Kiley Reid's SUCH a FUN AGE-Reaches Across Ages to Broach Racial Connotations

Kiley Reid's racially charged, socioeconomic novel SUCH a FUN AGE takes a novel approach to laying out society's missteps, misunderstandings & cultural appropriation in a fashion that is funny & clever.  It clearly portrays lives & situations where we, as a society need to thoughtfully approach areas in order to advance our society towards a level playing field.  The central character, Emira, is a 25 yr. college graduate.  She is floundering in terms of her career & financial stability.  She's savvy, has a bevy of close girlfriends she hangs with. These women are black.  Emira is super cool but dissatisfied with her career & financial status especially in comparison to her girlfriends.  Her friends are more established in the "adult world with & have health insurance."  Emira is working P/T as a typist and P/T as a babysitter for a white family.  Alix is Emira's employer.  Alix is the mother of 2 girls; Briar almost 3 for whom Emira cares and an infant.  This is a contemporary novel and very prescient.  However, the story of black women caring for white families; especially their children is nothing new.  An appealing aspect of the story is the bond that builds between Emira & her "ward" Briar.  Briar is precocious, curious & very open to the world around her.  Characteristics that Emira & the reader find appealing but her mother Alix "pronounced Aliss" finds irritating while her mini-me infant, Catherine, is perceived as the prodigal, favored daughter by Briar.  The story starts with Emira called by Alix late in the evening while she's out drinking with her friends) to come immediately and  take Briar out of the house while she & husband Peter deal with an emergency.  Alix phoned the police to report vandalism to their home the evening when Peter made an earlier racial/political incorrect comment on his news broadcast.  Emira arrives with her friend in tow with few places to go.  They head to a nearby, upscale mini-market where a white woman reports to the security guard there is a white child who may have been abducted.  The heated exchange between Emira & the white security guard & patron are videotaped by a white male, Kelly.  The incident is ended when Peter rushes to retrieve his daughter and vouches for Emira.  Emira doesn't want the videotape released despite Kelly's advise & the possibility of litigation becoming fiscally advantageous.  The disturbing incident rings true as it reverberates with numerous other scenarios.  Kelly & Emira connect, romantically, as chance brings them together again.  It just so happens Kelly was Alix's boyfriend in high school more than a decade ago.  They're break-up left devastating impacts for Alix.  This incredulous setup is a coverup for clever insight into well intentioned missteps that overstep especially with regard to Alix trying to befriend Emira.  SUCH a FUN AGE is a fun page turner with uncomfortable situations & an intrigue as to who will get their comeuppance.  It's also a far reach into viewing breakdowns in our society as far as racial & economic barriers exist.