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Kindred Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Kindred


This is the story of Dana Franklin, a black woman in 1976 suburban Los Angeles who is suddenly chronoported to an 1815 slave-holding plantation in Maryland. She has been called to save the son of the plantation master, her great-great-grandfather, Rufus Weylin. Somehow Rufus has the ability to summon Dana when he's in trouble and only a threat to her life can return her to the present. Over and over, at increasing risk, Dana is brought to the antebellum South to protect her ancestor. Dana is married, in the present, to Kevin, a gentle and progressive white man. But Kevin can adjust with relative ease to 19th century life by virtue of his race and gender. Both Dana and Kevin recognize this and, in spite of Kevin's love for Dana and his instinctive revulsion to slavery, they realize that it's taking Kevin longer to truly see it all for what it is.
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The review of this Book prepared by Jennifer Martin-Romme




Dana, a black woman in the middle 1970's is summoned back to the ante-bellum South, from her home in California, to constantly save the life of Rufus, her ancestor who is needed to father the the daughter who will become Dana's ancestor. Dana needs to continue saving his life to ensure hers but everytime she goes back everything worsens until her own life is at stake and it is unsure whether she will come back home at all.
The review of this Book prepared by Alejandra Ramírez




A 20th Century woman writer is periodically transported back in time to safeguard the life of a slaveowner (an ancestor) throughout his life from a young boy onwards and to ensure that her ancestors be born. She can only return to her own time and her white husband when her life seems threatened. This is beyond her control. She attempts to instill some virtues into his life but continuous attempts and his harsh treatment towards her and others slowly make her realise that he is a product of his society and upbringing, and struggles with his own duplicity.
The review of this Book prepared by Riyaz Pocketwala




A 20th century black woman is celebrating her 26th birthday with her white husband,when she is suddenly transported back to the slave ridden South. She is to save her ancestor...a white plantation owner's son.
The review of this Book prepared by darlene jefferson



Chapter Analysis of Kindred

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Plot & Themes

Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence 10%planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives 10%Feelings, relationships, character bio/development 30%Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places 50% Tone of book    -   depressing/sad FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?    -   fantasy story on current Earth Time Travel:    -   largely backwards/past Repressive society story    -   Yes Repressive because:    -   controls your sex Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book Time Travel story?    -   Yes Who's a slave/repressed?    -   humans are slaves of other humans

Main Character

Identity:    -   Female Profession/status:    -   writer Age:    -   20's-30's

Setting

Earth setting:    -   20th century    -   19th century Takes place on Earth?    -   Yes

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   very explicit references to deaths and torture scientific jargon? (SF only)    -   none/very little science jargon needed Sex in book?    -   Yes How much dialogue?    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Books with storylines, themes & endings like Kindred

Octavia Butler Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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