Glory Be

About this book

A Mississippi town in 1964 gets riled when tempers flare at the segregated public pool.As much as Gloriana June Hemphill, or Glory as everyone knows her, wants to turn twelve, there are times when Glory wishes she could turn back the clock a year. Jesslyn, her sister and former confidante, no longer has the time of day for her now that she'll be entering high school. Then there's her best friend, Frankie. Things have always been so easy with Frankie, and now suddenly they aren't. Maybe it's the new girl from the North that's got everyone out of sorts. Or maybe it's the debate about whether or not the town should keep the segregated public pool open. Augusta Scattergood has drawn on real-life events to create a memorable novel about family, friendship, and choices that aren't always easy.

Reviews

Praise for Glory Be

"Scattergood's effective snapshot of the fight against segregation, one town at a time, makes personal the tumultuous atmosphere of the times." -Publishers Weekly

"This moving, intimate look at America's struggle for civil rights, as seen through the narrow lens of one growing girl, will spark interesting discussion." -Booklist

"This coming-of-age story offers a fresh, youthful perspective on a pivotal civil rights period...Glory is an appealing, authentic character whose unflinching convictions, missteps, and reflections will captivate readers." -School Library Journal

"Judging by the way my daughter leaped on the book, Glory Be should appeal to the same 12-and-under fans of the Dear Canada faux historical diary series...I join my daughter - who is only on Page 90, but is already drafting her own glowing review of the book for her school paper, and who plans to propose the title to our mother-daughter book club - in encouraging you to read Glory Be with your own children." -The Montreal Gazette