The Tender Silver Stars

April 1, 2024
In 1970s South Carolina, Triss Littlefield, the granddaughter of notable attorney Jeremiah Littlefield, is impulsive, though well-intentioned, an “impetuous troublemaker” according to the locals. When her grandfather refuses to allow her to attend law school, Triss leaves home, securing employment with the shady, miserly Horace Haine, a lawyer and landlord who Triss quickly grows to despise, thanks to his penchant for evicting hardworking but down-on-their-luck tenants. Before she knows it, Triss gives in to her urge to steal some of Haine’s ill-gotten money, changing the course of her job—and her future.
Stockwell (author of A Boundless Place) writes enthusiastically, crafting relatable characters and plausible situations that retain interest until the very last page. In the midst of Triss’s woes, she gives a ride to runaway Black bride Everlove Porter quite by accident, and the two end up as housemates in Triss’s trailer home, befriended by the spry, no-nonsense 83-year-old Mrs. McCabe, a neighbor across the street. The trio soon cook up a scheme to take on Haine and dispense of his money to those in need, launching Triss into a full-scale investigation of Haine’s activities. Her newfound independence is satisfying, but confusing at the same time, making Triss—and Everlove—entirely human and believable.
Though readers may see the ending coming, the story stays brisk and engaging, thanks, in large part, to Stockwell’s well-rounded, nuanced characters. Stockwell uses Triss’s precarious situation to explore the nature of her friendship with Everlove, during the early years following desegregation, when routine activities for Triss—like entering a store—are fraught with danger for Everlove. Triss’s growing awareness of this, and questioning of her own bias, lend depth not just to their blossoming friendship but also to the entire narrative. The result is a thought-provoking exploration of strong females and the relationships they form while negotiating their own empowerment.
Takeaway: A resonant story of friendship, courage, and female empowerment.
Comparable Titles: Suzanne Feldman’s Absalom’s Daughters, Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A