Summary Mae Mobley has been calling Aibileen her mama and she is getting spanked for it. Mister Leefolt also threatens to fire Aibileen if she speaks to Skeeter again. Hilly wakes to find a front lawn full of colorful toilet bowls. Skeeter finally put the Home Health Sanitation Initiative into […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 22-23 – AibileenSummary and Analysis Chapters 19-21 – Skeeter
Summary As the weather in the south reaches a boiling point so does the Civil Rights Movement. Because of the news about racial tension and violence, the maids are more scared than ever to talk to Skeeter about their experiences. Yule May admits to stealing a ring from Hilly so […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 19-21 – SkeeterSummary and Analysis Chapters 17-18 – Minny
Summary Minny is annoyed by Miss Celia’s constant companionship. White woman are supposed to know their place, but Miss Celia seems ignorant about how she is supposed to treat the help. Miss Celia joins her for lunch every day at the same table and it unnerves Minny. When Miss Celia […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 17-18 – MinnySummary and Analysis Chapters 14-16 – Aibileen
Summary Aibileen’s voice is becoming more empowered by the book project. When Hilly and Elizabeth ask her, Aibileen tells them that she thinks the desegregation of the schools would be a positive thing. Even though she is beginning to think of a time when more equality might exist, she is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 14-16 – AibileenSummary and Analysis Chapters 11-13 – Skeeter
Summary Skeeter and Aibileen meet at Aibileen’s house for the first time to work on the book, but it does not go well. They’re both too nervous and fear that if they were caught together, they’d be accused of “integration violation” which forbids white people from meeting behind closed doors […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 11-13 – SkeeterSummary and Analysis Chapter 10 – Minny
Summary Minny is anxiously awaiting the day when Miss Celia will reveal to her husband, Johnny, that the cooking and cleaning he has been enjoying for months is actually due to Minny’s skills. Celia has promised to tell Johnny by Christmas Eve, and it will not be a moment too […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 10 – MinnySummary and Analysis Chapters 8-9 – Skeeter
Summary Skeeter is devastated by Aibileen’s rejection because she has already promised the book of maid narratives to Elaine Stein, the editor in New York. Skeeter wrote up the outline and lied that maids had already committed to the project. Stein calls it the hottest topic in publishing because of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 8-9 – SkeeterSummary and Analysis Chapter 7 – Aibileen
Summary Aibileen’s new bathroom—which has just a toilet and small sink—has been installed in the Leefolt house, but it is no more than a little room inside the garage. Mae Mobley is being potty trained and wants to use Aibileen’s bathroom, too, but Elizabeth spanks her for it. During their […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 7 – AibileenSummary and Analysis Chapters 5-6 – Skeeter
Summary Skeeter’s mother, Charlotte, is disappointed that Skeeter is not yet married, and she has many plans for correcting the situation. She tries to fix Skeeter’s hair, her manners, her clothes, and her outlook on life. Skeeter cannot reveal to her mother that her real dream is to become a […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 5-6 – SkeeterSummary and Analysis Chapters 3-4 – Minny
Summary Minny goes out to Celia Rae Foote’s house to interview for a maid position. Celia has never had a maid and she desperately needs housekeeping help, but she does not want her husband to know about Minny. Minny accepts the job for twice the pay she was making with […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 3-4 – Minny