This novel by Toni Morrison explores the brokenness of adults caused by their traumatic childhoods. It is a love story between a woman named Bride and a man named Booker. Both have become the complicated people they are because of difficult childhoods, and whether they end up together may be something within their adult control or it may be something preordained years ago when they were children. That distinction is what makes Morrison such a master at what she does. She creates believable suspense and also makes her readers worried about the implications for their own lives. If you are a parent, this book will make you very afraid of all the bad things that could happen to your children. At the same time, it will give you a sense of your power and obligation as a parent to make sure your children are protected.