A semi-autobiographical novel set in 1930s Harlem that explores the religious, familial, and personal struggles of John Grimes, a fourteen-year-old boy. The story unfolds during a single day and night, focusing on John's spiritual awakening and his complex relationships with his family, particularly his fanatically religious stepfather, Gabriel, and his mother, Elizabeth. The novel delves into the history of John's family, revealing the backstories of his mother, his biological father (who died before his birth), and Gabriel, highlighting the influence of the Pentecostal church on their lives.
