I think this book is unique because of the perspective of the author. Being a brown child in the USA in the 60s and 70s for one, but also having lived in the south and in the north gives more insight on how split the country was at the time. How it was the same country, but the rules where different. Also, seeing the book set in Greenville SC for a good part, was interesting to me, since I live here. I didn't grow up here (not even grew up in this country), but "Nickeltown" for example is a description that I have recognized, which just made it more personal for me.