In Our Mothers' House

Bibliography:

Polacco, Patricia. 2009. In Our Mothers’ House. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN: 9780399250767.

Summary:

The story is narrated by an African-American girl as she looks back and describes the childhood she, her Asian brother, and her red-haired Caucasian sister had in their house in Berkeley. With two mothers, their family was different, but the kids didn’t mind and neither did anyone else except the mean neighbor down the street. The narrator describes laughing in the kitchen, dancing through the house, listening to stories by the fireplace, and building a treehouse in the backyard. Marmee and Meema organize a block party for the entire neighborhood and dress up for a mother-daughter tea. Holidays are spent cooking in the kitchen with extended family and having loud conversations around the table. The three kids grow up, get married in the backyard of their home, and return with grandkids throughout the rest of their mothers’ lives.

Analysis:

This book deals with a controversial subject: same-sex relationships and, specifically, adoption and parenting by two mothers. Most of the characters in this diverse book accept this family, but Mrs. Lockner says, “I don’t appreciate what you two are,” and she won’t let her children play with Marmee and Meema’s kids. Meema says, “She’s afraid of what she cannot understand.” The children grow up and marry heterosexual spouses, and they return often to the family home and remember the loving, happy childhood they spent there.

The book teems with multiculturalism. The three children are all of different races, and they have an Italian grandfather who teaches them to cook gnocchi. During the block party, everyone on the street makes a different type of food that celebrates their culture: the Mardicians bring lamb, the Polos bring spanakopita, the Abdullas bring hummus, the Yamagakis bring sushi, and the Barbers bring fried clams.

The rough pencil and marker illustrations exude warmth, love, and happiness. On nearly every page, the characters have joyful expressions on their faces (perhaps even a little over-the-top joy). The book makes sure to emphasize that Marmee and Meema are intelligent professionals, that they love one another, and that they will do anything for their children. They raise their kids to be kind and respectful. Though idealized, this book is a great picture of how being different is not wrong and how a family and community can love and support one another.

Reviews/Awards:

"The energetic illustrations in pencil and marker, though perhaps not as well-rendered as in some previous works, teem with family activities and neighborhood festivity. Quieter moments radiate the love the mothers feel for their children and for each other." Booklist

"Is this an idealized vision of a how a gay couple can be accepted by their family and community? Absolutely. But the story serves as a model of inclusiveness for children who have same-sex parents, as well as for children who may have questions about a "different" family in their neighborhood. A lovely book that can help youngsters better understand their world." School Library Journal

Connections:
*Consider the list of Stonewall award winners for other books about this subject.