The Parker Inheritance

Author: Varian Johnson

Published: 2018

2019 Coretta Scott King Author Honor / NPR Best Book of 2018

Synopsis:

Twelve-year old Candice Miller is less than thrilled about spending her precious summer in the small town of Lambert, South Carolina. However, after learning about her grandmother's mysterious past through an old forgotten letter, she is determined to solve the puzzle and bring justice to her grandmother's memory. With the help of her neighbor, Brandon, Candice digs up clues which ultimately help her solve the mystery that pushed her grandmother out of Lambert so many years ago.

About the Author

Varian Johnson was born in Florence, South Carolina, around a two hour drive from Lambert, where his mystery/historical fiction novel The Parker Inheritance takes place. The lively African-American community of his hometown, Florence, is part of his inspiration for this award-winning story, and the other part of his inspiration stems from a racially-charged interaction with a police officer during his junior year of high school. Johnson and his brother were searched for drugs at the airport after being profiled by an officer, who assumed they were strangers after witnessing "a lukewarm hug" between the two. However, Johnson and his brother are twins. Identical twins.

Johnson began writing his first book, A Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid, while studying Civil Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. His hope is that his literature will challenge readers to consider their perceptions and use positions of power for good. He is currently a professor at Vermont College of Fine Arts, where he received his MFA.

Learn more about Johnson's inspiration and perspective on The Parker Inheritance is his book talk linked below.

"Those in positions of power often see their mistaken viewpoints as mere inconveniences, or as life lessons. But for the powerless, that same misguided viewpoint may very well be the difference between life and death."

-Varian Johnson

Are any characters privileged or marginalized?

The Parker Inheritance is unique in that it tells two interconnected stories alongside each other. The chapters alternate between following Candace and her friend, Brandon, as they solve the puzzling mystery left behind by Candace's deceased grandmother, Abigail Caldwell. At the same time, describing the lives of Candace's grandmother and the historic struggles of her fellow Lambert community members during the Civil Rights Movement. Candace, Brandon, and the majority of the characters in the story are Black, but several are not. Among the white characters are the racist high school assistant principal, Mr. Rittenhauer, who accuses Candace and Brandon of stealing and trespassing in the school. Additionally, the white characters in this book exhibit their privilege and power over the Black community in several ways, whether it is through their access to better school resources, jobs, blatantly racist comments, or forcing Black families such as the Washingtons to perform physical labor to repay debt. However, there are several white characters, such as Chip, who disagree with the unjust ways the Black community is treated and voice their opinions but take little true action.

As a young Black woman, Candace Miller is marginalized due to both the color of her skin and her gender. She is enraged by the racial injustices of Lambert, both past and present, and seeks to bring justice to her grandmother's tarnished reputation throughout the novel. Additionally, at several points throughout the book, it is implied that her family is struggling financially following the divorce of her parents. As a member of the Black community, Brandon and his family are also marginalized. Brandon faces additional challenges as he is bullied by Milo and the other neighborhood boys. On top of this, his family and friends suspect he might be gay. This is a challenging topic that Candace grapples with throughout the duration of the book, especially after finding out that her father is in a relationship with a man.

How are the lived experiences of historically marginalized populations represented in the text?

In many chapters, Johnson represents the lived experiences of Black people in the South during the early years of the Civil Rights Movement. There are multiple references to historical events and places such as Brown v. Board, and Lambert, South Carolina, which is a real town not far from Johnson's hometown.

In the flashbacks, ranging from 1914 to 1957, issues of the Civil Rights movement, such interracial marriage and relationships, are discussed through Chip's crush on Siobhan. When Chip suggests that the two move North to get married and live without persecution, Chip's father immediately shoots down the idea, stating that racists are everywhere and moving away from Lambert won't change anything. This interaction is so authentic and real, it almost feels like Johnson was there experiencing it himself.

Through Candace and Brandon, the lived experiences of Black youth in America are also discussed. For example, Tori, Brandon's older sister, admits that she drives slowly and carefully in fear of being wrongfully pulled over by a police officer. This is something that the author, Varian Johnson, has first-hand experience with as he and his brother were wrongfully searched by a prejudiced police officer during their junior year of high school. While it is incredibly unfortunate that these fearful and sometimes fatal interactions with the police are so common in the Black community, Johnson's inclusion of this topic in The Parker Inheritance is painfully relevant and will resonate with many readers.

The danger of a single story

There are many dangers in providing students with a single story. In their article titled "Culturally Diverse Literature: Enriching Variety in an Era of Common Core State Standards," Boyd, Causey and Galda state that "if children see only themselves in the books they read, they come to the conclusion that those who are different from them are not worthy of appearing in books" (Boyd, Causey, & Galda, 2015, pg 379). The joy in amazing books like Johnson's is that they offer so many perspectives, and there is no excuse not to share them with students.

When students read The Parker Inheritance, they will engage with characters, a setting, and places in time that will challenge, affirm, and question the way they view the Civil Rights Movement and life as a Black person in America today. For some students, this novel may hit very close to home and serve as a story that validates the lived experiences of themselves or their loved ones. For others, the idea of having a friend who is gay or fearing police brutality may be very foreign and challenging. For both students, the message is powerful and purposeful. It is important for young readers to engage with novels like Johnson's because "no group or individual has a single story, and knowing only one story leads to the creation of assumptions and stereotypes" (Boyd, Causey, & Galda, 2015, pg 378). Young readers are especially impressionable, and it is critical for them to see a variety of people represented accurately and respectfully through literature, whether those people look like them or not.

Classroom Potential

Introduce or elaborate on topics such as racism, the Civil Rights Movement, the dangers of a single story. Faciliate a class discussion on the issue.
Write an alternate ending to the story
Create a cartoon to represent a memorable scene, such as when Candace finds the letter in the attic or Mr. Rittenhauer confronts Candace and Brandon
Write a persona poem from the perspective of your favorite character
Tweet from the perspective of a character

Citations

Boyd, F. B., Causey, L. L., & Galda, L. (2015). Culturally Diverse Literature: Enriching Variety in an Era of Common Core State Standards. The Reading Teacher, 68(5), 378–387.

Johnson, V. (n.d.). The Story Behind The Parker Inheritance. Retrieved from http://varianjohnson.com/books/the-parker-inheritance/story-behind-parker-inheritance/.