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Who Asked You? Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Who Asked You?


Betty Jean (BJ) has her hands full with a family who can't get it together. Betty Jean has a big heart. Her adult children have all taken different paths and seem to have forgotten the values they were raised with. Her sons are not active in her life. Dexter is in prison for carjacking a woman when he was in his his late teens. He is doing a ten year term and has never taken responsibility for his crime. The other has forgotten he is a black man.
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Quentin the “success” story is on his fourth white wife and refers to his mother as “Mother” instead of Mama, or Ma which she prefers. Her daughter Trinetta has two sons of her own along with a drug habit, and severly poor life choices. Betty Jean's husband Lee David is withering away from Alzheimer's and she doesn't have enough years in on her hotel cleaning job to retire.

When Trinetta drops the boys off with her mother she doesn't return. This is good for Luther and Ricky who deserve some stability and unconditional love. They thrive in school under Betty Jean's care.

Betty Jean is doing right by her grands, but her busy body sisters still have a lot to say about the situation and sit in judgment. Eventually they both offer support emotionally and financially.

When it is clear that Trinetta is still not clean even after being gone over a year, Betty Jean realizes she is on her own raising grandchildren. Nurse Kim watches Lee David while Betty Jean works although she goes overboard with affection for the elderly gent, her heart is in the right place.

When Dexter gets out of prison he moves home but doesn't do much to help his mother with his nephews. Betty Jean's nephew comes out as gay and his controlling mother throws a fit. He is the only male family member to show compassion to Betty Jean and picks up the kids to give her a break. He moves out of his mother's house, loses over a hundred pounds and is hard working, honest, and a good person.

Betty Jean finally retires and the time and love she has put into her grandsons shows in their school work and extra curricular activities. Both boys are thriving. They deal with the overdose of their absentee mother with the help of Betty Jean. They love their grandma and do what they can to make her proud.
Best part of story, including ending: I really liked Betty Jean's big heart and her drive to love her family.

Best scene in story: My favorite scene was learning of the good grades Luther and Ricky were making in school.

Opinion about the main character: I liked that Betty Jean was such a strong woman while facing every manner of adversity.

The review of this Book prepared by C. Imani Williams a Level 13 Blue-Winged Teal scholar

Chapter Analysis of Who Asked You?

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Plot & Themes

Tone of book?    -   thoughtful Time/era of story    -   2000+ (Present Day) Family, struggle with    -   Yes Struggle with:    -   all of family Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character

Gender    -   Female Profession/status:    -   blue collar Ethnicity/Nationality    -   Black (American)

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   3 () City?    -   Yes City:    -   dirty, grimy (like New York)

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   touching of anatomy Amount of dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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