This book focused on antisemitism in the South and how different it was down there less than 60 years ago. It was riveting to see how different things were and just the discrepancy between Southern hospitality versus the hate crimes and racism that was going on at the same time. It was especially interesting for me to see how different things were from the north, in NYC where Ruth was from, compared to the south. This was definitely a unique book because I can’t think of that many books that delve into this little untouched time in history and catering that towards a younger crowd.

The most important part of this book was the message of staying true to yourself. While I was able to relate and understand Ruth’s decision to keep her Jewish side hidden with her newfound friends at a new school, I think it was also extremely imperative for her to gradually learn what was important and how to stay true to yourself. I liked how the author did this in a really realistic manner because Ruth was slowly being influenced by her family and friends in this gradual way rather than this abrupt manner that I find sometimes in YA books.

My biggest issue with the book though was how slow it was at times. It also took me quite some time to get into the book. However, once I became more invested with the characters and the plot, things definitely picked up. It was also interesting to figure out why there was a court scene at the really beginning of the book and trying to pick up the pieces and clues for it.

Overall, I found this book intriguing. The book also did a good job with presenting the different ways of activism and the different ways you can stand up for your own beliefs. I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a different side of historical fiction and if you enjoy a little bit of mystery as well.

Originally posted on Forever Young Adult on 2019 April 02

BOOK REPORT for In The Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton

Cover Story: Magnolia Queen
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Ain’t It Swell
Bonus Factor: Judaism
Relationship Status: Not Ready To Go Steady

Cover Story: Magnolia Queen

No doubt, this cover is pretty, with the soft pastels, golds, and the magnolia, which has significance in the story, since Ruth is competing in the Magnolia Queen debutante ball. But I also feel like it doesn’t show any sign of the darkness in this story, which was actually a problem I had with the book as a whole—not just the cover.

The Deal:

After her father’s death, Ruth Robb’s mother transplants Ruth and her little sister from New York City to Atlanta, where they live in Ruth’s grandparents’ guest house and enroll in the local Covenant school. Ruth is surrounded by southern belles in pastel dresses as she throws herself headfirst into her new life as a pre-debutante. The only problem? Ruth and her family are Jewish, and in the south in 1958, acts of anti-Semitism are on the rise. Ruth finds herself torn between loving her new life, with new friends and newfound popularity, and her secret life, attending temple with her mother. She’s even torn between two boys: handsome, charming Davis at school, and Max, the activist college student she gets to know at temple.

But as tensions rise around Atlanta, it becomes harder and harder for Ruth to hide who she really is. The news is filled with stories of the Klan burning crosses in front yards around town, and lately, someone has been terrorizing the temple too. Ruth has to decide if she can keep up the ruse, or if it’s time to embrace who she really is, even if that ruins everything and puts her in serious danger.

BFF Charm: Yay

There’s a lot to like about Ruth. In some ways, she’s a typical teenage girl who loves makeup and clothes and reading fashion magazines. But Ruth’s also got guts. She never shies away from a challenge when the local mean girl, Claudia, tries to intimidate her. She was also totally down to hook up with Davis because she wanted to, and didn’t let societal pressure affect her decision about it. At temple, when Max challenges Ruth by pointing out how easy she has it compared to Atlanta’s black community, she tries to change her way of thinking and the way she treats the black people in her life. Her intentions are good, even when ignorance causes her to sometimes miss the mark.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

There’s a sorta-love-triangle happening here, and I feel like this book was meant to be swoonier than it ended up being. When Ruth joins Covenant, she’s quickly smitten with Davis Jefferson, the handsome, charming, most popular boy at school. Their relationship develops with all the hallmarks of swoon we should be familiar with. However, I never really trusted Davis, and kept waiting for him to disappoint me, so I couldn’t feel the heat between them. Meanwhile, Ruth continues to grow closer to Max at temple, but Max was sometimes a bit mansplainy, and I have little tolerance for activist college boys who tell girls everything they’re doing wrong.

