It’s rare to find a book that acutely tackles social issues in a realistic, empathetic and thoughtful way–”The Vanishing Half” is an exception to the rule. 

The story is haunting. It feels like grasping a handful of sand only to have it slip through an outstretched hand. What is arguably most surprising about this evocation is that it doesn’t feel forced or inauthentic, in fact, the feelings of secrecy and mystique present in the writing feels organic. 

The story follows two identical twins, Desiree and Stella, who escaped their small town only to fracture later in life, one twin living as a black woman, one twin living as a white woman. Beginning in the mid-fifties, it follows the twins into the late eighties. Obviously, a conversation about underlying racial tension is fitting for this time period. Bennett does not achieve this through extensive and detailed explanations of how racism presents itself, instead, she presents it to the reader firsthand. Her characters deal with interpersonal racism and colorism frequently throughout the novel. 

Most refreshing is the emphasis on the harms of colorism. Similar in definition and practice to general racism, colorism emphasizes lighter skin shades as more desirable than darker skin shades and is distinct in that it manifests primarily within similar racial or ethnic groups. “The Vanishing Half” is set in a town called Mallard, where colorism is deeply woven into the town’s history, traditions and cultural values. In Mallard, the lighter the skin the better. Bennett’s characters challenge the tenets of colorism while also adhering to and reinforcing them, allowing the reader to critically consider why skin tone is perceived the way it is perceived. Colorism is not nearly as widely discussed and chastised as it should be so the in-depth focus is much needed. 

Another much-appreciated addition is the inclusion of a transgender character. Though he is not a main character, Reese’s presence in the narrative felt irremovable and his relationship is one of the best parts of the book. The development of Reese and Jude’s (Desiree’s daughter) union is heartwarming and exciting. And, though there are no chapters told through his perspective, Reese’s fears and desires still shine through. Most importantly, however, he is desirable, a lens through which trans characters are not often viewed. The addition of more page time and development for Reese’s character is the only missing piece. 

Singing the praises of Bennett’s work is easy to do, however, there are some pitfalls. Some of the characters, specifically Kennedy (Stella’s daughter), feel underdeveloped which in turn makes the reader less emotionally invested in their lives. This book also switches between multiple perspectives. Though it is utilized to keep the reader interested and engaged in the story, the perspective switching could have been used even more effectively to show the relationship between characters. For example, two perspectives of the same significant scene would have been an interesting way to emphasize how two characters relate to one another.