A heavy read, but highly recommended book. The way Sapphire is so open with Precious' thoughts feels jarring at first because so many authors hold back and want their main character to not seem too tied to what has hurt them. That they have some internal "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" nonsense. But not this book. I truly felt I was inside the mind of another person with all their faults, limitations, aspirations, and hopes. Precious has been through so much. She has been repeatedly raped by her mother and father, given birth to two babies before she's 17 caused by the incest, been beaten and abused, is illiterate, and holds all her emotions inside while only letting anger and silence be shown. But she is put on a path (against her will) that does give her the opportunity to turn her aspirations into reality. Then she finds out she is positive for HIV. But Precious pushes forward. We see her abilities and situation slowly improve. We want her to be ok. We want her to be happy. But we also know the way of the world. 

When we don't have the tools, how can we build our own futures? 

Everyone should read this book.