Speculation

Reviewed by Paige Pagan

Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Nisi Shawl

Inspired by the work of authors such as Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, Speculation is a middle-grade novel that explores the myriad of ways in which Black families in America have been, still are, and always will be intrinsically affected by slavery. 

Set in 1960s Mississippi, Winna and her baby sister are staying with their grandparents until their mother recovers from a mysterious and sudden affliction of her lungs. When Winna’s glasses break, her grandfather gifts her those of her great aunt Estelle who passed away a long time ago. It’s through these spectacles that Winna begins to see the ghost of Estelle and is informed about her family’s “burden.” Winna’s great-great-grandmother, Winona, escaped from slavery when she was seven months pregnant and landed with a white family that was willing to house her until she had the baby and was prepared to travel further up North. However, the doctor who helped Winona deliver her baby kidnapped him. Winona vowed that until she is reunited with her baby again, no one in her family will “breathe easy.” Now it is up to Winna to find Winona’s long lost baby to bring both closure to her ancestors and healing to her mother and future generations. 

This book takes some of the lessons presented in Toni Morrison’s Beloved and makes them accessible for a middle-grade audience. Like Beloved, the story explores “family curses” and how the consequences of a decision made by a resentful matriarch can trickle down to the present generation. It also uncovers the responsibilities of those living in the present to respect and honor the legacies left behind by their ancestors, especially in Black families where slavery often tore them apart, as evident in the protagonist’s familial history. There is a mature rumination here on atonement and blame. Winna is angry over Winona’s curse and doesn’t understand why she wished bad upon her own line rather than on the ones who wronged her. As in Beloved, this is an instance where Black female sacrifice comes into play, but perhaps that takeaway is too sophisticated for this target audience. As a result, the generational trauma component feels unresolved. In the end, Winna does locate Winona’s baby (now 100 years old), and he presents as an old white man. Instead of delving into the history of Black female slaves being raped by white masters (and the general dynamic between whites and Blacks both in the past and in present day 1960s Mississippi), the concept of race as a social construct seems to be the conclusion – not a bad one, but perhaps one that shouldn’t be used as a catchall. 

This book can serve as a good conversation starter in classrooms and take the history a step further than the narrative did.

Paige Pagan is a Social Justice Books Program Specialist at Teaching for Change.

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Speculation by Nisi Shawl
Published by Tu Books on February 14, 2023
Genres: Family, Slavery
Pages: 240
Reading Level: Grades 6-8
ISBN: 9781620149591
Review Source: Teaching for Change

Publisher's Synopsis: A wonderful middle-grade fantasy debut about Black families, family history, family curses ... and a really marvelous pair of spectacles.

After Winna's little sister breaks her glasses, her grandfather gives her an old-timey pair of spectacles that belonged to her great-aunt Estelle. The specs are silver and perfectly circular, with tiny stars on the bridge and earpieces that curl all the way around her ears.

Best of all, they're magic.

Because when Winna makes a wish beginning with the words "What if" — that is, when she speculates — the spectacles grant it. Winna wishes she could see ghosts ... and soon she meets not only the real Estelle, but Estelle's mother, Winona. Nearly a century before, Winona escaped from slavery and ran north with her baby, Key. But Key was stolen from her under mysterious circumstances, and now Estelle and Winona have a mission for Winna: Find Key.

He's still alive. He doesn't know the whole truth. And unless Winna can solve the mystery and bring him home, a powerful curse called the Burden will smother out their family's lives — and Winna's mom could be its next victim.

This beautifully written historical fantasy by an award-winning science fiction author offers new twists and turns in every chapter and will leave you looking at your own family's roots with new eyes.