The Vanishing Half is a literary fiction novel written by Brit Bennett, first published by Dialogue Books on 11 June 2020. Bennett is also the author of the New York Times bestseller The Mothers.
The Vanishing Half follows the journeys of Desiree and Stella Vignes, two identical sisters who grow up together but lead completely different lives in adulthood. Desiree marries an abusive man, has a child with him, and then leaves him to return to Mallard with her daughter, Jude. Stella "crosses over," passing for white and completely leaving her old life behind. However, the two are brought back together through the union of their daughters, Jude and Kennedy, who manage to uncover their mothers' history and reunite the two.
Racial passing is one of the central themes of the book. Bennett addresses this theme against a backdrop of colorism and racism in the United States. Bennett explains through her writing that passing is not just a matter of physical appearance: Stella is able to pass for white because of her careful study of white women's behavior, and most of all, because of her ability to lie and to cut off all of the members of her family.
The book also addresses autonomy. Desiree, Stella, Jude, Kennedy, and Reese all take their destinies into their own hands in different ways. The characters' routes diverge, but none of them accepts the hand that they are dealt.
This novel was extremely well received and was longlisted for the National Book Award. The book was highly praised, with the Financial Times calling it “Fluent and openhearted” and the New York Times stating that it was “an ambitious meditation on race and identity.”
