(ROOT (S (PP (IN From) (NP (NP (PRP$ its) (NN opening) (NNS lines)) (`` ``) (`` 'You) (NP (PRP$ my) (JJ lucky) (NN piece)) (, ,) (`` '))) (NP (NNP Grandma)) (VP (VBZ says)) (, ...) (. .)))
From its opening lines "'You my lucky piece,' Grandma says....
case
from
From
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
its
its
PRON
PRP$
compound
Number=Sing
opening
opening
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Plur
line
lines
NOUN
NNS
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
punct
'You
'You
PUNCT
``
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
lucky
lucky
ADJ
JJ
root
Number=Sing
piece
piece
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
'
'
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Number=Sing
Grandma
Grandma
PROPN
NNP
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
say
says
VERB
VBZ
punct
...
...
PUNCT
,
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP$ Her) (NN hand)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN wrapped) (PP (IN around) (NP (PRP mine))) (`` '') (SBAR (S (NP (NNP Heidi) (NNP W.) (NNP Durrow)) (VP (VBZ pulls) (NP (PRP us)) (PP (IN into) (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ first) (NN novel)) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT a) (VBG moving) (NN story)) (VP (VBG encircling) (NP (PRP us)) (ADVP (ADVP (RB as) (RB firmly)) (PP (IN as) (NP (DT that) (JJ protective) (JJ grandmotherly) (NN grip))))))))))))) (. .)))
Her hand is wrapped around mine" Heidi W. Durrow pulls us into her first novel, a moving story encircling us as firmly as that protective grandmotherly grip.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
Her
PRON
PRP$
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
hand
hand
NOUN
NN
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
wrap
wrapped
VERB
VBN
case
around
around
ADP
IN
obl
Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
mine
mine
PRON
PRP
punct
''
''
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Number=Sing
Heidi
Heidi
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
W.
W.
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Durrow
Durrow
PROPN
NNP
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
pull
pulls
VERB
VBZ
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
case
into
into
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos|NumType=Ord
first
first
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
novel
novel
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
VerbForm=Ger
move
moving
VERB
VBG
appos
Number=Sing
story
story
NOUN
NN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
encircle
encircling
VERB
VBG
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
us
PRON
PRP
advmod
as
as
ADV
RB
advmod
firmly
firmly
ADV
RB
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
that
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
protective
protective
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
grandmotherly
grandmotherly
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
grip
grip
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB When)) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP meet) (NP (NP (NNP Rachel) (NNP Morse)) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN daughter)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT an) (JJ African-American) (NNP GI)) (CC and) (NP (DT a) (JJ Danish) (NN woman))))))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP she)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADVP (RB just)) (VP (VBG moving) (PP (IN into) (NP (NP (DT the) (NML (NNP Portland) (, ,) (NNP Oregon.) (, ,)) (NN home)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ strong-minded) (JJ paternal) (NN grandmother)) (CC and) (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ warm) (, ,) (JJ classy) (NNP Aunt) (NNP Loretta)))))))) (. .)))
When we meet Rachel Morse, the daughter of an African-American GI and a Danish woman, she is just moving into the Portland, Oregon., home of her strong-minded paternal grandmother and her warm, classy Aunt Loretta.
advmod
PronType=Int
when
When
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
meet
meet
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Sing
Rachel
Rachel
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Morse
Morse
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
daughter
daughter
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
African-American
African-American
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
GI
GI
PROPN
NNP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
Danish
Danish
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Sing
woman
woman
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
she
she
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
just
just
ADV
RB
root
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
move
moving
VERB
VBG
case
into
into
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
Portland
Portland
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
appos
Number=Sing
Oregon.
Oregon.
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
obl
Number=Sing
home
home
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
strong-minded
strong-minded
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
paternal
paternal
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
grandmother
grandmother
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
warm
warm
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
classy
classy
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Sing
aunt
Aunt
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Loretta
Loretta
PROPN
NNP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP We)) (ADVP (RB soon)) (VP (VBP learn) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NNP Rachel)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VBN survived) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN fall)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ nine-story) (NN apartment) (NN building)) (SBAR (WHPP (IN in) (WHNP (WDT which))) (S (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (NN mother)) (, ,) (NP (NN brother)) (, ,) (CC and) (NP (NN baby) (NN sister))) (NP (DT all)) (VP (VBD died)))))))))))) (. .)))
