Fallen Grace

Title: Fallen Grace by Sadeqa Johnson
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Culture: Black cutlure
Themes: Racism, Motherhood, Christianity, Finding yourself

Fallen Grace by Sadeqa Johnson

Motherhood, faith, and racism collide into a beautiful song

I’m not sure why I have been ‘sleeping’ on Sadeqa Johnson but I’m awake now! I am so glad a book friend recommended this short story to me. I had been reading a lot of ARCs that were 400+ pages so I need a mental break. As a black mother who has an uncle who’s a pastor, I was stuck all in my feelings with this one.

Fallen Grace by Sadeqa Johnson tells the story of a single mother, Bubbles, in segregated Virginia who pushes back on societal prejudice and her own family’s judgment. With a newborn in tow, Bubbles Jones escapes a brutal sanctuary for “wayward girls” to confront the hypocritical shame of her pastor father and the betrayal of a lover. But Bubbles is accompanied by a woman who offers her shelter and a dream. Forging an unpredictable path ahead, Bubbles will not yield and will not hide in her unwavering commitment to make a big life real in a world determined to keep her small.

As I listened to this story, I became so emotionally invested in Bubbles' story. With an intense pace, I vividly pictured Bubbles' journey to save her baby during a tumultuous time in American history when being black was terrifying. Unfortunately, this is still true today. I loved the pacing of the story, and how Johnson used so much intentionality in who Bubbles met and interacted with. From Gertrude’s brother (yuck!) to seeing her father in the most unlikely of places. I didn’t see that plot twist coming but I did suspect Gertrude the whole time; she was giving major shady vibes! Despite the intense (and scary) scenes, Johnson does an amazing job of filling the story with light and love in traditional and unexpected ways from finding joy in the morning (yes, pun and spoiler intended) to her brief but powerful conversation with her mother. The moment I read the scene with her mother, Jenifer Lewis instantly popped into my mind to play her mother in a series or movie adaptation. And for that matter, can I humbly request this make it to the big screen?

Days after listening to this story (and coming down from my emotional rollercoaster), I found myself still thinking about this book and the intersection of religion and secular society. Maybe it's because I come from a religious family or that as a black mother, I couldn’t imagine having my kids taken away and shunned by a decision I made. How do you reconcile what the church believes is wrong versus what people do in their everyday lives? Can you even reconcile these 2 ideas? For now, I still trying to figure that out…. But isn’t that what makes an amazing book? One that sticks with you long after you’re done reading it?

Fallen Grace by Sadeqa Johnson is at the top of my list of favorite books! I’m going to be reading more from her and am excited about future novels. If you’re looking for an emotionally powerful short story with diverse characters, intense scenes, and that challenge religious thinking, then I highly recommend Fallen Grace.  Additionally, you can check out more books like this from her Blaze collection of short stories about incendiary women across the decades who dare to defy convention.