Plot Summary
Grief in a New Mirror
Sixteen-year-old Cynthia Adegoke is haunted by the violent death of her beloved older brother, Mike. Her family, fractured by grief, has moved from bustling South London to a remote, predominantly white village in Buckinghamshire. Cynthia's new life is marked by unfamiliarity: a new house, a new school, and a new sense of isolation. She clings to the memory of Mike, carrying his crystals in her pocket and replaying his final voicemail. The pain of loss is ever-present, coloring her interactions with her parents—her mother, brittle but loving, and her father, withdrawn and strict. Cynthia's sense of self is shaken, and she faces the daunting prospect of starting over while carrying the invisible weight of her brother's absence.
Thornton's Unfamiliar Halls
Cynthia's first day at Thornton's, an elite private school, is a collision of cultures and expectations. The grandeur of the building and the sea of unfamiliar, mostly white faces amplify her sense of otherness. She meets Thomas Goddard, the charming, privileged head boy, and his adopted Black brother, Isaac. Both boys are drawn to Cynthia, but in different ways. Thomas is eager to help, while Isaac's quiet confidence and shared heritage offer Cynthia a rare sense of belonging. The school's rituals, from meditation in form class to the subtle codes of privilege, leave Cynthia feeling exposed and judged. She quickly learns that her brother's death is not just a private wound but public knowledge, whispered about in bathrooms and corridors.
First Impressions, Lasting Wounds
Cynthia's attempts to fit in are met with microaggressions and outright prejudice. In the bathroom, she overhears classmates gossiping about her hair and her brother's death, reinforcing her outsider status. Isaac, witnessing her distress, offers comfort and solidarity, revealing his own experience as an adopted child in a white family. Their connection deepens, but Cynthia's pain is raw, and her anger simmers beneath the surface. The school's teachers, like the stern Mr. Jordan, are quick to discipline but slow to understand. Cynthia's academic confidence is shaken, and she feels the pressure to represent her family and her race, all while navigating the minefield of teenage social hierarchies.
Detention and Discomfort
A run-in with Mr. Jordan lands Cynthia and Isaac in detention, forging a bond between them. Thomas, ever the fixer, offers to intervene, but his efforts feel performative. Cynthia is caught between the two brothers: Thomas's overtures are flattering but hollow, while Isaac's empathy feels genuine. At lunch, Cynthia is reminded of her family's struggles—her mother's attempts to help, her father's obsession with reputation, and the ever-present shadow of Mike's death. The school's culture of privilege is both alluring and alienating, and Cynthia is forced to confront the reality that fitting in may come at the cost of her authenticity.
Ghosts in the Conservatory
At home, Cynthia's grief is compounded by her parents' strained marriage. Her mother's vulnerability and her father's emotional distance create a tense atmosphere. Cynthia is haunted by memories of identifying Mike's body, a trauma that lingers in every quiet moment. The family's attempts to move forward are fraught with unspoken pain and unresolved anger. Cynthia's desire for connection is at odds with her parents' need for control, and the gulf between them widens. The conservatory, once a place of warmth, is now a space where ghosts linger and the past refuses to let go.
Library Confessions
A chance encounter in the school library brings Cynthia and Isaac closer. Both are early to school, seeking refuge in the quiet stacks. Isaac helps Cynthia with her maths homework, and their conversation turns to loss and longing. Isaac reveals that he lost both his biological parents and was adopted by the Goddards, a family with their own secrets and pressures. The two share a moment of vulnerability, recognizing in each other a kindred spirit. Their connection is deepened by shared experiences of grief, displacement, and the search for identity. The seeds of romance are sown, but both are wary of the complications that lie ahead.
Party Invitations and Parental Fears
Thomas invites Cynthia to the Goddard family's annual party, a lavish affair that promises both excitement and anxiety. Cynthia's parents are divided: her mother is protective, her father sees the event as an opportunity for social advancement. Cynthia negotiates for permission to attend, aware that her every move is scrutinized. The party becomes a symbol of her struggle to balance her own desires with her family's expectations. The tension between Thomas and Isaac intensifies, as both vie for Cynthia's attention. The stage is set for a confrontation that will test loyalties and reveal hidden truths.
