51 pages • 1 hour read
Ann PetryThe Street
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1946A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Street, written by Ann Petry and published in 1946, follows Lutie Johnson, a single mother of a young boy named Bub, who moves into a new apartment in Harlem during the 1940s. Despite the squalid conditions of the apartment and the threatening behavior of the building’s superintendent, Jones, Lutie believes the move is necessary for her and Bub's survival. She struggles against exploitation while attempting to secure a better future for her son. Sensitive topics include domestic violence, racism, and exploitation.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ann Petry's The Street is lauded for its powerful depiction of systemic racism and the struggles of a single black mother in 1940s Harlem. Critics praise its vivid prose and complex characters, though some note its heavy themes may be emotionally taxing. Overall, it is considered a compelling and essential read for its social commentary and literary merit.
Who Should Read The Street?
A reader who appreciates The Street by Ann Petry likely enjoys deeply evocative narratives focused on the struggles of African American women. Comparable to Richard Wright's Native Son and Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God, this reader seeks stories rich in social critique and emotional depth against an urban backdrop.