Review of Deceptive Calm (Barnes & Noble Edition)

[Ashley Rae Pearce]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm (Barnes & Noble Edition)" by Patricia Skipper.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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“Deceptive Calm” by Patricia Skipper is a historical fiction novel that took place in the 1960s and 70s. The story is about a Black woman named Vanessa Condon, who assumes the identity of a deceased White child, in the hopes of gaining better opportunities for herself. Vanessa was raised in an orphanage in South Carolina by Sister Rosalie. She becomes best friends with her schoolmate Trisha. After the death of Sister Roe and being betrayed by her high school boyfriend, Vanessa moves to San Francisco in search of a fresh start and becomes Vanessa Vaughn.
Vanessa is the victim of a great deal of racial discrimination while she is growing up. This was during a time when many people did not think that Blacks were equal to Whites. When people think Vanessa is White, there is still sexism in the workplace to deal with. Despite this, Vanessa grows to become extremely successful in her broadcasting career, as does Trisha. This proves that Black women can be just as successful as White men if they work hard.
Vanessa is deceived into marriage by a man named Tod, who comes from an extremely wealthy family. When the truth about her past is discovered, her and her son Brett’s lives could be in danger. Her strong friendship with Trisha, as well as the well-meaning intentions of someone from her past, are what will help save her life.
I give this book a rating of four out of five stars. There were some details in the novel about American history that didn’t really seem necessary because they did not relate to Vanessa’s story. There is a lot of harsh language used in this book, which some readers may find offensive. Overall, I enjoyed this book. The fast-paced plot kept me interested the entire time.

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Deceptive Calm (Barnes & Noble Edition)
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