Beyond Mayfield

Nelson returns to the characters of Mayfield Crossing (BCCB 3/93)in this well-wrought sequel. Entwined amidst the larger dynamics of the friendships among Mayfield kids and their adjustment to a larger school (where some of the students encounter racial prejudice for the first time) is the story of the civil rights movement and the Freedom Riders. Meg, observant and sensitive to nuance, narrates the story, describing individuals and their relationships to one another, placing her somewhat sheltered world in the context of the bigger one provided by television and newspaper headlines. In between baseball games and snowball fights, Meg deals with the complacent racism of a bigoted teacher with the help of her friends and a knowing principal. The issues of desegregation, murder, and tragedy are handled within the context of a loving home and family, filtered always through a child's point of view. That point of view is what gives this story its pathos, for the complexity of the issues being faced during the tumultuous '60s become simple when viewed through the lens of a child's sense of justice. Strong characterizations and a solid sense of the Mayfield community add to the mix that makes this a gently compelling read. JMD

In Beyond Mayfield, Nelson has given us another fine, sensitive story. She returns to the characters we admired in Mayfield Crossing - Meg and her brother Billie and the Mayfield gang. Set when children feared the atomic bomb and only some were protected from racial hatred, Nelson's story is warm, funny, and sad. Meg learns that Mayfield is not a fairyland, but a nurturing place of goodness that gives her strength to face evil in the larger world. Realistic situations mark a strongly plotted story, but as always Nelson's most rewarding efforts come with the rich characters she makes us love. Bravo for a sequel well worth the wait. Marilyn Schroeder, former Youth Services Librarian