We soon learn that Rachel has survived a fall from a nine-story apartment building in which her mother, brother, and baby sister all died.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
We
PRON
PRP
advmod
Degree=Pos
soon
soon
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
learn
learn
VERB
VBP
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Sing
Rachel
Rachel
PROPN
NNP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
AUX
VBZ
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
survive
survived
VERB
VBN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
fall
fall
NOUN
NN
case
from
from
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
nine-story
nine-story
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
apartment
apartment
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Sing
building
building
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
PronType=Rel
which
which
PRON
WDT
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
mother
mother
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Sing
brother
brother
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
compound
Number=Sing
baby
baby
NOUN
NN
conj
Number=Sing
sister
sister
NOUN
NN
advmod
PronType=Tot
all
all
DET
DT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
die
died
VERB
VBD
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (NP (CD Three) (NNS months)) (RBR earlier)) (, ,) (NP (NP (NNP Rachel) (POS 's)) (NN mother)) (VP (VBD had) (VP (VBN left) (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ alcoholic) (NN husband)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NNP Germany))) (, ,) (S (VP (VBG following) (NP (PRP$ her) (`` ``) (JJ orange-haired) ('' '') (NN lover)) (PP (IN to) (NP (NNP Chicago))))))) (. .)))
Three months earlier, Rachel's mother had left her alcoholic husband in Germany, following her "orange-haired" lover to Chicago.
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
three
Three
NUM
CD
obl:npmod
Number=Plur
month
months
NOUN
NNS
advmod
Degree=Cmp
early
earlier
ADV
RBR
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Rachel
Rachel
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
nsubj
Number=Sing
mother
mother
NOUN
NN
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
AUX
VBD
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
leave
left
VERB
VBN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
alcoholic
alcoholic
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
husband
husband
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
Germany
Germany
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
follow
following
VERB
VBG
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
amod
Degree=Pos
orange-haired
orange-haired
ADJ
JJ
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
obj
Number=Sing
lover
lover
NOUN
NN
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
Chicago
Chicago
PROPN
NNP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC But) (NP (NNP Nella)) (VP (VBD had) (RB n't) (VP (VBN been) (VP (VBN prepared) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (NP (NN boyfriend) (POS 's)) (NN drinking) (CC and) (NN racism)) (, ,) (CC or) (PP (IN for) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS looks) (CC and) (NNS questions)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP she)) (VP (VBZ gets) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN mother)) (PP (IN of) (NP (CD three) (JJ brown) (NNS children))))))))))))))) (. .)))
But Nella hadn't been prepared for boyfriend's drinking and racism, or for the looks and questions she gets as the mother of three brown children.
cc
but
But
CCONJ
CC
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing
Nella
Nella
PROPN
NNP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
AUX
VBD
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
aux:pass
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
be
been
AUX
VBN
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
prepare
prepared
VERB
VBN
case
for
for
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
boyfriend
boyfriend
NOUN
NN
case
's
's
PART
POS
obl
Number=Sing
drinking
drinking
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
racism
racism
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
case
for
for
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
conj
Number=Plur
look
looks
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
question
questions
NOUN
NNS
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
she
she
PRON
PRP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
get
gets
VERB
VBZ
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
mother
mother
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
three
three
NUM
CD
amod
Degree=Pos
brown
brown
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NP (NNP Rachel) (POS 's)) (`` ``) (JJ new-girl) (NN feeling) ('' '')) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (NN grandmother) (POS 's)) (NN home)))) (VP (VBZ goes) (PP (IN beyond) (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ recent) (NN tragedy)))) (. .)))
Rachel's "new-girl feeling" in her grandmother's home goes beyond her recent tragedy.
