Eleven-year-old Raisin volunteers to help a feisty old woman clean up the New Africa No.1 Missionary Baptist Cemetery and, in the process, uncovers local Black history, which has been just as neglected as the tombstones in the cemetery. Tate has a special gift for writing dialogue that rings true and moves the plot along; consequently, characters and family relationships are as fully developed as the mystery plot. (Ages 11-14)

Raisin Stackhouse doesn't mind doing odd jobs for old Miss Effie Pfluggins, but when Miss Effie talks her into cleaning up the old church cemetery, she has no idea what trouble she might dig up. Mama says Miss Effie talks much too much, but Raisin loves hearing her remember the old days--especially when one of her stories puts Raisin smack in the middle of real-life mystery.

When Raisin is grounded for sneaking a night out, she not only misses her chance to compete in the Miss Ebony Pageant, but her efforts to uncover the famous person buried in the cemetery are brought to a half, too. Somehow Raisin's got to solve the big mystery no one in town wants to talk about. Will her discovery bring her glory, or is the past better off left buried?