Hair, Identity, and Belonging
Preparing for the party, Cynthia grapples with questions of identity and belonging. Her hair becomes a battleground—a symbol of her Blackness and her desire to fit in. A trip to a Black hair salon in London reconnects her with her roots and her best friend, Jadell. The experience is both comforting and bittersweet, highlighting the distance between her old life and her new one. Cynthia's mother experiments with her own appearance, seeking change and control in a world that feels unstable. The rituals of hair care and beauty become acts of resistance and self-affirmation, even as Cynthia navigates the pressures to conform.
The Goddard Estate
The Goddard party is a spectacle of wealth and tradition. Cynthia is awed by the estate's grandeur but quickly reminded of her outsider status when a guest mistakes her for staff. Samuel, the family's butler, intervenes, but the incident underscores the persistent racism and classism that pervade the community. Inside, Cynthia is drawn into the world of the Goddard brothers: Thomas, ever the host, and Isaac, who prefers the solitude of the library. The party becomes a microcosm of the larger social dynamics at play, with Cynthia caught between competing expectations and desires.
Kisses and Complications
In a quiet moment in the Goddard library, Cynthia and Isaac share their first kiss, a tender but fraught exchange that crystallizes their feelings for each other. Their happiness is short-lived, as Thomas interrupts, and the tension between the brothers becomes palpable. Later, Thomas asks Cynthia's father for permission to date her, bypassing Cynthia's agency and igniting a confrontation at home. Cynthia's parents' marriage reaches a breaking point, and her mother threatens divorce. Cynthia is forced to confront the reality that love, in all its forms, is complicated by history, family, and the wounds of the past.
Truths Unravel in Letters
Cynthia's relationship with Isaac deepens, but the past refuses to stay buried. Thomas, jealous and wounded, reveals that Isaac's brother, Israel, is in prison for murder—specifically, the murder of Cynthia's brother, Mike. Cynthia is devastated, feeling betrayed by Isaac's silence and overwhelmed by the impossibility of their love. She discovers letters between Isaac and Israel, uncovering layers of guilt, denial, and unresolved trauma. The revelation shatters Cynthia's sense of trust and forces her to question everything she thought she knew about her brother, her family, and herself.
Family Fractures and Forgiveness
The truth about Israel's involvement in Mike's death fractures Cynthia's family anew. Her parents, desperate to protect her, pull her out of Thornton's and plan to send her to a new school. Cynthia is consumed by anger, grief, and confusion, unsure how to process the revelations about Mike's secret life and Isaac's connection to her pain. In a moment of crisis, she confronts her father, forcing him to acknowledge his own failures and grief. The family begins the slow, painful process of forgiveness, recognizing that healing requires honesty, vulnerability, and the willingness to face the past.
The Weight of Secrets
Unable to let go of the past, Cynthia searches Mike's room and discovers a hidden stash of cash and a notebook filled with mysterious numbers. A phone call to one of the numbers leads to a chilling threat, confirming that Mike was involved in dangerous activities before his death. Cynthia is forced to reckon with the complexity of her brother's life and the reality that victims and perpetrators are not always easily distinguished. The secrets she uncovers threaten her safety and her sense of self, but they also offer a path to understanding and, perhaps, closure.
Love's Impossible Choice
Cynthia and Isaac meet one last time, both devastated by the knowledge that their love is untenable. The weight of family history, violence, and betrayal is too great to overcome. Cynthia recognizes that, despite their connection, they are bound by forces beyond their control. She chooses to end the relationship, prioritizing her own healing and her family's safety. The pain of loss is acute, but Cynthia understands that some wounds cannot be healed by love alone. She runs from the past, determined to forge a new future, even as she mourns what might have been.
Running from the Past
In the aftermath, Cynthia and her family begin to rebuild. Her best friend, Jadell, moves in after being kicked out by her own mother, and together they support each other through the challenges of adolescence, motherhood, and loss. Cynthia starts at a new school, focusing on her studies and her future. The secrets of the past remain, but Cynthia learns to live with them, finding strength in her community and her own resilience. The story ends with a sense of hope, tempered by the knowledge that healing is a journey, not a destination.
