Historical · Literary
The Help
Bestseller: about 10 million copies (estimate)In early 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, a young white writer secretly interviews Black maids about their work for white families, and two of the women risk everything to tell their stories.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2009
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 466
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a warm, readable, multi-voice novel about courage and friendship in the Civil Rights era.
Skip this if you are bothered by a white author writing Black dialect and a white-saviour framing.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about The Help
- What is The Help about?
- In early 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, a young white writer secretly interviews Black maids about their work for white families, and two of the women risk everything to tell their stories.
- Who should read The Help?
- Read it if you want a warm, readable, multi-voice novel about courage and friendship in the Civil Rights era. Skip it if you are bothered by a white author writing Black dialect and a white-saviour framing.
- How long and how fast is The Help?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 466 pages, first published in 2009.
- Does The Help have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Racism, Prejudice, Domestic violence, Death.
- Can I borrow The Help for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Help; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Help?
- Readers who liked it often move on to To Kill a Mockingbird, The Color Purple.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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