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At five years old, Kristal Brent Zook sat on the steps of a Venice Beach, California, motel trying to make sense of her white father\u2019s abandonment, which left her feeling unworthy of a man\u2019s love and of white protection. Raised by her working-class African American mother and grandmother, Zook was taught not to count on anyone, especially men. Men leave. Men disappoint. In adulthood she became a feminist, activist, and \u201crace woman\u201d journalist in New York City. Despite her professional success, something was missing. Coming to terms with her identity was a constant challenge.\nThe Girl in the Yellow Poncho: A Memoir\xa0(Duke UP, 2023)\xa0is Zook\u2019s coming-of-age tale about what it means to be biracial in America. Throughout, she grapples with in-betweenness while also facing childhood sexual assault, economic insecurity, and multigenerational alcoholism and substance abuse on both the Black and white sides of her family. Her story is one of strong Black women\u2014herself, her cousin, her mother, and her grandmother\u2014and the generational cycles of oppression and survival that seemingly defined their lives.\nSetting out on an inner journey that takes her across oceans and continents, Zook tells the story of a little girl who never gives up on love, even long after it seems to have been destroyed. In the end she triumphs, reconciling with her father and mother to create the family of her dreams through forgiveness and sheer force of will. A testament to the power of settling into one\u2019s authentic identity, this book tells a story of a daughter\u2019s lifelong yearning, a mother\u2019s rediscovery of lost love, and the profound power of atonement and faith to heal a broken family.\n\ufeffKatrina Anderson is a doctoral candidate at the University of Delaware.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices\nSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies