English - The Help by Kathryn Stockett

What is it about?

The Help is about a group of African American women, 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi, are the maids of the "white folks", caring for their children and cleaning the house as well as cooking. A woman, who grew up in the small town Jackson, named Skeeter Phelan, comes back after her "rejection" in the New York, to find some inspiration. Skeeter decides to write about the maids in Jackson, after her maid, Constantine, disappears. Skeeter wants to show from the maids perspective of working in a white folk's home in the south, in a tell-all book.  Since there was a big discrimination of what  "color" (African) people can or can't do as well as who they can be friends with who. Even though, the risks are so high to the point of death, they risk it all to change their destinies and life in their small little town.

Do you think The Help book cover is appropriate?

The Help book cover is appropriate, since you can see, there is a conflict going on between the groups of Africans and the White Folks. As Skeeter is in the middle of the two opposing groups, not sure who's side she's on,

My Own Questions

JUST FROM THE COVER. What can you see and tell by just looking of what the book is about? And why do you think it is called The Help?

Just from the cover....I can see that it was in "the old days" of 1962, as the women wore dresses everyday as their "everyday wear". And I also know it was around that time period because the maids were African, a time that the Africans didn't have any rights, and they wore the old maid clothes that were simple and plain. And the era of when Martin Luther King Jr. stood up for the Africans and I have a Dream speech was born during that age.

I can see the African maids, are whispering to each other and gossiping as they are on the far side of the cover (on the left), away from the white folks on the other side of the cover. It shows a conflict?...Not conflict but more like of dislikeness between the African maids and the white folks. A lady is sitting on the bench on the far end of the bench (near the other side of the cover) looking away and checking her nails out. Showing that she is a "rich" person by acting like her is better then anyone along with her posture of how she is sitting,  I am better then everyone and everyone should listen to me. Also it shows that in the cover that the maids are not aloud to sit as they are standing, this also shows the class rate they are are, (since there was a big discrimination of the two groups). The women in the middle is in between in the middle of the two groups. It shows that the woman in the middle is that same skin color as the rich white woman on the right. As it indicates that they were friends or somewhat relevant of each other from the past. This also indicates that she one of the main-main characters and that she has started something...along with the other 3 on the cover as well.

It looks likes that she has a decide on something that may change so dramatically, within the story. Or. 

Something has changed as it hints that she isn't looking at the same direction as the Rich Lady or looking at the two maids, as she is staring right at you. Indicating that she once knew something and now it's gone, showing evidence  of what she was taught about life is not always perfect.

As within the quote on the book cover (top page), Change Begins with a Whisper. Showing that one thing can change the world as an inspiration to everyone. As the quite and shy one's cry out for help.