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Rachel
Rachel
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
amod
Degree=Pos
new-girl
new-girl
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
feeling
feeling
NOUN
NN
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
grandmother
grandmother
NOUN
NN
case
's
's
PART
POS
nmod
Number=Sing
home
home
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
go
goes
VERB
VBZ
case
beyond
beyond
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
recent
recent
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
tragedy
tragedy
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Having) (VP (VBN grown) (PRT (RP up)) (PP (IN with) (NP (DT a) (JJ Scandinavian) (NN mother))) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (ADJP (RBR more) (JJ colorblind)) (NN society)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT an) (JJ overseas) (NNP Army) (NN base)))))))) (, ,) (NP (DT this)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ first) (NN time)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT a) (RB mostly) (JJ black) (NN community))))) (. .)))
Having grown up with a Scandinavian mother in the more colorblind society of an overseas Army base, this is her first time in a mostly black community.
aux
VerbForm=Ger
have
Having
AUX
VBG
advcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
grow
grown
VERB
VBN
compound:prt
up
up
ADP
RP
case
with
with
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
Scandinavian
Scandinavian
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
mother
mother
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
amod
Degree=Pos
colorblind
colorblind
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
society
society
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
overseas
overseas
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
Army
Army
PROPN
NNP
nmod
Number=Sing
base
base
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
PRON
DT
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos|NumType=Ord
first
first
ADJ
JJ
root
Number=Sing
time
time
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
advmod
mostly
mostly
ADV
RB
amod
Degree=Pos
black
black
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
community
community
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP$ Her) (NML (NML (JJ light-brown) (NN skin)) (, ,) (`` ``) (JJ fuzzy) ('' '') (NN hair))) (, ,) (CC and) (NP (JJ blue) (NNS eyes)) (VP (VBP raise) (NP (NP (NNS questions)) (PP (IN about) (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ racial) (NN identity)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (RB entirely) (JJ new) (CC and) (JJ puzzling)) (PP (IN to) (NP (PRP her)))))))))) (. .)))
Her light-brown skin, "fuzzy" hair, and blue eyes raise questions about her racial identity that are entirely new and puzzling to her.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
Her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
light-brown
light-brown
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
skin
skin
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
amod
Degree=Pos
fuzzy
fuzzy
ADJ
JJ
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
conj
Number=Sing
hair
hair
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
blue
blue
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
eye
eyes
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
raise
raise
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Plur
question
questions
NOUN
NNS
case
about
about
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
racial
racial
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
identity
identity
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
entirely
entirely
ADV
RB
acl:relcl
Degree=Pos
new
new
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
puzzling
puzzling
ADJ
JJ
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Starting) (NP (JJ sixth) (NN grade)) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ new) (NN school))))) (, ,) (NP (NNP Rachel)) (VP (VBZ notes) (, ,) (`` ``) (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBP are) (NP (NP (NP (CD fifteen) (JJ black) (NNS people)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN class)))) (CC and) (NP (CD seven) (JJ white) (NNS people)))))) (. .)))
Starting sixth grade in her new school, Rachel notes, "There are fifteen black people in the class and seven white people.
amod
VerbForm=Ger
starting
Starting
VERB
VBG
amod
Degree=Pos|NumType=Ord
sixth
sixth
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
grade
grade
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
new
new
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
school
school
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Sing
Rachel
Rachel
PROPN
NNP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
note
notes
VERB
VBZ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
expl
there
There
PRON
EX
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
VERB
VBP
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
fifteen
fifteen
NUM
CD
amod
Degree=Pos
black
black
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
class
class
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
seven
seven
NUM
CD
amod
Degree=Pos
white
white
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (CC And) (NP (EX there)) (VP (VBZ 's) (NP (PRP me))) (. .)))
And there's me.
cc
and
And
CCONJ
CC
expl
there
there
PRON
EX
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
's
VERB
VBZ
nsubj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBZ 's) (NP (NP (DT another) (NN girl)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBZ sits) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN back)))))))) (. .)))