Epilogue: After the Storm
A year later, Cynthia reflects on all that has changed. Jadell is a mother, Cynthia is preparing for her future, and the family has found a new equilibrium. The pain of loss and betrayal lingers, but so does the possibility of joy. Cynthia has learned that love is never simple, that the past cannot be erased, and that survival requires both courage and compassion. The story closes with Cynthia and Jadell supporting each other, determined to face whatever comes next together.
Characters
Cynthia Adegoke
Cynthia is a sixteen-year-old Black British girl whose life is upended by the murder of her older brother, Mike. Forced to move from London to a rural, predominantly white village, she grapples with grief, identity, and the pressure to represent her family and her race. Cynthia is introspective and sensitive, carrying the weight of her family's expectations and her own longing for connection. Her relationships—with her parents, her best friend Jadell, and the Goddard brothers—are shaped by her need for belonging and her fear of further loss. Cynthia's journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to navigate love, betrayal, and the complexities of forgiveness. Her resilience is tested by trauma, but she emerges with a deeper understanding of herself and the world around her.
Isaac Goddard
Isaac is the adopted Black son of the wealthy, white Goddard family. Sensitive, intelligent, and quietly charismatic, he struggles to reconcile his past with his present. Isaac lost his biological parents at a young age and was separated from his brother, Israel, who later becomes entangled in crime. Isaac's relationship with Cynthia is marked by empathy and shared experience, but also by secrets and guilt. He is torn between loyalty to his brother and his desire for a new life. Isaac's journey is one of searching for acceptance and love, while grappling with the legacy of violence and the burden of being both insider and outsider in every world he inhabits.
Thomas Goddard
Thomas is the head boy at Thornton's and Isaac's adoptive brother. Charismatic and ambitious, he embodies the privilege and entitlement of his family's status. Thomas is drawn to Cynthia, seeing her as both a challenge and a prize. His attempts to help often come across as patronizing, and his jealousy of Isaac's connection with Cynthia leads to betrayal. Thomas's actions are driven by a need for control and validation, and his inability to accept rejection reveals the limits of his empathy. He is both a product and a perpetuator of the systems of power that shape the school and the wider community.
Veronica Adegoke (Mum)
Cynthia's mother, Veronica, is a complex figure, struggling to hold her family together in the aftermath of Mike's death. She is nurturing but also deeply wounded, her grief manifesting in both vulnerability and strength. Veronica's relationship with Cynthia is marked by love and conflict, as she tries to protect her daughter from further harm while grappling with her own pain. Her marriage is strained by loss and cultural expectations, but she ultimately finds the courage to assert her own needs and support Cynthia's autonomy. Veronica's journey is one of survival, adaptation, and the search for healing.
Babatunde Adegoke (Dad)
Cynthia's father, Babatunde, is a Nigerian immigrant who has built a successful life in Britain but is haunted by the loss of his son. His grief is expressed through control, silence, and a relentless focus on reputation and achievement. Babatunde's relationship with Cynthia is fraught, as he struggles to connect with her and process his own pain. His marriage to Veronica is tested by their different coping mechanisms, but he ultimately learns to confront his emotions and seek forgiveness. Babatunde's arc is one of gradual softening, as he moves from rigidity to vulnerability.
Mike Adegoke (Big Mike)
Though dead at the story's start, Mike's influence permeates every aspect of Cynthia's life. He is remembered as brilliant, passionate about geology, and deeply loved by his family. However, as Cynthia uncovers secrets about his involvement in dangerous activities, Mike becomes a more complicated figure. His choices, shaped by the pressures of race, class, and masculinity, have far-reaching consequences. Mike's memory is both a source of comfort and pain, and his story serves as a cautionary tale about the costs of silence and the complexity of victimhood.
