The Other Half of My Heart

By: Sundee T. Frazier

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

The story of biracial twin sisters—one black, one white—and the summer that tests their strong bond, from the author of Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award-winner Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It.

When Minerva and Keira King were born, they made headlines: Keira is black like Mama, but Minni is white like Daddy. Together the family might look like part of a chessboard row, but they are first and foremost the close-knit Kings. Then Grandmother Johnson calls, to invite the twins down South to compete for the title of Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America.
Minni dreads the spotlight, but Keira assures her that together they'll get through their stay with Grandmother Johnson. But when their grandmother's bias against Keira reveals itself, Keira pulls away from her twin. Minni has always believed that no matter how different she and Keira are, they share a deep bond of the heart. Now she'll find out whether that’s really true.

"One luminous pearl of a sister story."--RITA WILLIAMS-GARCIA, author of the Newbery Honor Award-winner One Crazy Summer

Winner of the Skipping Stone Honor Award

*"Frazier highlights the contradictions, absurdities, humor, and pain that accompany life as a mixed-race tween. Never didactic, this is the richest portrait of multiracial identity and family since Virginia Hamilton's 1976 novel Arilla Sun Down. An outstanding achievement."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred

*"Not only does Frazier raise questions worth pondering, but her ability to round out each character, looking past easy explanations for attitude, is impressive. . . . A novel with a great deal of heart indeed."—Booklist, Starred

Critic reviews

"Funny and deeply affecting, this novel by the Steptoe Award winner for Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It (2007) revisits the still largely unexplored world of multiracial heritage...Frazier highlights the contradictions, absurdities, humor and pain that accompany life as a mixed-race tween. Never didactic, this is the richest portrait of multiracial identity and family since Virginia Hamilton's 1976 novel Arilla Sun Down. An outstanding achievement."
-Kirkus Reviews, starred review


"A novel with a great deal of heart indeed..."
- Booklist, starred review

Great story would highly recommend

Loved how the author viewed both sides to this dynamic friendship between sisters. The family relationships were an excellent way of bringing the story together.

Truly relatable

A relatable story for many ppl who look different from their siblings. The main character brought up good questions and spoke about the emotional side of not looking like your siblings. It's from a young person's personal perspective. However, the story doesn't end up where the main character feels divided.

Most Memorable

My most favorite narrator is Bonnie Turpin she makes you feel like each character she narrates is so real without really even trying just so natural. This I've listened to so many times I don't think I will ever get tired of hearing it. I bought a hard copy of this book to add to my personal library and to share with my grandkids one day so many life lessons in every chapter.