PushPush
Score Modern
What it's about
Precious Jones, sixteen and unable to read, has been invisible to the father who rapes her, the mother who batters her and the authorities who see her as one more casualty of Harlem. Pregnant with her second child by her father, she meets a determined teacher, and begins to learn to write her life, and make it her own.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 37 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a harrowing, ultimately hopeful novel that inspired the film Precious.
You'll love it if you liked
The Color Purple
Bastard Out of Carolina
Song of SolomonGood to know
It depicts sexual abuse graphically. It's written in Precious's own voice.
By the numbers
- Readers46 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller42 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #999 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1846 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
If you like this, read next
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The BottomsExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Push worth reading?
Yes. It spent 37 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,846 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Push about?
Precious Jones, sixteen and unable to read, has been invisible to the father who rapes her, the mother who batters her and the authorities who see her as one more casualty of Harlem. Pregnant with her second child by her father, she meets a determined teacher, and begins to learn to write her life, and make it her own.
How long does it take to read Push?
About 4 hours (177 pages), or about 8 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Push?
If you liked it, try The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison or Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison.