I just want to start off by saying that I borderline loved this book. I devoured it. It may have been my current read for six days, but I read 50% of this book in one day. It’s so compulsively readable and while it tackles some heavy hitting topics it’s a really easy and immensely enjoyable read. I basically couldn’t put it down, I just kept reading and reading, it was so good and so fun and I needed to know where it was going. I can’t stress enough how readable this book is, it flows so smoothly it’s entirely possible to read in one sitting.

In the Neighborhood of True follows Ruth Robb as she moves back down South with her mother and sister after the death of her father. This is a historical fiction that takes place in the 1958 Atlanta, a time when the city is overrun with hatred and unease. We get to see this unfold through the eyes of one of the ‘outsiders’ who manages to make it to the inside, all the while we follow as Ruth falls in love, struggles to find the right and wrong of the situation, and battles with her desire to fit in or stand out.

One of the things I love about this book is that it centers on a Jewish narrator and we get to see the hate directed towards the Jewish people in the 1950’s. A lot of the time, historicals that feature Jewish main characters are really only set during WWII, but I like that we got this different side of it. The author does a great job with the authenticity of the time; every time I picked this up I was immersed in pastel tea dresses, Southern sweet tea, and Friday night football games. It was so fun and so sweet, but at the same time there was this sinister undercurrent of racism and discrimination, and I thought the author balanced that so expertly.

I think Ruth was such a great main character to follow because she was so easy to relate to and had such an authentic voice. I remember being in high school and wanting to fit in and have friends and a boyfriend but also being torn between that and being myself. It can be so hard not to get swept up in the status quo and be a follower and we get to see Ruth battle that as the book progresses. The romance element here was so innocent and at the same time toe-curlingly sweet, and I found myself falling in love for the first time all over again with Ruth and Davis. We also get all these incredible side characters who help Ruth follow her own path and not a single person in this book is unnecessary.

Everything about this book is fantastic, I just thought the plot fell a little short. For about 75% of this novel it read like a YA romance and I kept waiting and waiting for the racism/discrimination issue to become more prominent than the dances and romance and teas but it didn’t come until right at the end. I wish it had been more of a center feature of the book but instead it took a backseat to the romance plot line, which is ultimately why I gave it a four instead of a five star rating.

Honestly, this book is one of the best things I’ve read all year. I’m so grateful to have been able to read and review this one early because it really was a beautiful novel. The author combines the best and worst parts of the 50’s with humor, wit, impeccable writing, and a main character that I think will stick with me for a long time. Pick this novel up if you’re into YA and if you aren’t make sure to pick this up for a friend, this novel is amazing.

From the moment I began this story, I was instantly hooked. It started with Ruth in a courtroom about to testify about the hate crime that occured during the novel. What was the hate crime? What was she specifically there to testify for? What was she going to say? So many questions popped into my mind in the first few pages, and I knew I needed to have all of them answered.

Ruth, her mother, and her sister have moved from New York to Atlanta to live with her grandparents after her father’s sudden and unfortunate death. Fontaine and Mr. Hank (the grandparents) are Christian, but Ruth and her family are Jewish. In Atlanta in 1958, being Jewish was not something that was very accepted. Ruth hides this part about her as she goes to a Christian school and is influenced by Fontaine to get involved in debutante life.

The glitz and the glamour capture Ruth, along with Davis, the boy with the lovely smile and cute dimple. In her infatuation, Ruth continues to hide the real her. Until a violent hate crime occurs, and Ruth must ultimately decide the person she wants to be.

This book was incredible. Incredible. I was sucked in from the very beginning and just couldn’t put it down. The writing really brought the setting of the 1950s to life. I could picture the fashion, the speech, and the manerisms so clearly in my mind. It was almost like watching a movie.

But what was most important about this book was how Susan Kaplan Carlton chose to tackle such a prevalent issue. Sure, this was book set in 1958 and schools and busses and movie theatres are no longer segregated and you won’t be turned away from a debutante ball if you’re Jewish, but you can’t sit there and tell me that people do not experience awful prejudices in 2019. It may not be as clean cut as 1958, but it sure as hell exists.

