We review the extraordinary debut by Kiley Reid – Such a Fun Age. An essential new perspective on racism, prejudice, friendship and privilege.
The novel is available to purchase now here.
Kiley Reid’s debut novel Such a Fun Age offers a breathtakingly fresh perspective on privilege. The novel tells the story of Emira Tucker, a 25 year old who works in Philadelphia as a part-time babysitter for the Chamberlain’s toddler – Briar, opening when she is confronted in a supermarket by a security guard who accuses her of kidnapping Briar because the child is white and Emira is black. The scene is only broken up when Emira calls Peter Chamberlain to intervene. This scene though is only the beginning of this extraordinary novel that deals with the spiralling internalising thoughts of Alix Chamberlain after the incident. Reid masterfully contrasts Emira – a lost twenty-something year old – and Alix – an incredibly rich self-made woman, leaving the reader feeling that Emira herself is the one with her life together and Alix, by contrast, seems rootless, desperate to secure Emira’s friendship. It is a desperation so intense that it seems almost psychotic and addictive.
This story alone could have been deeply engaging, but Reid layers this with the developments of Emira’s relationship with Kelley Copeland – the man who filmed the original supermarket incident on his phone. He is intent on her handing the video over to the media. What complicates the relationship more is that Kelley actually dated Alix back when they were in high school and Alix seems as wrapped up with Kelley and his life as he is with Emira’s.
Reid tenderly and delicately deals with the issues around race – both Alix and Kelley constantly refer to Emira’s race, objectifying her and characterising her more by her racial make-up than by her character or by actually listening to what she has to say. The main message of the novel though is not just confined to race. Reid deals with privilege in all its forms, motherhood, marriage, love and friendship in all its forms. It is a masterful feat that positions Reid as the next great literary sensation. The novel is fresh, real and authentic. It’s a masterpiece.
