The Color of Water

by James McBride

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The Color of Water Questions and Answers

What kind of diction dominates McBride's work The Color of Water?

What is the author's purpose in The Color of Water?

What is the author's style in The Color of Water by James McBride?

In The Color of Water by James McBride, how does James's perception of himself change from the beginning of the book to the end? 

How many children are there in James’s family in The Color of Water?

Explain the irony in the chapter title, “The Old Testament,” in The Color of Water by James McBride. 

What is the major conflict in The Color Of Water by James McBride?

Who is Rocky in "The Color of Water" and what did he train Ruth for?

How does James McBride's use of imagery impact The Color of Water?

What did the children eat for dinner in The Color of Water?

What is the argument in Chapter 2 of The Color of Water?

What are Ruth's strengths and weaknesses as a mother in The Color of Water?

What does McBride learn from Eddie Thompson in chapter 20 of The Color of Water?

What is the main argument in The Color of Water by McBride?

Why was Ruth in "The Color of Water" elusive about her past?

What does James value in The Color of Water by James McBride?

In The Color of Water, did Ruth's father achieve his goals of acquiring money and becoming American?

How is this quote important to The Color of Water? "But there was a part of me that feared black power very deeply for the obvious reason. I thought...

Explain what James means in the book when he tells readers "I felt like a tinker toy kid building my own self out of one of those toy building sets? no thanks

How does Ruth accept her past in The Color of Water?

What impact does Tateh have on Ruth Shilsky in The Color of Water by James McBride?

What is the general topic (theme) of The Color of Water?

Where can I find quotes about finding one's identity in James McBride's The Color of Water?

Why does James McBride say both white and Black people hate his mother in The Color of Water?

What legal paper did Ruth keep on her person for over 25 years in The Color of Water?  

What is the setting of the book The Color of Water by James McBride? Throughout the book, the setting, where and when it took place.

Why was Rachel embarrassed by her mother in The Color of Water?

In The Color of Water, what two hobbies did Ruth take up when James was fourteen?

How does James's view of his mother change throughout The Color of Water?

What did James McBride inherit from his mother, Ruth McBride, in The Color of Water?

How is the theme of self-identity developed in The Color of Water?

In The Color of Water, what does the color of water symbolize about God?

Who are Rachel's maternal aunts in The Color of Water, and what are they like?

In what ways was Ruth victimized by her father in "The Color of Water"?

How does James McBride come to terms with his identity in The Color of Water?

Why do McBride's classmates in "The Color of Water" want to see him dance, and how does this affect him?

In "The Color of Water", why didn't Richie accept Ruth's statement that "God is the color of water"?

How are James's perceptions depicted by other characters in The Color of Water?

Why did Ruth McBride refuse to reveal her past?

In "The Color of Water", what does the imaginary boy in the mirror represent?

What seemed odd about James's father in chapter 12 of The Color of Water?

What is Ruth's conflict in The Color of Water?

In The Color of Water, how does James's struggle with his mixed ethnicity compare to his mother's struggle with her identity?

What are the morals in The Color of Water?

Why does Ruth succeed and Tateh fail in running their households in a tyrannical manner?

In "The Color of Water", why did Ruth send her black children to Jewish public school?

What is James' mother's singing compared to in "The Color of Water"?

What societal aspects does James McBride critique in The Color of Water?

What contributes to Ruth's children's success in "The Color of Water"?

In The Color of Water, does Ruth McBride Jordan's strong faith impact her children's adult lives? Can intense faith instilled in children cause a rejection of it?