Critical Praise

" Seldom do I find a novel that I can recommend to everyone....I'm delighted to say that River, Cross My Heart fills the bill. "

——Sandra Scofield, Chicago, Tribune

" A compelling novel...Clarke brings to life a whole neighborhood of vivid personalities. "

——Denise Kersten, USA Today

" A striking first novel....Clarke is a writer to watch, both for her brilliant use of language and her ambition in terms of subject. In her able hands, the Bynums are a family you won't soon forget. "

——Martha Southgate, Essence

" Compelling....At the same time that Clarke paints a picture of a life limited by segregation, she also provides a portrait of the rich relationships, familial and otherwise, that enrich the community from which the Bynums draw strength.... The narrative is given depth by its anatomy of a community tangibly and viscerally brought alive. "

——Jennifer Veech, Washington Times

" This River is powerful....Clarke's prose vibrates with the poetic authority of Toni Morrison. "

——V. R. Peterson, People

"A sweet read...sweet like homemade ice cream from a hand-cranked machine, and just as rich. "

——Holly Bass, Washington Post

Book World " A genuine masterpiece...full of grace and beauty and profound insights....It bears traces of Eudora Welty's charm and Toni Morrison's passion. "

——Michael Shelden, Baltimore