The Vanishing Half plays an interesting role in the current climate, but has been the brain child of Brit Bennett for years. In her interview below she says it has been a project, and more importantly a concept, that she has been trying to put words to for years. The story follows the Vignes sisters who are born between black and white. But as they grow up they realize how important choosing one of those sides can alter your life forever. Bennett does a superb job of highlighting the ambiguity of their skin color through the eyes of the twins and those of the people who interact with them. One sister chooses to marry a black man, while one chooses a white man. And their lives are forever altered after those choices. While at times the stereotypes are a bit dramatic, it does help to encourage the reader to think about how two identical twins can live such different lives based on which race they decide to choose. The story begins to get more into the generational impact of race once their daughters enter the fold. This is when the story evolves into more of a plot about family and reveals the true consequences of racial divide. Whether you are looking for a book about racism or just a story about an imperfect family this is worth the read.