Talky Talk: Ain’t It Swell

Set in the 1950s south, In The Neighborhood of True has all the charming slang of the time period, which is fun to read. But for whatever reason—and I have spent a lot of time thinking about this with little success—there was something about Carlton’s writing style that I kept bumping up against. The prose is a bit quirky, even outside of the fifties slang, and Ruth’s sometimes random thought processes were a bit hard for me to follow. I also found myself wishing there was a little less focus on clothes, and boys, and debutante balls, and more emotion fused into the writing. Sure, the 1950s had that glossy sheen of perfection on the outside, but I wanted more focus on the dark underbelly of racism and prejudice, and less time spent necking boys by the pool.

Bonus Factor: Judaism

It’s been awhile since I read a book with a Jewish character that actually focused on Judaism as a theme of the story. As a person who has all the culture of a slice of white bread, I found the scenes when Ruth went to synagogue every Shabbos to be a really enriching part of the story.

Bonus Factor: Atlanta, 1958

Despite the previously mentioned dark underbelly, I did enjoy the setting and time period. Gleaming pools, perfectly manicured lawns, lunches at the Club, and southern belles with names like Thurston-Ann.

Anyone from the south can relate to this moment, in which Ruth’s grandmother serves her deviled eggs as a snack:

“Birdie thought y’all could use something green,” she said, presenting a platter of deviled eggs.

“Eggs are yellow,” Nattie said.

“These’ve got pickles,” Fontaine said.

Relationship Status: Not Ready to Go Steady

Book, we shared a Co-Cola float at the drive-in, and I had a swell time, but I’m not sure I’m ready to wear your letterman jacket. Despite your pretty aesthetic, I thought you fell a bit flat on occasion, and I’m looking for a book that’ll really razz my berries.

An engrossing tale set in Atlanta about Ruth Robb, a recent transplant from New York, whose grandparents are wealthy fixtures in the town. Ruth's grandmother, Fontaine, quickly sets steps for Ruth's success into motion (fancy school, pre-debutante classes, admittance to "the club") with only the briefest mention that perhaps Ruth shouldn't speak openly about being Jewish. She is an immediate, but secretly conditional member of the in-crowd, a secret that builds increasing guilt and disappointment as the story progresses. Kaplan does an incredible job of bringing to light the ties and parallels of the Southern Jewish community to the African-American community during the Civil Rights era, while simultaneously highlighting the aspects of social justice for which we are still fighting today. I wondered at times if teens would love this as much as I did, but ultimately, the story was extremely compelling, and today's kids are no strangers to injustice. If they like historical fiction, they will surely like this.

This is one of the first historical fictions that I can remember reading in a long while. I really enjoyed this one! Since I am Jewish, I had an easy time connecting with main character, and the overall plot was very interesting.

DNF at 56% / I was hoping to read a sweet yet educational read in the form of this book, but sadly, that wasn't what I got. I had a hard time connecting with the writing, the characters, and their story line, and I hate to say it but I felt like it was a bit dragging to read. However, in the purpose of being neutral, I'm giving this 3 stars.

I love historical fiction and this was no exception. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story (I feel that it’s rare to read historical fiction about a Jewish character outside a WWII setting) and the relevance. Definitely recommend.

N THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRUE by Susan Kaplan Carlton takes place primarily in Atlanta in 1958 and offers an opportunity to explore what it might have been like to move there from the North while a teenager and after the unexpected death of one's father. Further complicating the efforts at adapting to a new Southern culture and the strong set of regional traditions is the fact that the main character, Ruth, has few traits in common with her new classmates. Or, as she muses to herself: "I'm a Yankee, a brunette, an Adlai Stevenson Democrat, an aspiring journalist, and Jewish."

Ruth has to learn to say ma'am when addressing her elders as well as hide her religion, and begin to understand that in the neighborhood of true is what Southerners say "when something's close enough." Rather self-centered and superficial, Ruth develops a crush on a boy (Davis Jefferson), deals with some mean girls and struggles with her mother's push for activism. It seems to take roughly half the book to set up this scenario at which point many students will have lost interest or still strain to appreciate the historical period. It is important to recognize that IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRUE was inspired by the 1958 bombing of an Atlanta synagogue and if that was an earlier and bigger part of the book, it could spark some important discussions, especially in light of the attacks on synagogues and other places of worship in recent news events.

