Chona is the daughter of a store owner. She has a limp from Polio as a child. She married Moshe, a Romanian Jewish immigrant who owns a dance hall. As Chona was raised in Chicken Hill she convinces Moshe to bring Black musicians and bands along with the Yiddish he has already planned.
Though they don't need the money, and actually lose money on it, Chona keeps running the grocery. She allows anyone to shop there and extends credit to her Black neighbors.
When a young boy is in need of hiding from the state agent who wants to take him to a home because he is deaf, Chona takes him in.
McBride is one of the great writers of our time. Read all of his books, but start here!
McBride, James. (2023). The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. New York: Riverhead Books.
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