God has no color

James' question to his mom brings up a major theme to this book: "What Color is God?" Ruth replies that God is the color of water, that God has no color. This answer shows that Ruth, a white woman who has married two black men in her life, doesn't care about(or want to discuss) race issues.

At times very touching, Ruth's narration shows the pain and agony of her life, but also shows her bright character. James' narration, on the other hand, shows his struggle with being a black man with a white mother.

When both stories meet, we find that mother and son both share similar experiences. Both are looked down upon, but both do extraordinary things with their lives.

With vivid characters such as Tateh, Chicken Man, and James, The Color of Water is a fascinating book that looks into the lives of "mixed" races.