2013 Abraham Lincoln Award Books: The Help

The IRC has paperback & hardcover copies available. Click the cover to see what's available.

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Limited and persecuted by racial divides in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, three women, including an African-American maid, her sassy and chronically unemployed friend, and a recently graduated white woman, team up for a clandestine project.

Kathryn Stockett writes what she knows: she grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and worked in magazine publishing and marketing for nine years.  For more about Kathryn, visit her website: www.kathrynstockett.com

The firm version of The Help was nominated for multiple awards in 2012 by organizations such as AFI, the Academy Awards, BAFTA, the Black Reel Awards, the Golden Globes, the Image Awards, the People's Choice, and the Screen Actor's Guild. For more on the film, its creators and actors, visit thehelpmovie.com. 

WaltDisneyStudiosAU. "THE HELP trailer - DreamWorks - Only at the Movies September 1." Video. YouTube. 14 Aug 2011. Web. 14 Mar 2012.

Never Fail Creamy Caramel Icing as mentioned in The Help:

2 1/2 c. sugar
1 slightly beaten egg
1 stick of butter
3/4 c. milk
1 t. vanilla

Melt 1/2 cup of sugar in iron skillet slowly, until brown and runny. Mix egg, butter, remaining sugar, and milk in a saucepan and cook over a low flame until butter melts. Turn the heat up to medium and add the browned sugar. Cook until it reaches the soft ball stage or until mixture leaves sides of pan. This takes about 10 minutes. Remove from fire, let cool slightly, and add vanilla. Beat until right consistency to spread. If it gets too thick add a little cream. This will ice a 2 layer cake.

Reprinted by permission from The Junior League of Memphis, Inc. from “The Memphis Cookbook” © 1952; recipe submitted by Mrs. Phil Thornton, Jr.