I'll start by saying that even though this is a YA book, It is well worth the read even if it is,
This is also not your typical coming of age for a young woman, but it is an important perspective on the reality of making decisions that impact more than themselves in a world that thinks their too young to know the difference.
The premise of this book is based on a bombing that happened in 1958, to the oldest a synagogue in Atlanta.
The main character Ruth Robb and her family move in the summer of 1958 from New York City to Atlanta— Ruth. Eager to fit in with the blond girls in her new school, Ruth decides to hide her religion. Before she knows it, she is falling for the handsome and charming Davis at an all white, all Christian Club.
At the temple( her mother makes her go to the synagogue), Ruth meets Max, who is fighting for social justice in Atlanta and the country, and now she is caught between worlds, religions, and two boys.
A violent hate crime brings the parts of Ruth’s life together. She chooses between all she loves about her new life and standing up for what she believes.
How she does this when it would be so easy to turn a blind eye as many people did during the Civil Rights movement, is a study of strength and courage that many youths of the time used to make a change for all people not just themselves.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

I very rarely read any type of historical fiction, but this blew me away and made me feel connected to the characters in so many ways.

Ruth and her sisters are fierce, smart, and grieving. Her mom has relocated them from New York City where everyone knew they were Jewish to Atlanta, where being Jewish is consider bad. All Ruth wants is to wear long ball gowns, dance with boys, make friends and be able to be Jewish and pretend to be a member of the Southern Methodist Church.

I loved this book so much. As someone who is an Orthodox Jew, I loved seeing more representation of Jews by Jews in Young Adult Fiction. This book blew me away. There was romance, but mainly the focus was on social-justice aspect and how hard it was to be Jewish in the south during this time. There was one line that stood out to me more than anything, where it mentions Queen Esther right after Ruth talks about hiding her identity, that moment in the book made me feel so seen. I had also read it right after the holiday of Purim which is where we celebrate Queen Esther. It was the first reading a book where I understood the biblical reference and was able to really get the whole idea.

I love the fact that we are getting more books about Jews that aren't about the holocaust. It showed that Jewish teens are the same as everyone else. We all have our struggles and we all want to fit in.  It has in fact been one of my dreams for a very long time to be a debutante. I have always wanted something like that, to wear a ball gown and dance the night away. Ah.

I really recommend this novel to anyone who is looking to read diverse novels. I give this all the stars.

After her father's untimely death, Ruth Robb's mother uproots her and her little sister from New York City to Atlanta, Georgia. The main issue? Ruth is Jewish and she doesn't want anyone to know. Segregation and blatant racism still loom large in the 1950's South. Because Ruth's mother was raised in Atlanta, Ruth is able to hind behind her grandparents non-Jewishness. Ruth must wrestle between being popular and being who she truly is.I really think books like 'In the Neighborhood of True', are important for young adults of today. It helps them to realize that segregation and the civil rights movement are not things of ancient history but things that happened a short time ago. Desegregation here in Florida is something that was actively happening when I was in elementary school and segregation was still very much alive when my parents were in high school. An interesting topic for me was the situation with Ruth and the 'colored' water fountains. My mom was six in 1958. Her family had just moved to Florida from upstate NY.  When she took a drink from the 'colored' water fountain at a department store, she was summarily yelled at by a store employee. So these types of events are things of living memory.I appreciated that Carlton made Ruth a very flawed character. The fact that she and her grandmother hide that Ruth is Jewish so that she could attend 'wasp' country clubs and a Christian school made her believable. I  also think this is a reality for most teenagers who are put in Ruth's situation (especially in that time period).I loved that Ruth had two sisters in the story. I really feel there is a tendency in YA contemporary to make the protagonist an only child or child with absent siblings. I think this tendency is such a shame because for most of us our siblings are a major part of our young adult experience.I did have some issues with some of the dialogue. Sometimes it felt kind of clunky and confusing. For example, sometimes I couldn't tell who was talking or what they were talking about. Some of this may be due to the format of my digital ARC. I also felt that at times Ruth felt a little young for her age. I kept thinking she was thirteen or fourteen.The only other issue I had with 'In the Neighborhood of True' is Mr. Hank. I am a little torn whether his character was realistic for the time and place. I'm just not sure the outspoken liberal attitude of his newspaper would have been tolerated. I realize he owned the newspaper and that made him powerful and influential but I just don't see him not being shunned in his social circle.I really enjoyed 'In the Neighborhood of True' and it's message. I would love to read more YA historical fiction and I can't wait to read more from Susan Kaplan Carlton.

