The Help is the first novel of Editor and Publisher Kathryn Stockett and has all the wonderful traits of first novels. Well thought out, well researched, and excellent character development through out. 
The book centers around three women: Minny a 36 year old black Maid and mother of five children. She is outspoken, rebellious and goes from job to job because she has a hard time taking her white bosses absurd ideas of what her job entails. Examples of which include using her hair to test out her bosses new hair dye solution which turns her hair blue.
Aibileen is in her late 60′s and is a well-respected member of her church. She writes her prayers everyday and they have a reputation of leading to results. In her life time she has raised 17 white children, all of whom as they grow up turn out with the same rasist ideas of their parents even though the bulk of their up bringing is done by black women.
The third and finial lady is Skeeter, a 24 year white women and collage graduate. She has dreams of becoming a journalist but all her parents’ want for her is to be a good wife and keep house.
The book takes place in 1962 at the height of the civil rights movement in the Deep South. These events take place on the periphery of the story. Slowly Skeeter convinces Minny and Abilleen to tell their stories of what it’s really like to be a maid in this time to be published under fake names. It is heart wrenching, and at times hilarious story. A must read in our age of a black President and a post 9/11 world attempting to accept people different from ourselves again.
Awesome review, I’ve been hearing people talk about this book but I didn’t know much about it.