"A wonderful and unique story of a father and his daughter. . . . There is a strange, compelling sweetness to the sorrow in this book, a poignancy that cuts incisively through the tender tissue of family love." -- Elizabeth Strout, author of the bestselling Amy and Isabelle "Davis doesn't miss a beat in this moving study of dysfunctional families and the power of transcendent love... Two thumbs up, and skip the speed bumps at your own risk." Publishers Weekly "A beautifully rendered story by a gifted new writer. The setting and characters are so familiar yet largely absent in contemporary fiction, particularly the father, JD -- although there is one in every black neighborhood. I adored him and will remember him for a very long time." -- Benilde Little, author of Acting Out and Good Hair "A vibrant, deeply felt journey through a young woman's coming-of-age and coming to understand her father. Hop in -- this novel is a ride well worth taking. Bridgett Davis understands the rules of the road." -- Martha Southgate, author of The Fall of Rome "Bridgett Davis' lyrical language is addictive and haunting from the first page. This beautiful coming-of-age story will capture many hearts." -- Trisha R. Thomas, author of Would I Lie to You? and Nappily Ever After

			"Like the paddle ball she thumps to wile away the summer hours of her childhood, nine-year-old Rae Dodson is knocked back and forth between the convenient love of her well-off mother and the unconditional love of her disabled father. . . In the end, she's forced to grow up far too soon, making Shifting Through Neutral a timeless tale of coming of age. Rich with metaphor, author Bridgett Davis vividly recreates 1970's Detroit with inner-city riots, the sounds of Motown and Motor City's namesake, the automobile. Like life, Rae's road is impeded with roadblocks, potholes and wrong turns. Yet, it is each of these bumps, bruises, ups and downs she faces that makes this novel so relatable to its readers." -- Kathy (Factoryville, PA) "Bridgett Davis can take water and make it into wine. Her prose is delicious, the words flowing through your mind forming perfect pictures that will break your heart then heal it all over again. This book was beautiful, thank you for giving me to opportunity to meet this new and exciting author." -- Heather (Reidsville, NC) "Rae Dodson grows up a middle class black in Detroit during the 1970's. Bridgett Davis captures the flavor of the 70's and although Rae is black, her story is universal. . . We come to care about Rae and watch her grow into a woman. Ms. Davis shows us so very well how our personal family dynamics shape and mold us into who we are." -- Marsha (Naperville, IL) "Shifting from past to present and back again, Bridgett Davis takes readers for a ride that's both enjoyable and entertaining. . . Davis paints wonderful pictures of a family that surely has its problems, but keeps on coping, and a little girl who grows up both self-assured and insecure, with the ability to drive herself wherever she wants to go. A manual transmission is hard to manage, just like life, but as Rae develops the skills she needs, she takes charge and moves on. Davis, by involving us in Rae's growth, gives us all a chance to relive and grow through some turbulent times." -- Mary Ann (Oak Park, IL) "Shifting Through Neutral is a warm, reaffirming tale, written with absolute grace. I was very impressed with Bridgett Davis's writing and the book reminded me in some ways of Annie Proulx's The Shipping News. I loved the way she incorporated the driving instructions at the beginning of each chapter and I marveled at how applicable the quotes really were. . . Davis portrayed the ties that bind in a very realistic way, without sugar-coating or exaggerating. . . I enjoyed this book tremendously! I will very highly recommend it to all my bookgroups." -- Lisa (Algonquin, IL)

		Shifting Through Neutral    Hardcover, 320 Pages    ISBN: 0060572493 Amistad / An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers    >> Buy the Book