I fell in love with the characters and the setting in this book. I always enjoy books that take us back to times of different fashions and aesthetics. Unfortunately, you can't have the 50's charm without the 50's racism. While this book is not set in modern times, it is still extremely relevant to today. It was also nice to have a historical novel with a female Jewish main character that doesn't revolve around WWII.

I don’t usually read historical fiction but In the Neighborhood of True sounded important and it definitely is worth the read.

After Ruth’s father passes away, she moves to the town where her mother grew up but it is widely different than New York as she is used to. It’s 1958 and the Southern small town she’s moved to is definitely not accepting. In an attempt to make friends, she decides to hide the fact that she’s Jewish but when her synagogue is hit by a hate crime, she has to decide whether hiding her identity is something she needs to hide.

I really liked Ruth. She definitely seemed like a real teenager and I think she definitely had a strong voice in In the Neighborhood of True. I think her exploration of identity would definitely be relatable to people today even. Ruth was definitely a character I was rooting for and I was really engaged reading her story. While there are elements of romance in the novel, they did not really feel so much like the real focus of Ruth’s story. The romance elements were interesting to read but I definitely got the sense that the novel was more about self-discovery than anything else.

The novel was well-written and fast-paced and I really did enjoy it. In the Neighborhood of True has strong themes of acceptance that I think are necessary even 50 years after the novel takes place. My usual aversion to historical fiction is totally gone with this one and I definitely recommend reading this novel if you get a chance.

I received a free advanced copy of In the Neighborhood of True as part of the FFBC Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review.

1958. Following the sudden death of her father, a still-grieving, sixteen-year-old Ruth Robb, her mother (Alice), and younger sister (Natalie) migrate from New York City to Atlanta, Georgia to live with her maternal grandparents, the Landrys. Feeling foreign in her new life of southern tradition, etiquette, and private schooling, Ruth yearns to belong to among the pastel Atlantan beauties and their glitzy world.  And Ruth soon discovers that life for a Jewish girl can be difficult and even hazardous in a Jim Crow south seeded with white supremacy even in the most unexpected places.

With her grandmother's help and her mother's reluctant compliance, Ruth begins passing as a young White Christian Southern belle, denying her Jewish heritage, religion, and political beliefs. But conforming to the debutante image she aspires to proves more difficult than she initially imagined.  Beyond the frosting gowns, the sequins, the frills and lace, and the makeup and jewels lurks an evil, a deeply rooted hatred against those perceived as "other." But before Ruth can truly take a stand for others, she must first do so for herself.

Carlton paints a vivid and fluid picture of the not-too-distant past (and in many ways the present), detailing the complex and colorful mosaic that was (and is) life in the South--all while contrasting the good and the bad, the beauty and the hideousness side by side.  Carlton's interpretation of 1958 Atlanta illustrates the physical, social, political, and religious climate with such detail and clarity that we can practically see, taste, smell, hear, and feel this fraction of the tension that helped define the Jim Crow South. Miscegenation, racism, and antisemitism are among many of the topics Carlton tackles with skill and sensitivity.*

Carlton carefully limns her characters with distinct and authentic voices and spirit. Ruth, the main character and narrator, grew on my gradually as she developed into a more mentally and emotionally mature young woman.  At first, Ruth's personality is grating, which is somehow tempered by the fact that she is aware of her shallow nature. She clings to and reflects on her fashion magazines and their teachings with religious fervor while halfheartedly practicing Judaism, which she claims (albeit privately) is her faith. Even her debutante lessons and knowledge fails to demand her full attention and commitment though she professes interest in following her mother's and grandmother's footsteps down that path.  However, she is willing to look into others' experiences and empathize with them, qualities that helped her outshine and outgrow her more shallow tendencies.

