadelphia and comes from an extremely impoverished family. Although her mother, Inez, is indifferent to her needs, she has her aunt and grandmother who support her with love, shelter, and encouragement even though they cannot help her financially. They want their girl to go to college, become someone important, and make the family proud. But a love affair threatens to destroy her dreams to rise out of poverty. It also threatens to perpetuate the cycle of abuse and financial desperation. 

Eleanor comes from a blue-collar family. Her parents have given their all to send her to Howard University to get a good education and rise up in life. Eleanor appreciates and values the sacrifices of her parents and is determined to excel in school. However, she falls in love with a medical student, William, whose family is one of the most successful Black families in the Washington, D.C. area. William Pride’s mother, Rose Pride, does not let anyone enter their elite circle. Eleanor wonders if a pregnancy might give her an entry into their magical kingdom and perhaps she will feel like she belongs. Ruby and Eleanor’s lives will collide in unexpected ways and the decisions they make will change the course of their lives. 

With the magic of her words in this magnificent work of historical fiction, Johnson transports the readers to the rough neighborhoods of north Philadelphia, the campus of Howard University, elegant ballrooms in Washington, D.C., and the depressing interiors of homes for women who became pregnant out of matrimony. She also depicts the racial segregation that impacted lives of Black people as well as the consequences that women of any color suffered due to unplanned pregnancies at that time. The book paints a horrific picture of the homes run by nuns where unwed women and girls went to give birth; subsequently, the babies were given to wealthy families in exchange for hefty donations to those homes. Themes like colorism, wealth disparity, and social stratification among the Black community are intricately woven into the story, as are mentions of some real-life people and organizations. These make the book authentic and also give readers a glimpse into a slice of 1950s life that the Black community experienced in the United States.

The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson is available from Howard County Library System in print, e-book, and e-audiobook formats.