Pair produce powerful story

We Are Not Like Them By Christine Pride & Jo Piazza, HQ-HarperCollins, $32.99

.. .. .. .. .. .. ..

Books about lifelong friendships between American women of colour and their white counterparts aren’t original. There’ve been a slew of them over a lengthy time period.

Don’t let that detract from the co-authored We Are Not Like Them. Its writers, publishing veteran Christine Pride whose skin is white, and bestselling novelist Jo Piazza whose skin isn’t, have joined forces to bring readers a race-based work that’s sea breeze fresh.

Central characters Riley and Jen have been besties since pre-school. White Jen spent more time at Riley’s home than her own. Growing up both were significantly influenced by Riley’s redoubtable grandma Gigi.

Again nothing new here, but where this plot takes an up-to-the-minute turn is when Jen’s police officer husband shoots and kills an unarmed black teenager. Jen’s heavily pregnant with their first child.

Riley, a television news hound, covers the story, bagging interview scoops with the grieving family.

Inevitably a mammoth chasm opens between the previously inseparable women. The way each negotiates it is what makes this a standout story of racial disharmony and accountability.

Pride and Piazza have handled this fictionalised account with skill and without mawkish side-taking. Theirs is a collaboration that’s produced a powerful must read.

—