And just as it was important in 1958 for Ruth to decide whether or not to do the right thing, it is also important for us to absolutely decide to do the right thing in 2019.

Susan Kaplan Carlton has graced us with a lovely novel and I think you should all pick it up when you have a chance. Every single thing about it was great. When someone can present such a vital topic with a beautiful story and elegant writing, it’s not something you want to miss out on.

In the Neighborhood of True is a compelling story that follows Ruth as she tries to fit in (and, in order to do that, hide her Jewish identity) after moving from New York City to Georgia. I loved the book for so many reasons!

Right off the bat, I liked that In the Neighborhood of True begins, as my English teacher would say, in media res—that is, not at the beginning. This frame for the story made the book super interesting.

Antisemitism is a major focus of the book, and while the story is set in 1958, many of the situations are similar to more recent examples of antisemitism, and some of the events in the book are based on things that actually happened—I’d definitely recommend reading the author’s note for more on that. In the Neighborhood of True is #OwnVoices for Jewish rep, and it’s evident that these discussions are personal and crafted with care.

For me personally, I don’t think that before now I’d read any historical fiction with Jewish characters that wasn’t about the Holocaust—which is SUPER important to read and learn about, but it was also interesting for me to become more knowledgeable about what it might have been like to be Jewish in a different time period.

Antisemitism is the most central as far as issues discussed in the novel, but racism, segregation, and the Civil Rights Movement are touched on as well. Ruth’s synagogue and its rabbi receive hate for supporting civil rights, and these experiences and others in the book mean that Ruth’s ideas and awareness about race are growing and evolving over the course of the novel.

This was a small thing, but the main character talks about how she feels that she can be a deep, powerful person and also be someone who enjoys fashion and other things that are traditionally considered shallow or feminine, which I really liked.

It’s so important that the false dichotomy of traditional femininity and feminism is subverted, so I appreciated the inclusion of this in the book. I loved this small feminist touch.

While the social issues mentioned before, especially antisemitism, are central to the story, In the Neighborhood of True is fairly quiet and understated and focuses a lot on what it’s like for Ruth to try and make new friends in a very Christian town where she doesn’t know anyone and feels pressure to hide her Jewish identity.

It think that anyone who’s ever felt like they’ve had to hide a part of themselves, or even anyone who’s had to move to a new place or school, will be able to relate to Ruth. There are lots of topics in the book, like friendships, mean kids, dating, etc. that are pretty universal, especially for teens.

I also think that the author specifically did a good job of incorporating small, everyday aspects of hiding one’s religion that were obviously well thought-out.

Learning to speak out and to do the right thing are also crucial to the story, and I was super happy with how the book ended in regard to those themes.

Just as a side note, I’d like to mention that going into the book, I was expecting a love triangle based on the synopsis, but full disclosure: there isn’t really one. I personally liked that a love triangle isn’t present, as I feel that the story is stronger this way. It’s hinted at a little bit, but it’s more of a possibility than an actual “ahh, angst, I have to choose which boy to date” kinda thing.

I really enjoyed that Ruth’s mom is a reporter, and that Ruth wants to follow in her footsteps. Ruth’s mom was a cool character in general, which brings me to my next point…

I adore books that explore family relationships, even if it’s just on the side like in this one. It was really cool how Ruth’s mom always took Ruth and her sister, Nattie, to do journalist stuff with her, and how Ruth’s family members were complex even though they weren’t the main focus of the novel.

I also liked seeing Ruth’s relationships with her Southern, Christian grandparents develop, between doing fancy dressy things with her grandmother and talking about newspaper things and current events with her grandfather.

Ruth’s dad died, (don’t worry, NOT a spoiler—it happens before the book takes place.) which also adds a layer of complexity and grief the story and to the family dynamics.

As a final note about the family, I would just like to give a shout-out to Ruth’s family’s adorable-sounding dog, Frooshka!

