A moving memoir of a young girl navigating between two worlds in search of love. Anais Granofsky’s parents met at Antioch College in the early 1970s, each representing contrasting backgrounds—Stanley, from a wealthy Jewish family in Toronto, and Jean, from a large, impoverished Black Methodist family descended from freed slaves. When they became pregnant, they faced disapproval from Stanley’s affluent family, leading him to abandon them for a spiritual journey in India. Anais was born into this dichotomy, spending her childhood straddling both worlds. Alone with her mother, she lived in social housing in Toronto, sharing a mattress while her wealthy grandparents resided just twenty minutes away in luxury. Anais often spent weekends with her grandmother, donning special clothes and enjoying lavish meals, contrasting sharply with her everyday struggles. As she grew, Anais learned that to be loved, she had to adapt to living two lives. Her memoir provides a poignant exploration of how her families—one Black, one white—faced systemic oppression across generations, resulting in stark economic disparities. With vivid storytelling, Granofsky delves into themes of generational shame, grief, prejudice, and ultimately, love and forgiveness, revealing the complexities of her unique upbringing. Based on a viral article from Toronto Life.
