Donalda Reid makes it relatable she doesn't just point out facts, she makes the reader live them.ĭonalda Reid shows Tony and Ellen's friendship as one of equals who respect each other. The Way It Is isn't just another book about racial discrimination. Plot analysis and thematic development are also strong features of this novel. This delightful book would be fun background reading for any social-science course. But can Ellen and Tony be more than friends? Are they right to think that a girl can study science and become a doctor, and that an Indian boy can go to college? Together they’ll find out. Used to being on their own in high school, together they find a happiness and strength that allow them to face the sexism and prejudice around them. Right away, they are drawn to each other’s difference. Ellen and Tony meet when Ellen’s parents decide to leave city life behind and move to the town. Living on an Indian reserve near a small town, he goes to the local high school, but his heritage and the color of his skin stand him apart.

And what if you live in a small town, where change is slow in coming? Tony Paul knows what it’s like to be on the outside. Isolated and driven, Ellen feels like she was born an outsider. She’d rather be helping out at the university’s medical lab than listening to rock and roll and hanging out with the kids at her high school. But for Ellen Manery, it’s the time to work hard and finish high school early. It’s the 1960s – the time for equal rights, peace, and love.

The Way It Is by Donalda Reid