{"book":{"book":"Friends and Family","author":"Natalie Baszile","publicationYear":"","description":"Friends and Family follows the relationship between two mothers, Babs and Nora. Babs is a Black woman, while Nora is a white woman who has an adopted Black son. Their close friendship is severely strained after the police are called on their children while the kids are home alone. In the aftermath of the incident, both mothers are forced to grapple with their deeply held beliefs regarding race, identity, and motherhood. The novel examines how each woman navigates the difficult questions of how best to protect their children. Ultimately, the story explores complex themes of race, class, and allyship.","image":"https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2160x2160+0+0/resize/3000/quality/66/format/jpg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe7%2Fb5%2F72441ff74b45b9c622be0a50f5ae%2F9c703c08-4ff0-476a-93d7-346d1e0ac72d.jpg","date":"2026-10-28"}}