South Town

"You got to learn to respect white people, boy.... You better talk to that boy, Ed. You better tell him to stay in his place or, by the Lord, other men will show him"--from the book. In the face of bigotry and racial prejudice, the Williamses try to make it. But the tension is finally broken in violence. [Realistic fiction suitable for junior high and high school.]

My daughter read this book as a "classic" in 6th grade. I read it, too, and we both thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is not a story about the inequities of segregation in the South and the difficulty of social change, but it brings those issues to life better than any other book I have read. The characters are very real - both my daughter and I were able to stand in the shoes of the protagonist, even though our lives and times are completely different. I strongly recommend this book for adults and young adults.

I first read this book as a freshman in high school, and I was touched by the characters who seem so like me and the people I know. Unlike many of the books that portray the prejudices in the south, this book enabled me to really sympathize with the characters. I would reccommend this book to anyone - young or old.