Brit Bennett is the New York Times bestselling author of The Mothers. Her second stunning second novel The Vanishing Half was published in 2020 and is now available in paperback and is being adapted for screen on HBO. The story follows the lives of twin sisters Desiree and Stella who at age 16 run away from their stifling small Louisiana hometown of Mallard. Desiree returns with her daughter Jude several years later—Mallard now becomes a safe haven for her. Stella choses to live her life as a white woman fearing everyday that someone will find out about her. Eventually their daughters lives will intersect bringing many secrets to light.
Brit speaks with us about how her novel has been received and the upcoming screen adaptation, but first we get into the themes and character of the book, like colorism and trauma.