In the Neighborhood of True is quiet but powerful, and there are so many aspects of it that I love. I honestly can’t think of a single drawback! This book deserves so much more hype, and it will definitely be going on my ‘Best of 2019’ Goodreads shelf.

FINDING YOUR VOICE.

I loved the perspective this book gave. We often see Jewish related books based around World War II. This instead, brings it past that time into an era where anti-Semitism is still heavily prevalent (especially in the South US). The historical aspects (the hate crime from this novel) really struck a chord.

This book, personally, felt like the first time we all realize that racism is truly around us and how difficult it can be to accept that some people are filled with unfounded hate.

Our main character, Ruth, had to learn a lot in this book. Initially all of our focus was on her fitting in. Wearing the perfect outfit, going to the right school, being in the best circle of friends, dating the cute boy, etc. She was vain and a bit shallow. While tedious at first, you can see how Ruth’s perspective and mindset change over the novel. She felt compelled to hide who she truly was for fear of being ostracized. It wasn’t until there was a glaringly obvious reason that Ruth decided to tell others that she was Jewish. Sometimes, it takes a big push to understand the gravity of the situation.

There was so much research for this book! Carlton seriously did an amazing job of putting me in the 1950s-60s without it being too heavy-handed. What’s funny is I would cringe at certain things characters would say/do because it’s not the way we handle things now. Which I credit as a positive. I loved feeling truly present in the story.

One of the reasons I gave four stars was that it took way too long to get back to the trial. The first chapter is set up with Ruth being a witness to something, then it skips back 6 months. I clocked it at 94% when the trial actually came back into play. I would have loved a bigger expansion on that piece and less on Ruth being in high school and running around with Davis.

The ending made me pause as the title clicked into place. Ruth had made some choices and had continually only told portions of the truth. She at last realized she was tired being in the neighborhood of true, and wanted to live and experience life without having to hide behind her own omissions.

Overall audience notes:

Young adult historical fiction
Language: very little
Romance: a kiss, make-outs, a glossed over love scene
Violence: hate-crime
Trigger warnings: underage drinking/smoking, description of a lynching, hate-crime, racism, anti-Semitism

CW: underage drinking, anti-Semitism

An intense, familiar, heart breaking novel about choice, morality, and family, In the Neighborhood of True is the story of Ruth, a young teen girl who is faced with a complex web of action, feeling, racism, and anti-Semitism when she and her family move to 1950's Atlanta after the death of her father.

What is justice, right or wrong, and who is she to decide whether to stand up? Reading Ruth's story as she figures out who she is, what her strength is and what she will do with it, is a mighty important tale from Susan Kaplan Carlton. I want to thank Brittani Hilles from Algonquin Books & Algonquin Young Readers for reaching out to me & giving me the chance to review this book.

Taking place in 1959, there was a lot of particularly time period sentiments that were blood boiling in their existence. From Mr. Hank (Ruth's grandfather) brushing aside his daughter, Ruth's Mother, desire & passion regarding covering important news stories because his paper "needs men to hop on those stories", to the decorum rules that Ruth and her peers are having drummed into them, there a quite a few occurrences of tongue biting in the reading of this book. These pale next to the religious bigotry that begin in vocal asides and snowball into horrible actions as the story continues.

A terrifying thought is that there are echoes of sexist & religiously intolerant practices, if not worse ones, in our current atmosphere. It was saddening to read about the past & realize what's changed and what we only think has. From larger scale things to the micro acts throughout, Carlton took care to craft a story that didn't neglect the layers of life.

Ruth, the main character and whose lense everything is filtered through, is a complicated girl. She is a teenager going through complex emotions that would be hard enough at any time in history but especially so given the events, historical and personal, going on around her.

As the daughter of a Jewish father and a mother who converted from Christianity, there's a pull as to what she should be loyal to. When her family, after the death of her father, moves from New York City to her mother's hometown of Atlanta and into the guest home of her grandparents, there's an entire atmosphere of anti-Semitism to contend with. Ruth wants to belong, a reasonable thing, but what will that cost?

