Text perspectives

Fiction

Alice Walker’s The Color Purple (1982) is the most obvious candidate for comparison, as the novel is heavily referenced in Push and even tells a story that is similar in many ways. Much like Precious, the main character Celie grows up in an abusive home and is routinely raped and beaten, but eventually manages to get away and find her own path in life, despite her circumstances.

It may also be relevant to consider The Kid (2011) by Sapphire, which is a semi-sequel to Push that focuses on the story of Precious’ son Abdul. This novel ties up many of the loose ends left by Push, though it has also been criticized for being a quite depressing follow-up to the seemingly hopeful conclusion of Push. For example, we learn that the cycle of sexual abuse continues in the family, as Abdul becomes a sexual abuser when he grows up.

Non-fiction

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