Book Outline

From Caucasia Curriculum Guide (James Madison University, 2005) by:

Outline of Caucasia by chapter:

Face (5-29):

Same Difference (30-61):

The Body of Rivera (62-82):

Becoming someone else. Birdie and Cole's language and new ways of behaving.
Birdie notices how much Cole is changing and feels left behind until she eventually establishes a friendship with Maria.
Birdie starts "going out" with Ali.
Sandy becomes more paranoid; tells Birdie about the van sitting out on the street.
Sandy coerces her daughters to play hooky from school and then takes them grocery shopping. Sandy shoplifts some candy bars and meets scowling disapproval from Cole.

Golliwog's Revenge (83-115):

Major snowstorm in Boston. Birdie is forced to stay home from school with her Mom, while Cole is off at Deck's.
Cole informs Birdie that their father has a new girlfriend, Carmen.
Carmen gives Birdie the cold shoulder even though Cole tries to talk her up.
Sandy makes her daughters skip school again and takes them to see her mother.
Development of grandmother's character and her favoritism towards Birdie.
Birdie tells Sandy how much she hates Carmen.

Disintegration of Funk (116-125):

Sandy and Deck meet for dinner. Sandy might be involved in an illegal situation.
Deck tells Birdie that he and Cole are "going away on a little trip." Deck, Cole, and Carmen all go to Brazil together.
Deck tells Birdie to take care of her mother.
Cole leaves Golliwog for Birdie.
Birdie and Sandy flee town.

Phenotypic Peek-a-boos (126-131):

From Caucasia, with Love (135-141):

We learn that Birdie and Sandy were on the run for a few years living in motels and communes.
Tired, Sandy/Sheila decides to find a more permanent situation. They move to New Hampshire.

The Color of Underneath (142-165):

Sheila rents a home from Walter and Libby Marsh.
Sheila tells the Marshes that she is a widow. Sympathetic, they help find her a job with a professor at the local university.
Jesse meets Nicholas, son of Walter and Libby.

Soundtrack to a Pass (166-187):

Sheila is lonely.
She meets Jim at a local bar.
Jesse is suspicious of him because she has been trained to be suspicious of all.

Tintin in the Congo (188-208):

Jesse develops a friendship with Nicholas.
He asks why Jesse and Sheila left New York.
Jesse slips slightly about her true identity after being offended by one of his comic books for its physical portrayal of Blacks.
Jesse smokes marijuana with Nicholas.
The beginning of physical intimacy between the two.

Ashes and Elbow Grease (209-238):

Jesse avoids the Marshes altogether for some time.
Jesse starts school in New Hampshire.
She meets Mona, and they become friends.
Jesse also notices another biracial student, Samantha.
Jesse finds a postcard from Dot addressed to her mother, and tries finding her phone number via information. She adds it to her box of Negrobilia.

Sit and Spin (239-253):

Mona's burgeoning sexuality and her flirtation with boys.
Jesse stands outside herself as she hears racist slurs from her so-called friends after there is news of a new black boy who will be attending their school.
Mona's jealousy of Samantha is evident.

Plastic Bubbles (254-276):

Jim continues his campaign to become friends with Jesse.
He takes Jesse, Sheila, and Mona on a trip to New York City.
In NY, Jesse is enamored with some of the teenagers she sees dancing on the street.
On their drive back, there is an altercation between Jim and some teenagers who throw a rock at his car.
Shortly after, Sheila tells Jim the truth about their identities.
Jesse is angry at Sheila.

The Brown and the Pink (277-289):

Jesse attends a party with Mona.
Jesse reconnects with Nicholas briefly.
Pivotal encounter with Samantha where Jesse tries to talk to her about her identity.

ChocolateCity (293-315):

Jesse flees New Hampshire.
She takes a bus to Boston and visits her old home. She goes to the South End and encounters a prostitute who directs her to the address she was given for Dot.
Jesse reunites with Dot and meets Dot's daughter.

Casts and Die (316-337):

Dot calls Sandy to tell her about Birdie/Jesse.
Birdie looks up her old friends from Nkrumah and finally finds Ali.
She asks for Ali's help in finding her father and sister since Ali's father was close to Deck. Ali lies and says his father disappeared too.
Confrontation between Birdie and Sheila.

High Soul Burn (338-374):

Birdie meets up with Ali again and, upon hearing her true story, agrees to help her. He takes Birdie to his Dad.
Ali's Dad informs Birdie that her father was living in Oakland, California, the last time they had contact. He gives her the address and a phone number.
Birdie calls the number, but gets no answer.
Birdie travels to her grandmother's house.
She asks her grandmother for money so she can travel to Oakland to find her father and sister. Instead, her grandmother keeps inquiring about Sandy.
Birdie barters with her grandmother and says she will trade Sandy's address and phone number for a plane ticket.
Birdie gives her a fake address and number and takes a hired car to the airport.

Wonders of the Invisible World (375-413):

Birdie arrives in Oakland and locates her father's apartment.
Her father finds her standing in his apartment and comments, "I told her you'd show up sooner or later. I told her."
Birdie learns Cole is in Berkeley.

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