There are choices she has to make along the way that show what she may or may not be betraying in regards to her own moral compass, consciously or not, as well as what she's not really seeing going on around her (i.e. hearing about integration protests on the radio but dismissing them when she realizes the report doesn't contain any names she recognizes). 

Carlton's characterization strength extends to setting. From details regarding fashion to the way Mr. Hank has a wireless set up to receive news reports in his home, the 1950's were exquisitely portrayed on the page. Once sunken into the story, admittedly as explained above there were the difficult choices and topics to contend with, but as well written as the book was, it was one that on multiple sides made it one that I didn't want to put down.

I am in so much of of how an author could write a story that is both a fun and sweet coming of age tale of a teenage girl (is there anything more complicated than being a teenager?!), but also simultaneously tackle complicated and complex subjects that make you think and feel and react.

It's the 1950's in NYC and Ruth Robb's father has just died. Her mother whisks her and her sister away from the city they call home, to what feels like another world. 1950's Atlanta to live with her grandparents. It takes Ruth no time to adjust to the endless glasses of sweet tea and boundless southern charm, as she slowly starts to enjoy spending time with the pastel posse girls, engaging in endless conversations of debutantes, dances and designer dresses.

What she struggles to adjust to, is where that charm tends to cross the line - the racial references to anyone whose skin isn't white, whose hair isn't blond, and the references that the KKK is always just around the corner pushing for segregation, denouncing Jews and Blacks alike, is evident in every day encounters and conversations.

The hardest struggle is that Ruth IS Jewish. And that just won't do in this town. At this time. So she hides it, and balances her new life of days with the debutantes dodging racial slurs and religious digs, and weekends at Temple, grasping at her heart and soul to stay true, and steadfast.

But then something awful happens, and Ruth needs to decide if she is going to fit in, or stand out. And it's a joy to watch her decide.

I loved Ruth - she is strong and witty and you root for her to find the courage to find herself in such a confusing and complicated era. In such a tumultuous time in the world, and her life - you hope she can choose wisely, between 2 very different conflicting lives that she's been living and struggling to balance. A wonderful story!

Set in the late 1950s, In the Neighborhood of True is an emotional novel that reawakens the reality of segregation and racism that darkened USA’s past and even haunts today’s America. As a very character-driven story, sixteen-year-old Ruth carries the reader through the heartbreak of losing her father and moving from New York to a Southern state where etiquette is inculcated through a pink book, her classmates fit the debutante mold, the boys are swoony, but her revelation of being Jewish is a dangled secret that puts her at risk from being part of the popular crowd.

Ruth is a very quirky girl. She’s smart and straightforward, and the entire book is filled with her determination to be accepted by her pre-debutante-obsessed peers but also finding that strength and balance to honor herself, her family, and her religion. Ruth’s inner and outer dialogue is one of the most captivating mouthpieces I have a read in a long time. Her engaging voice and character development allows the novel to steadily unfold into a story of maturity, first love, and a teenage girl’s bravery to fight for social justice.

In the Neighborhood of True was a constant page-turner of heartfelt characters and a main character that is not afraid to shake up her Southern town. The historical and fist-gripping hatred that is portrayed in this novel is heartbreaking, but like one of the characters points out to Ruth, “when hatred shows its face, you need to make a little ruckus. And you, dear Ruthie, made a very important little ruckus.”

When Brittani Hilles of Algonquin Young Readers first told me about the forthcoming In the Neighborhood of True, I knew immediately that I wanted to read it as soon as I could. I’m so glad she was kind enough to let me read an early copy, because I cannot say enough wonderful things about this book! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and has been since I was a teenager. I typically read historical fiction set long ago, particularly during the Elizabethan and Victorian periods. However, I’ve been reading some more recent historical fiction lately, and I especially like reading about the era in which so many Americans fought for civil rights. In the Neighborhood of True, set in Atlanta in 1959, is a wonderful example of what can be so special about books set during this time, especially when they are based on true events, as this one is. It might seem like an obvious thing to say, but there is so much we can -- and should -- learn from history, and Ruth’s experiences in True teach us so much.

The characters in True, from Ruth to Davis to Nattie to Max to Fontaine and Mr. Hank to the “pastel posse,” are full and complex and jump off the pages. Some will find their way into your hearts, while others you will feel palpable contempt for. Being a Southern girl myself, I keenly felt the atmosphere in which Ruth suddenly finds herself, even though I was her age 3 decades after the events of this story. (The more things change, the more they stay the same....) The sense of time and place is evocative and exquisite, from the way the characters speak (in both Southern-isms and 1950s-isms) to the descriptions of magnolias and sweet tea and taking nips of SoCo. At the same time, there is a keen sense of timelessness to the heart of the story, which is fundamentally about discrimination and hate and othering -- aspects of our lives which sadly have not faded all that much with the passage of the past 60 years.

After a hate crime rips through Atlanta, Ruth must decide if “passing” is worth it, if she is willing to maintain the lie (or at least, lack of truth) that has sustained her new friendships, or if she will out herself as Jewish and possibly lose the sense of community and belonging she has found. Without giving too much away, I have to say that my favorite scene, in a book rife with incredible moments, is Ruth’s final conversation with Davis. The realization she comes to is one that I hope we can all take to heart, even when it is not “our people” who are being targeted and hurt. It’s hard to explain without spoilers, so let me just say that I hope everyone will read this book. Author Rachel Lynn Solomon perfectly captured my own feelings when she said of In the Neighborhood of True, “...I will hold it in my heart for a long time.” That is precisely what I plan to do as well.

Rating: 5 stars!

**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review.

I really loved this book it was such a beautiful and powerful read Susan Kaplan Carlton’s writing is stunning and while the story was simple and straight forward, (it’s just a story of a girl trying to find herself there’s nothing big happening no end of the world stakes here it’s a quiet book but a powerful one ). It held a truth to it that I don’t see very often in books, (though that might be because of the books I tend to pick up). It’s a book that made me stop and really think and while the book takes place in the 50’s the subjects it tackles still ring true to today in some places.

Ruth Robb has just moved from New York to Atlanta after her Father’s death it dosn’t take long for her to find herself amid the world of pre- debutante/debutante balls, southern teas and etiquette classes wanting into be a part of this new world she hides the fact that she’s Jewish, making a trade with her mom she’ll spend Sunday’s at temple for the new life she’s trying to fit into and it works until a violent hate crime rocks her world forcing her to come to terms with who she really is.

I can’t describe the way this book made me feel, it’s a coming of age story about a girl who’s trying to find herself during a difficult time in history, it’s a story about first love and heartbreak, it’s a story about Activism against both racism and anti-Semitism and standing up for what is right. The way everything is tackled is done very well It’s not in your face it doesn’t take away from Ruth’s story it’s a part of Ruth’s story but not her whole story.

I loved Ruth and her family and how real they felt, I felt all of Ruth’s heartbreak and hope and love while reading this book, I loved Davis because Ruth loved him and I felt for all the girls she made friends. It takes a really talented writer to bring to life characters that you feel so much for and feel like they could be real and I aplaude Susan for doing just that.

I’m going to be honest I don’t know much about the south or about Jews or the struggles they have been though and are still going though and this is one of the reasons why I picked up this book, I picked it up out of curiosity for a people I don’t know much about but would love to learn about. This is also a #ownvoice book which made me even more excited to read it.

I would highly recommend this book I feel like it’s a book that everyone should read and if you do decided to pick it up I hope you love Ruth’s story.

Two things stood out to be about this book. The first was how real it seemed.  If you had told me this was a true story, I wouldn't doubt you for a minute.  The other was how much I liked Ruth.  I find so often in Young Adult Fiction, female protagonists are either way too perfect or weak.  Ruth was the perfect balance, and in all honesty, she just seemed like a regular teenager.  

Ruth struggles to be popular, get the guy all while feeling like she has to hide a part of herself to do that.  I think every teenager goes through something like that on some level.   While throughout the story Ruth is hiding something, she also knows what she believes in and nothing gets in the way of that.  Is she a flawed character, yes, but that is what makes her and this book so great.

3.5 stars
Ruby has recently moved to the south with her mom and little sister after the death of her father. Her mom is originally from the south means that ruby is now expected by her grandparents to become the perfect debutante southern bell to a certain extent. The one big problem with is that she's Jewish. This is a no-no for many people in the southern high classes during this time. Which means ruby can either lie and be who her grandmother wants her to be or she can be who she really is and not fit in at her new school.
During her time at school with the rich kids and the time becoming a pre-debutante she meets a boy who she really likes. Davis is the ever so perfect southern gentleman it seems. The only glaringly obvious problem with him from the beginning is his brother Oren who is used to using his charm and daddies money to get what he wants or to get out of trouble.
With Ruby's big secret weighing her down the more antisemitism happens around her and the more she learns about the true south she will have to make tough decisions that could ruin everything she's been working so hard to have.
Overall I did really enjoy this book. Ruby is a character that anyone can connect to. She wants to fit in but she also wants to be who she truly is the more time goes on. She's still grieving the loss of her dad and how her life has changed completely in a very short amount of time. She's confused and in love and trying to do the right thing. This is such an important book for so many reasons.
The romance part of this book I didn't really mind for the most part. It did all seem a bit fake though considering they both had secrets and we're from completely different lives.
I was so proud of ruby by the end and the decisions she made for herself and her family.

I found IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRUE to be utterly addicting to read. I'd sneak a few more pages in while microwaving the baby's lunch. Or while waiting for my older daughter to finish brushing her teeth before bed. Anytime I had more than 30 seconds free, I jumped right back into the book.

I loved Ruth's voice. She's frank, pragmatic and constantly caught me off guard (in a great way) with colorful descriptions of things. At first she doesn't seem bothered by hiding her identity. She values fitting in so much more than her faith, which feels especially far away after her father's death. She knows she's being shallow about it. But as things happen and she begins to form connections within her faith community, the racism in her debutante community only becomes more stark and uncomfortable to Ruth. I thought that progression felt very real, raw, and powerful.

The only thing I didn't love about IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRUE was an element of the ending. I don't want to give anything away, but it had to do with the way the relationships went at the end. Ruth gives up a relationship with a girl who wants to be friends with her, and I felt disappointed by that. Over all, though, I really enjoyed the book.

In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton is the powerful story of Ruthie, a teenage girl who learns how to be true to herself.

The year is 1958. When Ruthie’s father passes away unexpectedly in New York, she moves to her grandparent’s house in Georgia with her mother and sister. Going from liberal New York to the deep south is a culture shock for Ruthie. Gone are the days of liberal-minded folks. She’s now surrounded by debutants, sweet tea, and the Ku Klux Klan.

In order to fit in her with her private school classmates, Ruthie hides her Jewish religion. She doesn’t want to have a target on her back. She wants to twirl in tea dresses and fawn over boys the way the other girls at her school do. And one boy catches her eye: Davis.

While she pretends to be a different person at school, Ruthie continues to attend the local synagogue on weekends. There she connects with Max, an activist for black and white integration. Max forces Ruthie outside her comfort zone on more than one occasion.

It doesn’t take long for Ruthie’s two worlds to collide. Ruthie then has to decide: how many more lies are worth telling? Is it time to be true to herself?

I really enjoyed reading In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton! I participated in the blog tour a couple weeks ago, (check it out for an excerpt!), but I knew I wanted to read the book as well. I wasn’t disappointed. In the Neighborhood of True was beautifully executed, thought provoking, and devastatingly powerful.

I loved the story itself. Stories about discrimination can be hard to read, but In the Neighborhood of True handled the topic with care and provided a realistic glimpse into life in the 1950s (though obviously we still have far to go!)

Ruthie was such a relatable protagonist. Anyone who has been a teenager can understand the social pressures of wanting to fit in, even if it means sacrificing yourself. Ruthie lied about who she was, but she gained a social circle she wouldn’t have had otherwise. Ruthie grew so much throughout the book, and I was proud of the person she became. It was a neat evolution to follow throughout the story.