Davis, her main love interest, proves more disappointing.  Without saying too much, he falls short of making substantial growth, drifting or allowing himself to be pulled along in one direction or another. Still, his feelings for Ruth seems sincere. Meanwhile, Natalie (Nattie) is a delight. She's perceptive and wise in her own way, and offers fresh perspectives on many ideas and situations the way only an eleven year old can, with growing awareness, openness, and honesty. Like Natalie, Alice--a strong and ambitious young mother and career woman--is sure to be a favorite.  She does a wonderful job holding her family together, educating her children about and exposing them to harsh realities, and helping each member to grow at a pace each can handle.

In In the Neighborhood of True, Carlton skillfully brews a potent blend of historical fact and fiction to create a bittersweet tale of love, loss, and strength--of identity, family, and community.  Carlton's timeless portrait explores what it truly means to love, accept, and be ourselves; what the costs of standing up for our beliefs are or should be; and what we are willing to lose if we do not.

Rating: 3.75/5

*I definitely appreciated how Carlton handled the interactions and issues surrounding Norma, Birdie, and other black characters. I like that neither they nor their lives were forgotten or completely overshadowed by Ruth and her circle. And that Ruth and a few other characters cared about and tried to show their respect for them, all while acknowledging their own shortcomings and showing a growing sense of awareness of their actions and words.

The original review was posted on Absolute Bookishness: https://absolutebookishness.wordpress.com/2019/04/07/blog-tour-in-the-neighborhood-of-true-by-susan-kaplan-carlton-giveaway/

I really enjoyed reading this story of a girl who is trying to figure out who she is in a time when being who you are can be a dangerous thing. Ruth is in a new place, trying to make new friends, and is dealing with grief all at the same time. It’s no wonder she drives down the neighborhood of true.

Ruth is a Jewish young woman in the 1950’s south where Jim Crow and the KKK are still part of every day life. It may be in the shadow’s but segregation is still very much a thing, and coming from New York City where things are more ahead of the times she’s stuck in the middle of wanting to be a part of society and having to hide who she really is.

I thought that the people Susan surrounded Ruthie with were the perfect combination of acceptance and prejudice. I thought that the little nuances that Ruthie does, like saying Thank you to the negro staff or calling them yes ma’am or sir, really took you back to that time period. Even the language that is used puts you in the 1950’s where you can go down to the Steakary for a Co-Cola. I enjoyed those aspects of the book a lot.

I think that when we think of the south we only think of the segregation between white and black and forget that there were other people who were discriminated against. The book addresses the religious persecution that took place in that time as well. If you weren’t Christian than you must be of a difference race. At one point in the book people of other race or religion are called “aliens” which I found really fascinating. It really dived into the prejudices of the south and I think that makes this an important book.

When it comes Historical Fiction books it’s always a hit or miss with me, never in the middle. It’s a genre I don’t read too often and I’m careful with picking up since misses happen more often than hits. But every once in a while a book like In the Neighborhood of True comes along and changes my mind. Because the thing that this book does best is that it doesn’t, not even for a single moment, feel like historical fiction - or fiction at all.
In the Neighborhood of True is a story about the south in the late ‘60s through the eyes of Ruth, a Jewish girl in her teens. After her father’s death her mother moves them from somewhat progressive New York to Atlanta, where the debutante culture and calling the civil war “the war of northern aggression” are the norm. Ruth then does everything she can to both fit in and stand up for what she believes in, which tend to be mutually exclusive.
I really enjoyed the writing in this book, I thought the writing style and the voice Mrs. Kaplan Carlton chose fit the story very well.
The characters were well-developed and the interactions between them seemed very organic. I was especially caught up in the interactions between Max and Ruth the entire time, I thought that there was a special kind of dynamic between them that was really fun to witness.
The pacing of the plot suited the story very well too, and the story itself was moving and especially engaging.
This book was hard to put down for me. During the time I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it, it occupied my mind until the very end. I think that thanks to where this world stands at this moment when it comes to politics, this book doesn’t feel like fiction at all, which is scary to think about. The only thing I can say that I didn't enjoy was the ending, to me personally it wasn't as satisfying, but at the same time I understand why it is the way it is (and that's all I'm gonna say in name of keeping this review spoiler free).
I love everything about this In the Neighborhood of True. It is one of the books that you should definitely not miss this year. It’s an important one and it’s gripping from beginning to end.
I recommend it.

3.5 stars

I’m still trying to decide how I feel about Susan Kaplan Carlton’s In the Neighborhood of True, which, since I finished it more than a week ago, must mean that it sticks with you.

