Blu's Hanging
Cover of the Farrar, Straus and Giroux 1997 hardcover edition | |
| Author | Lois-Ann Yamanaka |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Harper Perennial |
Publication date | 1997 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 262 |
| ISBN | 0-380-73139-8 |
| Preceded by | Wild Meat and the Bully Burgers, Saturday Night at the Pahala Theater |
| Followed by | Heads By Harry |
Blu's Hanging is a 1997 coming-of-age novel by Lois-Ann Yamanaka. It follows the Ogata family after the death of their mother, as each family member struggles to come to terms with their grief. The story is told through Ivah, a smart-mouthed thirteen-year-old who is left as the oldest child to take care of her younger siblings, Blu and Maisie, while she struggles with her own grief, emerging sexuality, and awareness of the world. Similar to Yamanaka's other works, Blu's Hanging, encompasses the topics of racial politics and the diverse culture of Hawaii, as well as the coming of age of the main character amongst various sexual threats and questions.
Following its publication, it was awarded the literature prize by the Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS), which was later revoked on the grounds that her portrayals of certain minorities were racist.