Powerful funny rich story of the experiences of African American women working as domestic help in the early 1960's and how they felt raising white children with privileges and opportunities they couldn't give their own.  Told from the perspective of several people -- two maids and Skeeter, a white woman returning from college to the plantation where she grew up.  Skeeter gradually understands how racism works and wants to expose the lives of "the help." in a book.  Best book I have read all year and excellent for book groups. --Elizabethe Plante's Pick