Glory Be

by Augusta Scattergood

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545331814
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	12/30/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	680L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Augusta Scattergood is the author of Glory Be, which was a National Public Radio Backseat Book Club selection, a Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee, and hailed by Newbery medalist Richard Peck as the story of a bygone era "beautifully recalled." Her novel The Way to Stay in Destiny was named an Amazon Best of the Month. A children's book reviewer and former librarian, Ms. Scattergood has devoted her life and career to getting books into the hands of young readers. Her reviews and articles have appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Delta Magazine, and other publications. Ms. Scattergood, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, is an avid blogger. To learn more, visit www.augustascattergood.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise and Accolades for GLORY BEA NPR "Backseat Book Club" selectionFeatured on NPR's "Weekend Edition"with Scott Simon A Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee"There's a whiff of Carson McCullers in Augusta Scattergood's story of a sultry Southern summer long ago when the outside world moved all the markers of Glorianna Hemphill's growing up. It's a summer of bigotry and behive hairdoos, of sit-ins and dangerous boys. All mixed together and beautifully recalled."—Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A YEAR DOWN YONDER"GLORY BE is a lovely debut novel for younger readers, akin to Kathryn Stockett's THE HELP—an important read that raises powerful racial issues of the 1960s American South."—Kathryn Erskine, National Book Award-winning author of MOCKINGBIRDGLORY BE weaves a seamless story of sisterly love, broken friendships, and the strength that it takes to stand up for the right thing. Augusta Scattergood is at the top of my debut-authors-to-watch list."—Barbara O'Connor, Parents' Choice Award-winning author of HOW TO STEAL A DOG"In Glory herself, tilting on the threshold of adolescence, Scattergood paints a balanced portrait of childlike selfinterest and awakening integrity. 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 debut offers a vivid glimpse of the 1960s South through the eyes of a spirited girl who takes a stand."—KIRKUS REVIEWS"Scattergood's effective snapshot of the fight against segregation, one town at a time, makes personal the tumultuous atmosphere of the times."—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY"Glory is an appealing, authentic character whose unflinching convictions, missteps, and reflections will captivate readers."—SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

From the Publisher

The closing of her favorite swimming pool opens 11-year-old Gloriana Hemphill's eyes to the ugliness of racism in a small Mississippi town in 1964. Glory can't believe it… the Hanging Moss Community Pool is closing right before her July Fourth birthday. Not only that, she finds out the closure's not for the claimed repairs needed, but so Negroes can't swim there. Tensions have been building since "Freedom Workers" from the North started shaking up status quo, and Glory finds herself embroiled in it when her new, white friend from Ohio boldly drinks from the "Colored Only" fountain. The Hemphills' African-American maid, Emma, a mother figure to Glory and her sister Jesslyn, tells her, "Don't be worrying about what you can't fix, Glory honey." But Glory does, becoming an activist herself when she writes an indignant letter to the newspaper likening "hateful prejudice" to "dog doo" that makes her preacher papa proud. When she's not saving the world, reading Nancy Drew or eating Dreamsicles, Glory shares the heartache of being the kid sister of a preoccupied teenager, friendship gone awry and the terrible cost of blabbing people's secrets… mostly in a humorously sassy first-person voice. Though occasionally heavy-handed, this debut offers a vivid glimpse of the 1960s South through the eyes of a spirited girl who takes a stand. (Historical fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews