When is a book titled “Black Girl/White Girl” not really about racism? When it ‘s written by Joyce Carol Oates evidently. While the book has a lot of messages, I found myself surprised that the racial ones were NOT the main point.

Instead, this book reminded me more of “Running with Scissors” or the movie “Little Miss Sunshine“ (which is more about a disfunctional family than about beauty pageants).

The story centers around roommates at an exclusive all girls college. The “white girl” is from a weathy family (though she, herself, is not wealthy). She tries desperately to befriend her “black girl” roommate, the daughter of a preacher.

While the first chapter hints at a dark mystery, a conspiracy of sorts; by the end of the book, you realize that nothing has been what it appeared at all. I give Oates credit for writing a deep (though surprising short) novel with such a rich complexity. It’s not until you’re finished that you realize “Hey, THAT is not what I thought this book was about AT ALL!”