The story takes place in 1958 Atlanta. Following the sudden death of her father, Ruth Robb, her mom and younger sister move to the South from New York City. Their new home — the pool house in her grandparents’ backyard — is just one of many changes thrust upon Ruth.

Friendless in a new town, Ruth decides to follow the family tradition of becoming a deb, joining the “pastel posse” and their little pink book of manners. Ruth quickly falls for Davis and soon finds herself in a world of etiquette, ball gowns and country clubs.

Part of fitting in means fitting a mold, and Ruth doesn’t. So she decides to hide her Jewish heritage and her attendance at Sabbath services. But as much as Ruth wants to look the other way, in a segregated Atlanta, that’s just not a choice. When a hate crime hits close to home, Ruth must decide once and for all where she belongs.

In the Neighborhood of True is rooted in some deeply personal experiences in Carlton’s own life. Her family moved to Atlanta and joined a synagogue. “We were still new to town when our youngest daughter announced she’d learned that the classroom she spent every Sunday morning in had been the site of a bombing 50 years before,” Carlton said in a blog tour Q&A. “That stayed with me — the idea that the walls that held these kids had once been blown apart. In the Neighborhood of True is a response to that bombing in 1958, retribution for the rabbi’s involvement in civil rights.”

As Carlton developed the story, the author realized Ruth’s various lies and omission about her religion rang true in other ways. “I remembered my college boyfriend asking me to not tell his grandfather that I was Jewish…he just wanted the man to like me, he said. And, unbelievably, I agreed. That’s the question I found myself puzzling over — why was I so quick to hide who I was for this boy I loved?”

Knowing about the seeds of In the Neighborhood of True gives the story weight. Their scope adds to the already present authenticity. Ruth can, at times, appear a little shallow, but the further you read, the more complex she becomes, especially in relation to her “friends.”

In the Neighborhood of True is well written, but I felt at odds with it throughout. I often felt uncomfortable, and maybe I was meant to. The book is set in 1958, and the language and attitudes reflect that. However, the racial sentiments of 1958 haven’t evolved as much as we’d like to think since then. Neither have the religious ones. It seems we are a society intent on singling out one group or another for their supposed “faults.”

In the Neighborhood of True sticks with you. While I’m not sure I’d reread it, I’m glad it crossed my path.

Thank you Algonquin YR for inviting me onto this Blog Tour and for Gifting me an E-ARC in exchange of an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What I loved most about this book, is that it was so atmospheric. I felt like I was transported back to the 1950’s. I had no issue imagining The “Pastel Posse”, the cotillion, the pageantry of the elite debutantes. The shy/nervous Ruth Robb, her eccentric grandparents, her worrisome mother, and cute little sister.

The 50’s is actually one time period I wish I could teleport to, there were so many historical life events, that I would have loved to witness. On the other hand, topics that this book shes a light on, are a reason why I wouldn’t want to. The rampant racism, the hate crimes, the holier than thou religious folk, it was a scary time frame. And I think this book did a fantastic job encapsulating that.

I.T.N.O.T. had such a nice pace to it, I feel like I flew through the book, even though it was such a heavy topic. I Really liked Carlton’s writing style. Sometimes in YA books, the Author tends to dumb down a teenage character, and uses such an immature dialogue. I felt like these characters, were written as their age, and as a teenager would be in the 1950’s. Pushing boundaries, testing their parents, their friends, and trying to navigate life in a non easy world. Well done.

While this is a coming of age story, it is also a very sad one. I did really enjoy it, and I will make sure to look out for Carlton’s books from now on. Also, I want to add, I am in love with the musical references in this book, some of my very favorite music is from the 1950’s and I love when music and literature joins forces. Check out the playlist in the Q&A Below.

Is this an important topic? Absolutely! Does this book deserve to be read by loads of people? Yes, yes, yes. Did it work for me? Not in the slightest.

This feels like one of those "it's not you, it's me!" moments ('you' being the book, and 'me' being, well... me), but the writing style doesn't work for me at all. I also immediately had some huge personal issues with the depictions of characters in this book, and the whole thing just... sigh. It's not for me, fam. I definitely hope others will love it because it's an important topic and we need more own-voice Jewish rep in YA for sure, but I won't be picking this one back up.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"We're sometimes fooled into thinking hatred doesn't happen here because the magnolias are in bloom. But hatred cannot be hidden."