There's another girl who sits in the back.
expl
there
There
PRON
EX
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
's
VERB
VBZ
det
another
another
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
girl
girl
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
who
who
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
sit
sits
VERB
VBZ
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
back
back
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP$ Her) (NN name)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NNP Carmen) (NNP LaGuardia)))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (S (NP (PRP she)) (VP (VBZ has) (NP (NP (NN hair)) (PP (IN like) (NP (NP (PRP mine)) (, ,) (NP (PRP$ my) (JJ same) (NN color) (NN skin)) (, ,)))))) (CC and) (S (NP (PRP she)) (VP (VBZ counts) (PP (IN as) (ADJP (JJ black)))))) (. .)))
Her name is Carmen LaGuardia, and she has hair like mine, my same color skin, and she counts as black.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
Her
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
name
name
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Number=Sing
Carmen
Carmen
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
LaGuardia
LaGuardia
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
she
she
PRON
PRP
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
obj
Number=Sing
hair
hair
NOUN
NN
case
like
like
ADP
IN
nmod
Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
mine
mine
PRON
PRP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
same
same
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
color
color
NOUN
NN
appos
Number=Sing
skin
skin
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
she
she
PRON
PRP
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
count
counts
VERB
VBZ
case
as
as
ADP
IN
obl
Degree=Pos
black
black
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP do) (RB n't) (VP (VB understand) (WHADVP (WRB how))))) (, ,) (CC but) (S (NP (PRP she)) (VP (VBZ seems) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB know)))))) (. .) ('' '')))
I don't understand how, but she seems to know."
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
do
do
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
understand
understand
VERB
VB
obj
PronType=Int
how
how
ADV
WRB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
she
she
PRON
PRP
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
seem
seems
VERB
VBZ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
know
know
VERB
VB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (S (ADVP (NP (JJ Several) (NNS years)) (RBR later)) (, ,) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ high) (NN school))) (, ,) (NP (PRP$ her) (NN status)) (VP (VBZ remains) (ADJP (JJ uncertain))) (. .)))
Several years later, in high school, her status remains uncertain.
amod
Degree=Pos
several
Several
ADJ
JJ
obl:tmod
Number=Plur
year
years
NOUN
NNS
advmod
Degree=Cmp
late
later
ADV
RBR
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
in
in
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
high
high
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
school
school
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
status
status
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
remain
remains
VERB
VBZ
xcomp
Degree=Pos
uncertain
uncertain
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBP call) (NP (PRP me)) (S (NP (DT an) (NNP Oreo)))) (. .)))
"They call me an Oreo.
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
call
call
VERB
VBP
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
xcomp
Number=Sing
Oreo
Oreo
PROPN
NNP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP do) (RB n't) (VP (VB want) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ white))))))) (. .)))
I don't want to be white.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
do
do
AUX
VBP
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
want
want
VERB
VB
mark
to
to
PART
TO
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
xcomp
Degree=Pos
white
white
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Sometimes)) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP want) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB go) (ADVP (RB back) (PP (IN to) (S (VP (VBG being) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was)))))))))))) (. .)))
Sometimes I want to go back to being what I was.
advmod
sometimes
Sometimes
ADV
RB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
want
want
VERB
VBP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
go
go
VERB
VB
advmod
back
back
ADV
RB
mark
to
to
SCONJ
IN
cop
VerbForm=Ger
be
being
AUX
VBG
advcl
PronType=Rel
what
what
PRON
WP
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP want) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (NP (NN nothing)))))) (. .) ('' '')))
I want to be nothing."
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
want
want
VERB
VBP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
xcomp
Number=Sing|PronType=Neg
nothing
nothing
PRON
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NP (NN Winner)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNP Bellwether) (NNP Prize)) (, ,) (VP (VBN created) (PP (IN by) (NP (NNP Barbara) (NNP Kingsolver))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB celebrate) (NP (NP (NN fiction)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (VBZ addresses) (NP (NP (NNS issues)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ social) (NN injustice))))))))))))))) (, ,) (`` ``) (NP (NP (DT The) (NN Girl)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP Who)) (S (VP (VBD Fell) (PP (IN From) (NP (DT the) (NNP Sky))))))) ('' '')) (VP (VBZ comes) (PP (IN at) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN time)) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (NP (ADJP (JJ bi-racial) (CC and) (JJ multicultural)) (NN identity)) (VP (ADVP (RB so) (RB markedly)) (VBN represented) (PP (IN by) (NP (NNP President) (NNP Obama))))) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (RB especially) (JJ topical)))))))) (. .)))
Winner of the Bellwether Prize, created by Barbara Kingsolver to celebrate fiction that addresses issues of social injustice, "The Girl Who Fell From the Sky" comes at a time when bi-racial and multicultural identity so markedly represented by President Obama is especially topical.
nsubj
Number=Sing
winner
Winner
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
Bellwether
Bellwether
PROPN
NNP
nmod
Number=Sing
Prize
Prize
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
create
created
VERB
VBN
case
by
by
ADP
IN
obl:agent
Number=Sing
Barbara
Barbara
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Kingsolver
Kingsolver
PROPN
NNP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
celebrate
celebrate
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
fiction
fiction
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
address
addresses
VERB
VBZ
obj
Number=Plur
issue
issues
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
social
social
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
injustice
injustice
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
girl
Girl
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
who
Who
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
fell
Fell
VERB
VBD
case
from
From
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
Sky
Sky
PROPN
NNP
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
come
comes
VERB
VBZ
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
time
time
NOUN
NN
advmod
PronType=Int
when
when
ADV
WRB
amod
Degree=Pos
bi-racial
bi-racial
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
multicultural
multicultural
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
identity
identity
NOUN
NN
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
advmod
markedly
markedly
ADV
RB
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
represent
represented
VERB
VBN
case
by
by
ADP
IN
obl:agent
Number=Sing
President
President
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Obama
Obama
PROPN
NNP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
especially
especially
ADV
RB
advcl
Degree=Pos
topical
topical
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (CC But) (S (VP (VP (VBN set) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NNS 1980s)))) (CC and) (VP (VBG focusing) (PP (IN on) (S (NP (CD one) (ADJP (RB unusually) (JJ sympathetic)) (NN girl)) (VP (VP (VBG overcoming) (NP (NN family) (NN tragedy))) (CC and) (VP (VBG feeling) (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (NN way)) (PP (IN through) (NP (JJ racial) (NNS tensions))))))))))) (, ,) (NP (NP (NNP Durrow) (POS 's)) (NN novel)) (VP (VBZ surpasses) (NP (NN topicality))) (. .)))
But set in the 1980s and focusing on one unusually sympathetic girl overcoming family tragedy and feeling her way through racial tensions, Durrow's novel surpasses topicality.
cc
but
But
CCONJ
CC
advcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
set
set
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
1980
1980s
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Ger
focus
focusing
VERB
VBG
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
advmod
unusually
unusually
ADV
RB
amod
Degree=Pos
sympathetic
sympathetic
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
girl
girl
NOUN
NN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
overcome
overcoming
VERB
VBG
compound
Number=Sing
family
family
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
tragedy
tragedy
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Ger
feel
feeling
VERB
VBG
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Sing
way
way
NOUN
NN
case
through
through
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
racial
racial
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
tension
tensions
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Durrow
Durrow
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
nsubj
Number=Sing
novel
novel
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
surpass
surpasses
VERB
VBZ
obj
Number=Sing
topicality
topicality
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (PP (IN Like) (NP (NNP Rachel))) (, ,) (NP (NNP Durrow)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ light-brown-skinned) (, ,) (JJ blue-eyed) (NN daughter)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ Danish) (NN mother)) (CC and) (NP (DT an) (JJ African-American) (NN father))))) (VP (VBD enlisted) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NNP Air) (NNP Force)))))) (. .)))
Like Rachel, Durrow is the light-brown-skinned, blue-eyed daughter of a Danish mother and an African-American father enlisted in the Air Force.
case
like
Like
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Rachel
Rachel
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Sing
Durrow
Durrow
PROPN
NNP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
light-brown-skinned
light-brown-skinned
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
blue-eyed
blue-eyed
ADJ
JJ
root
Number=Sing
daughter
daughter
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
Danish
Danish
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
mother
mother
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
African-American
African-American
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
father
father
NOUN
NN
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
enlist
enlisted
VERB
VBD
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
Air
Air
PROPN
NNP
obl
Number=Sing
Force
Force
PROPN
NNP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN With) (NP (NP (NNS degrees)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NP (NNP Stanford)) (, ,) (NP (NNP Columbia) (NNP Journalism) (NNP School)) (, ,) (CC and) (NP (NNP Yale) (NNP Law) (NNP School)))))) (, ,) (NP (NP (PRP it))) (VP (VBZ 's) (NP (DT no) (NN wonder)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP she)) (VP (VBZ gives) (NP (PRP$ her)) (NP (NN heroine) (NN discipline) (CC and) (NNS brains)))))) (. .)))
With degrees from Stanford, Columbia Journalism School, and Yale Law School, it's no wonder she gives her heroine discipline and brains.
case
with
With
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
degree
degrees
NOUN
NNS
case
from
from
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Stanford
Stanford
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
compound
Number=Sing
Columbia
Columbia
PROPN
NNP
compound
Number=Sing
Journalism
Journalism
PROPN
NNP
conj
Number=Sing
School
School
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
compound
Number=Sing
Yale
Yale
PROPN
NNP
compound
Number=Sing
Law
Law
PROPN
NNP
conj
Number=Sing
School
School
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
expl
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
's
AUX
VBZ
det
no
no
DET
DT
root
Number=Sing
wonder
wonder
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
she
she
PRON
PRP
csubj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
give
gives
VERB
VBZ
iobj
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
compound
Number=Sing
heroine
heroine
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
discipline
discipline
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
brain
brains
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNP Rachel) (POS 's)) (NN life)) (, ,) (ADVP (RB however)) (, ,) (VP (VBZ is) (ADVP (RB clearly)) (RB not) (NP (NNP Durrow) (POS 's))) (. .)))
Rachel's life, however, is clearly not Durrow's.
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Rachel
Rachel
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
nsubj
Number=Sing
life
life
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
however
however
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
clearly
clearly
ADV
RB
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
root
Number=Sing
Durrow
Durrow
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (INTJ (UH No)) (, ,) (NP (EX there)) (VP (VBZ 's) (NP (NP (NML (NN alcohol) (CC and) (NN drug)) (NN addiction)) (: ;) (NP (NP (NNS deaths)) (PP (IN by) (NP (NN fire) (, ,) (NN trauma) (, ,) (CC and) (NN infection)))))) (. .)))
No, there's alcohol and drug addiction; deaths by fire, trauma, and infection.
discourse
Polarity=Neg
no
No
INTJ
UH
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
expl
there
there
PRON
EX
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
's
VERB
VBZ
nsubj
Number=Sing
alcohol
alcohol
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
compound
Number=Sing
drug
drug
NOUN
NN
conj
Number=Sing
addiction
addiction
NOUN
NN
punct
;
;
PUNCT
:
conj
Number=Plur
death
deaths
NOUN
NNS
case
by
by
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
fire
fire
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Sing
trauma
trauma
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
infection
infection
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (EX There)) (VP (VBP are) (NP (NP (NP (NNS mothers)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBP lose) (NP (PRP$ their) (NNS children)))))) (, ,) (CC and) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ saintly) (NN drug) (NN counselor)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBZ loses) (NP (PRP$ his) (JJ beloved) (NN girl-friend)))))))) (. .)))
There are mothers who lose their children, and a saintly drug counselor who loses his beloved girl-friend.
expl
there
There
PRON
EX
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
VERB
VBP
nsubj
Number=Plur
mother
mothers
NOUN
NNS
nsubj
PronType=Rel
who
who
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
lose
lose
VERB
VBP
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
saintly
saintly
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
drug
drug
NOUN
NN
conj
Number=Sing
counselor
counselor
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
who
who
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
lose
loses
VERB
VBZ
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
his
his
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
beloved
beloved
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
girl-friend
girl-friend
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN Through) (NP (PRP it) (DT all))) (, ,) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (VP (VBZ makes) (NP (NP (NNP Durrow) (POS 's)) (NN novel) (VB soar))))) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (JJ masterful) (NN sense)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN voice)))) (, ,) (NP (NP (PRP$ her) (ADJP (VBN assured) (, ,) (JJ delicate)) (NN handling)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (JJ complex) (JJ racial) (NNS issues)) (CC and) (NP (PRP$ her) (NN heart))))))) (. .)))
