Virgin Soul: A Novel
Raised by her aunt and uncle, Geniece has always felt like a bit of an outsider. But when she goes to college, she begins a journey of personal discovery that takes on a highly political edge. Set in the Bay Area in the 1960s, Juanita’s novel portrays Geniece’s life as an African American woman at the time of the black-power movement. As Geniece becomes more involved with the Black Panthers, she becomes increasingly militant, which prompts conflict with the family who raised her. Juanita shows Geniece’s evolution by contrasting her gradually shifting positions on a variety of personal matters and social issues, from hair styles to sexual relations, racism, and oppression. This blend of personal and political drives the narrative and makes for an intriguing look at coming-of-age in the 1960s. --Eve Gaus