Review: The Legend of Tanisha Biggers: Deluxe Edition – Joey Pinkney

I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Two hundred of years ago, Black Haven was a sprawling town. Nowadays, Black Haven is an overpopulated, economically-depressed neighborhood. Against this backdrop, Tanisha Biggers is a twenty-something-nine-to-fiver aiming to move out of this small area.

Since her parents passed away, Tanisha has b...

Two hundred of years ago, Black Haven was a sprawling town. Nowadays, Black Haven is an overpopulated, economically-depressed neighborhood. Against this backdrop, Tanisha Biggers is a twenty-something-nine-to-fiver aiming to move out of this small area.

Since her parents passed away, Tanisha has been content with being a loner. Tanisha keeps her daily routine simple. She goes to work, comes home, saves her money and stays focused on moving out of Black Haven. Her only friend in Black Haven is the loud and boisterous Vida. Normally, they smoke while Vida catches Tanisha up on the neighborhood gossip.

If having her named embroiled in a nasty rumor wasn't enough, the gossip has caused her to become the target of the volitive women of the Lomax family. Between Tanisha's fighting spirit, Vida's ride-or-die loyalty and the Lomaxes aggressive behavior, an explosive confrontation is inevitable.

In Pinkney's creative interpretation, the neighborhood of Black Haven is more than a mere metaphor of urban decay. The rich histories of the proud people of eras gone by are mostly forgotten by their descendants. In the aftermath of destruction, a few shining souls, like Tanisha, strive to rise from the rubble.

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Black Haven where the main character Tanisha Biggers lives is a neighborhood where folks have life issues. It is impoverished, there is drama daily and folks are just trying to make it through. I am also going to make the leap and say you will recognize this neighborhood as it is a typical urban area that most who read these stories will understand but if not these stories will give the reader a glimpse of how folks who live in such an area, grapple with life day-to-day.

The stories begin with Cardinal Rule a love story featuring Theodore Roosevelt Washington and Earline Jones. I loved the heat between them. We see Theodore again in Swiggers where he likes to hang out with his friends at the corner store. And then there is Tanisha Biggers, the Legend who has dreams about her mama that cause her pause because they are so intense, but the big thing that happens to make her life miserable is when someone dies and she gets blamed for it. This is just a glimpse as there is much more to these stories.

Joey Pinkney is a storyteller and in this edition, all the stories about Black Haven are connected with each other. The stories are easy to read with the right amount of content to be able to put down if needed yet come back and not feel lost. For me, the stories also show the dynamics of the dysfunction in families and community that was sometimes painful to read yet necessary.

Overall, it was a good read though a bit trying at times for me. I do however recommend this book for it offers a view of life that some may (or not) be familiar with but because Joey tells a compelling story that is very descriptive and interesting it is worth considering. I am sure we will see more from this author. Buy this book!

Reviewed by: Linda C.

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