Through it all, what makes Durrow's novel soar is her masterful sense of voice, her assured, delicate handling of complex racial issues and her heart.
case
through
Through
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
det
all
all
DET
DT
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
PronType=Rel
what
what
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
make
makes
VERB
VBZ
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
Durrow
Durrow
PROPN
NNP
case
's
's
PART
POS
obj
Number=Sing
novel
novel
NOUN
NN
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
soar
soar
VERB
VB
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
masterful
masterful
ADJ
JJ
root
Number=Sing
sense
sense
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
voice
voice
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
amod
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
assure
assured
VERB
VBN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
delicate
delicate
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Sing
handling
handling
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
complex
complex
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
racial
racial
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
issue
issues
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
conj
Number=Sing
heart
heart
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (PP (IN After) (S (VP (VBG hearing) (NP (DT the) (NNS blues) (NN music)) (PP (IN for) (NP (DT the) (JJ first) (NN time)))))) (, ,) (NP (NNP Rachel)) (VP (VBZ feels) (S (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (NP (PRP$ her) (NN mother)) (VP (VBD called) (S (NP (NP (NN hyggeligt) (`` ``) (NN something)) (PP (IN like) (NP (NN comfort) (CC and) (NN home) (CC and) (NN love)))))))) (NP (DT all)) (VP (VBD rolled) (PP (IN into) (NP (CD one)))))) (. .) ('' '')))
After hearing the blues music for the first time, Rachel feels what her mother called hyggeligt "something like comfort and home and love all rolled into one."
mark
after
After
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
hear
hearing
VERB
VBG
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Plur
blue
blues
NOUN
NNS
obj
Number=Sing
music
music
NOUN
NN
case
for
for
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos|NumType=Ord
first
first
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
time
time
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Sing
Rachel
Rachel
PROPN
NNP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
feel
feels
VERB
VBZ
obj
PronType=Rel
what
what
PRON
WP
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
mother
mother
NOUN
NN
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
call
called
VERB
VBD
xcomp
Number=Sing
hyggeligt
hyggeligt
NOUN
NN
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Ind
something
something
PRON
NN
case
like
like
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
comfort
comfort
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
home
home
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
love
love
NOUN
NN
advmod
all
all
DET
DT
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
roll
rolled
VERB
VBD
case
into
into
ADP
IN
obl
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP She)) (VP (VBZ wonders) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (VP (MD might) (VP (VB have) (VP (VBN happened) (SBAR (SBAR (IN if) (S (NP (PRP$ her) (NN mother)) (VP (VBD had) (VP (VBN known) (PP (IN about) (NP (JJ such) (JJ soulful) (NN music))))))) (, ,) (`` ``) (SBAR (IN that) (S (ADVP (RB sometimes)) (NP (EX there)) (VP (VBZ 's) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN way)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VP (VB take) (NP (DT the) (NN sadness))) (CC and) (VP (VB turn) (NP (PRP it)) (PP (IN into) (NP (DT a) (JJ beautiful) (NN song))))))))))))))))))) (. .) ('' '')))
She wonders what might have happened if her mother had known about such soulful music, "that sometimes there's a way to take the sadness and turn it into a beautiful song."
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
she
She
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
wonder
wonders
VERB
VBZ
nsubj
PronType=Int
what
what
PRON
WP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
might
might
AUX
MD
aux
VerbForm=Inf
have
have
AUX
VB
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
happen
happened
VERB
VBN
mark
if
if
SCONJ
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
her
her
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
mother
mother
NOUN
NN
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
AUX
VBD
advcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
know
known
VERB
VBN
case
about
about
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
such
such
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
soulful
soulful
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
music
music
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
advmod
sometimes
sometimes
ADV
RB
expl
there
there
PRON
EX
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
's
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
way
way
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
take
take
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
sadness
sadness
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
turn
turn
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
case
into
into
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
beautiful
beautiful
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
song
song
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (S (NP (DT This)) (, ,) (ADVP (IN of) (NN course)) (, ,) (VP (VBZ is) (SBAR (ADVP (RB precisely)) (WHNP (WP what)) (S (NP (NNP Durrow)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VP (VBN done) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT this) (JJ powerful) (NN book)))) (: :) (VP (VBN taken) (NP (NN sadness))) (CC and) (VP (VBD turned) (NP (PRP it)) (PP (IN into) (NP (DT a) (JJ beautiful) (NN song))))))))) (. .)))
