My Louisiana Sky

Beverly Willis Holt’s My Louisiana Sky (1998) is a coming-of-age story that follows Tiger Ann Parker through the summer that she turns 13. Set in the small rural town in 1957 Louisiana, the novel centers on Tiger’s decisions about growing up as she struggles with the death of her grandmother, her responsibilities to her parents who both have intellectual disabilities, and her relationship with her best friend.

Holt’s novel carries themes of growing up, judgment, and the importance of work. She explores these themes and more through the symbols and motifs of the natural world, physical appearances, and race. This guide references the 2011 Square Fish paperback edition.

Plot Summary

Tiger Ann Parker is a 12-year-old girl who lives in the rural town of Saitter, Louisiana with her parents and grandmother. Both of Tiger’s parents have intellectual disabilities, and Tiger loves her family.

Through the beginning of the novel, Tiger begins to feel embarrassed about her parents. She feels increasingly ostracized by classmates, and she even stops playing baseball (a favorite hobby) in an effort to fit in with them. Eventually, one of the most popular girls at school excludes Tiger from a swimming pool party. When Tiger’s best friend, Jesse Wade, sees Tiger crying about being excluded, he tries to comfort her and kisses her—much to her dismay.

Several chapters in, Tiger’s maternal grandmother dies. Tiger’s mother, Corrina, is crushed, and Tiger feels embarrassed that her father, Lonnie, isn’t more capable of helping. Tiger’s sophisticated aunt, Aunt Dorie Kay, visits to help and invites Tiger to live with her in Baton Rouge.

Excited about a new start but nervous about leaving her family and hometown, Tiger visits Baton Rouge with Aunt Dorie Kay for a weekend. During her trip, she gets her hair cut in hopes of looking like Audrey Hepburn. After a couple days, Tiger returns to Saitter with Aunt Dorie Kay’s Black housekeeper, Magnolia, who is going to help Tiger’s family over the summer. In conversations with Magnolia, Tiger becomes less naive about how differently society treats Black people, especially in the deep South where she lives. Upon their return, Tiger realizes how much she loves and feels connected to her hometown, and she feels connected to Magnolia through a shared work ethic.

While Tiger helps her father at the plant nursery where he works, Lonnie predicts that they will be hit by a nearby hurricane. They move all the expensive plants inside, and Tiger runs home after stopping to help guide a lost calf back to its pasture. Upon returning home, she realizes that her mother has gone to look for her. Tiger finds her mother in the forest in the midst of the storm, and she realizes just how much she loves her mother.

After waiting out the worst of the storm with Corrina and Magnolia, Tiger realizes that she wants to stay in Saitter. She knows her life will be difficult but realizes that life will be difficult anywhere and that she loves her family and her hometown.

Tiger returns to playing baseball, reconciles with Jesse Wade, and begins to get closer with the other girls in town. She ends the novel feeling more grown up and self-assured, even in the face of adversity.