Set in 1958, In the Neighborhood of True is told from the perspective of high school junior Ruth Robb. After her father's death, Ruth's mother moves their family from New York City to Atlanta - from a big city to a small town with big prejudices. In the time of the KKK and following the "War of Northern Aggression", as the schools in the south were calling the Civil War, antisemitism is front and center, and Ruth and her family are very Jewish. Still grieving for her father and learning to navigate a world without him in it, Ruth now has to learn how to navigate a whole new world entirely: one filled with debutantes and balls, and where her religion is not only unwelcome, it is hated. Wanting to fit in and attend balls of her own, Ruth decides to keep her religion a secret. This works out fine - until hated hits a little too close to home. Now Ruth will have to decide who she really is and if she's going to be true to herself. She will have to learn the difference between doing what's right and doing what's easy, and the difference between the truth, and being "in the neighborhood of true".

I'll be honest: this book took me a little bit by surprise. As a rule, I am not huge on historical fiction, but the description of this one captured my interest, so I decided to take a chance. I was pleasantly surprised! Loosely based on the 1958 Atlanta Temple Bombing, Carlton manages to tell an important story in a beautiful way. I absolutely adored her writing - I felt like it really transported me back to the times of debutante balls and magnolias. But I think what I loved most about her writing was how subtle it was. This book carries some heavy topics and events, but the book itself is so quiet: it really creeps up on you, weaving its way into your heart and tugging on the strings.

"Constellations were just a bunch of separate stars. They didn't become constellations until you connected them, one to another. Like families, like sisters, like friendships, like prayers."

I really enjoyed Ruth as a main character. She was very likable, and above all she was believable. As a teenager in high school, the battle between wanting to be popular and wanting to be yourself is something everyone can relate to in some way or another. I could really feel her internal struggles, even if I sometimes wanted to shake her. Her relationship with Davis is sweet and a typical first-love type of romance, even if it was a little insta-love. I will admit, however, that I never really shipped these two - he rubbed me the wrong way from the very first page. Too smooth, I guess? But what I can appreciate about these two together is how swept away Ruth was by him. As a teenage girl, your first love feels like the most important thing in the world, and I think that was portrayed really well. It's easy to relate with the choices Ruth made and why she made them, even if they weren't the choices I wanted for her.

Racism and antisemitism are up front and center in this book, and while I wish I could say these topics were dated, I can't. These topics and issues are still so important and relevant in today's world. I am not Jewish. I cannot speak for what it is like to grow up experiencing that prejudice. Which is why I think it's so important for me to read books like this. In today's world, where racism and antisemitism and hatred are still so prevalent, we need to learn and understand and spread acceptance and love wherever we go. And that will never stop being important, making this book, and the topics it discusses, so timeless.

"He reminded us that we were a small part of a larger story of hate, that all along, the clock had been ticking. And now the alarm rang for us."

I did have some minor issues with this book. I already mentioned how I didn't really go for Ruth and Davis' relationship, but that's a minor thing. The bigger issue I had was that I felt like the emotions were all just scratching the surface. These topics are so big and important and vital, and I cannot begin to imagine being Ruth and having to deal with the death of her father, moving across the country, hiding who she is, and having to make life-altering decisions about who she is and what she stands for. But I can imagine there would be a lot of fear, and anxiety, and stress, and a lot of that didn't come through. I just wish the emotions had played a little big bigger role in the story.

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. I think it is such a beautiful read about such important topics. I don't know if the writing style will be for everyone, but I really loved the quiet and descriptive tone the author used to tell Ruth's story. I hope you read this, and love it, and pay attention. And then go out into the world and spread acceptance and understanding and love. And always give others the space to be themselves and tell their own story.

Trigger warnings for: racism/racist comments (never in a positive light), hate crimes/terrorist acts, mention of death of a parent.

In The Neighborhood of True was published on April 9, 2019.

*All quotations are taken from an eARC and are subject to change prior to publication.

Full review will be on my post for the blog tour on April 16th.