Interracial relationships /

Gr 7 Up-Alderman's book explores interracial relationships from the perspective of those who actually lived them. The first chapter includes three essays on friendships across the color and cultural lines. The second chapter focuses on romance and includes six essays from people who have dated or been in love with someone of another race. The last chapter explores families and the issues that mixed-raced children face as they make their way toward racial identity. The experiences shared here are decidedly upbeat and positive. There is an effort to introduce readers to the infinite possibilities of crossing a color or cultural barrier and in so doing be better for it. Haugen presents a mixed bag of situations, all speaking in one way or another about the state of mixed-race relationships in this country. His book deals with the topic through commentary from those who have not necessarily lived the experience, but have a professional or scholarly interest in it. In 12 chapters, a wide variety of subject areas is explored, including the greater acceptability of interracial relationships, the entertainment industry and interracial relationships, interracial marriage and racism, and black women's response to interracial dating and marriage. The tone in every essay is guardedly optimistic. Many of the contributors are journalists who write about such issues, and their selections are clearly and succinctly written.-Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.