NEW REVIEW: Pamela & Joel Tuck - Color Struck

Pamela & Joel Tuck -
Color Struck -
Available Now -
5 out of 5 books -


Like family reunions, storytelling answers many questions. When children have a storyteller in the family, it helps them to understand their importance, similarities and differences between their siblings and other family members. When a family member tells a story of how their parents met and where they came from, it gives the child more knowledge of who they are and where they come from. Grandma Bell leaves fingerprints for her three granddaughters after she notices some tension between them, and she asks “What ails you?”

Pat proceeds to tell Grandma that since her cousin Cherie started attending honor classes and hanging out with her "light-skinned friends," she has been acting uppity. She also mentions how Cherie disowned her and Renee and even made Renee cry. After confirming with Renee that what Pat was saying was the truth, grandma comes to two conclusions; 1) Renee has a color problem and 2) its about time the family secret is told. It is a secret that she kept while her husband Buck was alive out of respect for him. From this point on in the story, we are privileged to partake on a journey which begins in 1947, a journey of family, in-laws and secrets surrounding light-skinned and dark-skinned folks.

Color Struck takes the reader to Greenville, North Carolina to a house that William “Buck” Steele built with hands of love and filled it with even more love and family. Grandma Bell was Buck’s baby doll, and his love for her was long, which is more than we can say about his mother or father Emma and Silas Steele.  They were both bitter and just plain ole mean. They treated Bell less than human for years because of the color of her skin. By the grace of God, He kept her and her obedience granted her favor.

I wish I could’ve read Color Struck by a fireplace because you escape right into the book when "listening" to Grandma Bell tell her story. This was one of the most emotionally-charged books I’ve read. Page 59 of the book starts the chapter with a reflection quote: “A family is where you’re supposed to be nourished and grow, isn’t it? How did Grandma become the beautiful person she was with such strong roots? Especially with little sunshine and all rain.” How Bell lived with her abuse is discussed in the book, and Grandma Bell tells each of her granddaughters so that they don’t repeat this color cycle. Color Struck by Pamela and Joel Tuck is an excellent read.

Reviewed by Missy for Urban Reviews

Order your copy of Color Struck today!