This, of course, is precisely what Durrow has done in this powerful book: taken sadness and turned it into a beautiful song.
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
This
PRON
DT
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
of
of
ADV
IN
fixed
Number=Sing
course
course
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
precisely
precisely
ADV
RB
root
PronType=Rel
what
what
PRON
WP
nsubj
Number=Sing
Durrow
Durrow
PROPN
NNP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
AUX
VBZ
acl:relcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
do
done
VERB
VBN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
powerful
powerful
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
book
book
NOUN
NN
punct
:
:
PUNCT
:
parataxis
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
take
taken
VERB
VBN
obj
Number=Sing
sadness
sadness
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
turn
turned
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
case
into
into
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
beautiful
beautiful
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
song
song
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
From its opening lines "'You my lucky piece,' Grandma says.... Her hand is wrapped around mine" Heidi W. Durrow pulls us into her first novel, a moving story encircling us as firmly as that protective grandmotherly grip.  When we meet Rachel Morse, the daughter of an African-American GI and a Danish woman, she is just moving into the Portland, Oregon., home of her strong-minded paternal grandmother and her warm, classy Aunt Loretta. We soon learn that Rachel has survived a fall from a nine-story apartment building in which her mother, brother, and baby sister all died. Three months earlier, Rachel's mother had left her alcoholic husband in Germany, following her "orange-haired" lover to Chicago. But Nella hadn't been prepared for boyfriend's drinking and racism, or for the looks and questions she gets as the mother of three brown children.  Rachel's "new-girl feeling" in her grandmother's home goes beyond her recent tragedy. Having grown up with a Scandinavian mother in the more colorblind society of an overseas Army base, this is her first time in a mostly black community. Her light-brown skin, "fuzzy" hair, and blue eyes raise questions about her racial identity that are entirely new and puzzling to her.  Starting sixth grade in her new school, Rachel notes, "There are fifteen black people in the class and seven white people. And there's me. There's another girl who sits in the back. Her name is Carmen LaGuardia, and she has hair like mine, my same color skin, and she counts as black. I don't understand how, but she seems to know." Several years later, in high school, her status remains uncertain. "They call me an Oreo. I don't want to be white. Sometimes I want to go back to being what I was. I want to be nothing."  Winner of the Bellwether Prize, created by Barbara Kingsolver to celebrate fiction that addresses issues of social injustice, "The Girl Who Fell From the Sky" comes at a time when bi-racial and multicultural identity so markedly represented by President Obama is especially topical.  But set in the 1980s and focusing on one unusually sympathetic girl overcoming family tragedy and feeling her way through racial tensions, Durrow's novel surpasses topicality.  Like Rachel, Durrow is the light-brown-skinned, blue-eyed daughter of a Danish mother and an African-American father enlisted in the Air Force. With degrees from Stanford, Columbia Journalism School, and Yale Law School, it's no wonder she gives her heroine discipline and brains.  Rachel's life, however, is clearly not Durrow's. No, there's alcohol and drug addiction; deaths by fire, trauma, and infection. There are mothers who lose their children, and a saintly drug counselor who loses his beloved girl-friend. Through it all, what makes Durrow's novel soar is her masterful sense of voice, her assured, delicate handling of complex racial issues and her heart.  After hearing the blues music for the first time, Rachel feels what her mother called hyggeligt "something like comfort and home and love all rolled into one." She wonders what might have happened if her mother had known about such soulful music, "that sometimes there's a way to take the sadness and turn it into a beautiful song." This, of course, is precisely what Durrow has done in this powerful book: taken sadness and turned it into a beautiful song.