Jadell
Jadell is Cynthia's childhood best friend, a light-skinned Black girl whose life is marked by instability and resilience. She provides comic relief, unwavering support, and a mirror for Cynthia's struggles. Jadell's own challenges—including an unplanned pregnancy and family rejection—highlight the intersecting pressures faced by young Black women. Her relationship with Cynthia is a source of strength for both, and her presence in the Adegoke household becomes a symbol of chosen family and mutual support.
Israel
Israel is Isaac's biological brother, imprisoned for the murder of Mike. His presence is felt through letters and the shadow he casts over Isaac's life. Israel's story is one of systemic failure, joint enterprise law, and the blurred lines between perpetrator and victim. His relationship with Isaac is fraught with guilt, loyalty, and longing for redemption. Israel's fate forces Cynthia and Isaac to confront the realities of violence, justice, and the limits of forgiveness.
Auntie June
Auntie June is a family friend and hairdresser in London, representing the warmth and solidarity of the Black community Cynthia has left behind. Her salon is a haven of culture, advice, and belonging. Auntie June's own experiences with loss and resilience mirror those of Cynthia's family, and her wisdom provides guidance in moments of crisis.
Samuel
Samuel is the Goddard family's butler, a figure who navigates the boundaries of class and race with dignity and subtlety. He intervenes in moments of prejudice, offering Cynthia both protection and insight into the workings of privilege. Samuel's presence is a reminder of the invisible labor that sustains the world of the wealthy, and his kindness offers a counterpoint to the indifference of others.
Plot Devices
Duality of Grief and Love
The novel's central device is the interplay between grief and love—how the loss of Mike shapes Cynthia's capacity for connection, and how new love with Isaac is both a balm and a source of fresh pain. The story uses parallel relationships (Cynthia/Isaac, Cynthia/Thomas, Cynthia/her parents) to explore the ways in which trauma reverberates through families and communities. The duality is echoed in the title: every action, every relationship, cuts both ways.
Letters and Hidden Objects
Letters between Isaac and Israel, as well as the discovery of Mike's hidden notebook and cash, serve as catalysts for revelation and confrontation. These objects are plot devices that externalize internal conflicts, forcing characters to confront truths they would rather avoid. The act of searching—through rooms, letters, and memories—mirrors Cynthia's search for identity and understanding.
Foreshadowing and Symbolism
Mike's crystals, Cynthia's hair, and recurring dreams are used to foreshadow key events and symbolize deeper themes. The crystals represent memory and protection; hair becomes a site of cultural negotiation; dreams provide insight into subconscious fears and desires. These symbols enrich the narrative, offering layers of meaning that connect the personal to the political.
Social Commentary and Setting
The rural setting of Buckinghamshire, contrasted with the vibrancy of London, serves as a backdrop for exploring issues of race, class, and exclusion. The school, the Goddard estate, and the hair salon are microcosms of British society, each with its own rules and hierarchies. The story uses these settings to critique privilege, prejudice, and the myth of meritocracy.
Joint Enterprise and Legal Injustice
The use of the joint enterprise law, which allows for the conviction of individuals who did not directly commit a crime, is a critical plot device. It highlights the ways in which Black boys are disproportionately targeted and punished, and it complicates the narrative of guilt and innocence. The law's impact on Israel, and by extension on Isaac and Cynthia, underscores the novel's exploration of structural violence and the limits of personal agency.
Analysis
Candice Brathwaite's Cuts Both Ways is a piercing exploration of grief, identity, and the tangled web of love and violence in contemporary Britain. Through Cynthia's journey, the novel interrogates the intersections of race, class, and gender, exposing the ways in which systemic injustice shapes individual lives. The story refuses easy answers, instead embracing the complexity of its characters and their choices. Brathwaite's use of dualities—love and loss, privilege and exclusion, truth and secrecy—creates a narrative that is both intimate and expansive. The novel's engagement with the joint enterprise law and the realities of knife crime grounds it in urgent social issues, while its focus on family, friendship, and self-discovery offers hope and resilience. Ultimately, Cuts Both Ways is a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the hidden wounds of a society and to imagine the possibility of healing, even when the scars remain.
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