Ginny Olsen has just purchased a new home, adopted a daughter from India and invited three generations of Olsen’s to Thanksgiving dinner - her first ever. Rising early on the big day, she prepares the turkey and starts the rest of the meal. She is confident she can pull this off - after all how hard can it be?
Her family arrives and things seem to be processing the way they normally do with the Olsen’s get together - utter chaotic. They want to meet Priya, Genny's new daughter. They are somewhat dismayed when they discover she is mute. Eleanor, Ginny's mother, thinks how in the world is she to cope with a mute child, Douglas, her brother, is concerned with the state of the house - needs lots of work. Denise, her sister-in-law, thinks this is ridiculous - there isn't room to set up her baby's play things, why did she agree to come?
Thanksgiving is the day of the big game - Packers vs. Lions. Everyone is set to watch the game, but they had overlooked one crucial thing -Ginny doesn't have a television. A mute child, a house without television, a living room full of plywood furniture - what else could possibly go wrong. Now, what are they going to do until dinner is ready?
Time passes, everyone is hungry, but nothing is cooking, there isn't any power - the stove and oven aren't working. Decision is made to pack everything up and take it to Douglas' house, He has a lavish house not too far away. Soon the meal is ready and everyone sets down to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Douglas finally gets to watch the game - the Packers lost - and everyone is pleasantly full of turkey.
Unbeknown to the Olsen’s, two black teenagers, Kijo and Spider, are upstairs bent on seeking revenge and wrecking havoc on Douglas' home, Kijo wants him to know that 'he is still here'. Kijo has a vendetta against Douglas who, through greed, had driven Kijo and his grandmother out of their home so he could build a large office complex. They were forced to move into a housing project in a very undesirable neighbor.
A page turner wrestling with race, class and family. The book has everything - thanksgiving, family conflict, revenge, murder and vandalism. A good thriller that has humor, sorrow and surprise. Highly recommended.