Davis was also an interesting character in the story. I couldn’t help but like him, though that waned towards the end of the book.

I thought the ending was brilliant. It wasn’t particularly dramatic, but the delivered message was clear: the truth matters.

I highly recommend In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton. It was a quick, enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Susan Kaplan Carlton so perfectly captures the time period and everything southern without once veering into stereotype. Her characters felt fully realized and three-dimensional. I wanted to bathe in the 1950s fashion and entiquette, and the vividness of those scenes helped amplify the darkness Carlton explores as Ruth struggles to balance her faith with her social status while also recognizing her own privilege in segregated Atlanta. This one is going to stick with me for a long time.

My thoughts are so conflicting on this book. It’d probably be best to break it up into positives and negatives so that my thoughts seem to have a cohesive result.

Positives:
- The historical storyline of this book is one that needs to be told. Of course I had heard of lynchings and the racism in the United States during the Civil Rights era, but I had no idea that Jews were also discriminated against and hated so harshly.
- Setting. I adored the way the setting was described and how all the traditions were put into the book to give it a more authentic air.
- Portrayal of religion. Ruth goes through a very real struggle in this book: Is religion passed down or chosen? I thought this was a good and poignant topic to explore.

Negatives:
- Ruth’s character. This book was told in first person, yet I had no idea who Ruth was. We kind of jump in in the middle of the book it feels like. The backstory we’re given of Ruth doesn’t feel fully formed and that does the entire rest of the book a disservice.
- The romance. Insta-love at its finest. I thought it would eventually be revealed that Ruth didn’t really love the male love interest but that she loved how she “fit in” when she was with him. That never happened. The love story was portrayed as real, but I never felt as if it was.
- Love triangle? There was a set-up for a love triangle but it was never fleshed out. Like why even include the hint of it?
- The entire last 25% of this book was so rushed! Ruth changes her tune so fast. I didn’t feel as though the end was the end. Ruth “learned her lesson” without any real progression.
- Fake friendships. All of Ruth’s relationships in the book were surface level. I wish she had a real friend.

There are my summarized thoughts on the book. I think the idea is fantastic, but the potential was squandered by sub-par characterization. I hope people do pick up this book and learn from it.

This one's a good pick for Southern fiction lovers, and it also provides a unique take on the civil rights movement (it's set in the late '50s instead of early '60s like most books that cover the era, and the emphasis is on the KKK's terrorism against Jews more than African Americans--another take we don't see much). The story didn't live up to its potential for me, though. I'm not sure if Ruth's narrative voice was too cynical or too adult, but I was never convinced that she was as desperate to be accepted by the "pastel posse" and their beaus as she claims to be. It doesn't matter how many times she claims to want to fit in; we never really feel that longing, and Ruth never describes her new friends as anything but stuck-up racists. Ruth was just too emotionally distant overall. She claims she's head over heels for Davis and can't wait to marry him, but she doesn't seem to actually feel anything for him other than raw sexual attraction. We don't see her grieve for her father or seem overwhelmed by moving a town directly opposite of New York City, and she seems curious and faintly disapproving, rather than outraged, at the Jim Crow South and even the KKK's cross burnings. Even at the book's climax, I'm not sure how she feels about her new friends.


The book has its strong points, though. I love, love, loved Nattie and wish we had seen more of her. Carlton also nails the jargon and speech patterns of the time without coming across as jarring. And the climax is certainly exciting (if predictable). I just didn't buy our narrator.

That was…amazing. I was not expecting the effect it had on me. Ever so slowly, it buried me, languidly, very much a pacing suited for summers in the southern states. (Not that I’ve ever been to any of the southern states.)

