This first novel by Toni Morrison takes place in Lorain, Ohio (Morrison's hometown), and tells the story of a young African-American girl named Pecola who grows up during the years following the Great Depression. Set in 1941, the story tells that due to her mannerisms and dark skin, she is consistently regarded as "ugly". As a result, she develops an inferiority complex, which fuels her desire for the blue eyes she equates with "whiteness".
 
By Toni Morrison