After the death of her father, Ruth moves with her younger sister and mother from New York to her grandparents’ guesthouse in Atlanta, Georgia in 1958. Here, she is introduced to the world of debutante balls, sweet tea, country clubs, and Southern Comfort. But her new friends are all white Christians, and Ruth fears revealing that she’s Jewish will affect their perspective of her. So she settles in to wearing pastel tea dresses so she can fit in and get close to the handsome and charming Davis. That is, until the real world starts to seep in…

----“We’re sometimes fooled into thinking hatred doesn’t happen here because the magnolias are in bloom. But hatred cannot be hidden.”

The first thing I want to talk about is just the setting. We’re taken back in time to the late 50s, and Carlton achieves this submersion with so many details. The language, the fashion, the school traditions — everything comes together so cohesively. I found myself googling things, like Charga-Plates, just these tiny things Carlton threw in. We often think of the past as this Other time when things were so different, but this book showed me that life wasn’t all that different then — in both good and terrible ways. Teens were still teens, school was still school.

Carlton also achieved a very real family dynamic. This book wasn’t about flashy drama and suspense, but rather an examination of the little moments between humans that connect them, or push them apart. This was shown spectacularly within Ruth’s family. There are moments of unity, like when Ruth is simply lounging by the pool and joins her little sister for a swim, as well as division, like when Ruth’s mother and grandmother argue over whether Ruth can participate in the debutante traditions. There are different beliefs within the family, some more loudly shared than others; as you can imagine, there’s some disagreement due to her grandparents being Christian and wanting to keep Ruth’s family’s Jewishness on the down-low.

----“It’s the five-o’clock shadow—and I’m not referring to facial grooming,” Fontaine went on. “Jews are accepted just fine at the banks or the law offices or the hospital or whatnot. But after dinner? After five o’clock, people like to socialize with their kind. I’m not saying it’s right, mind you. But if you’re—let’s take a for-instance—socializing with Gracie Eleet, and you were to tell her your religious preference—“
----“Not preference,” Mother clarified. “Religion.”
----“Yes, that.” Fontaine twisted herself back around to the front. “The moment ‘Jewish’ leaves your lips, people’ll adjust their reactions. Until that second, maybe they think you’re Italian…or some Russian aristocrat—isn’t that what Miss Natalie Wood is? But once they hear you’re Jewish, it’s the headline—the only thing people will remember about you.”

Ruth’s family members were all fantastic, particularly her little sister Nattie, who liked to count things. Ruth’s mom was so strong, and she wanted to make sure Ruth and Nattie didn’t turn a blind eye to what was happening in the world. Even Ruth’s father, though dead, was integral to the story, and to Ruth’s development.

Ruth, on her own, was an unexpectedly great character. I found myself frustrated with her at times, but that’s because she was very much a teenage girl, so I couldn’t really fault her. She liked boys and fashion, and like any teenager, she wanted to belong. She didn’t want to shout about the fact that she was Jewish at first, but she slowly gained strength as the world tested her.

While she knew she was “other”, she was also aware of her own privilege. She could pass as just another white Christian, while the African Americans around her had no way to conceal their “otherness”. As she became more aware of the inequality around her, she rebelled in little ways to the status quo at first, like thanking the Black staff at events or in people’s homes, calling them “sir” and “ma’am”.

At this point, I’d like to call attention to one scene in particular that really struck me. Ruth had found out about her grandmother’s housekeeper’s two daughters that went to college, and when her friends came for a visit, she told them all this fact in an attempt to show that Birdie was more than just the wait staff. It led to this exchange:

----“Miss Ruth, a word,” Birdie said to me. We ducked into the butler’s pantry. “Do not use my children to impress your friends,” she said.
----“I wasn’t—“ I said. But then I stopped, because I was. “I apologize, ma’am.”
----Bam. Wow. This made me think, made me wonder if I’d ever done this to my friends, to people I knew. It was only a few lines, but it smacked me in the face. And there were many moments like this.

Another awesome thing about In the Neighborhood of True? There was no slut-shaming. None whatsoever. Ruth talks to her friend and her older sister about sex, and neither talks about sex being a shameful act. They have separate choices for themselves, sure, but they both encouraged Ruth to think for herself on the topic and use protection if she ever decided to do the deed. If a historical fiction YA can do this, why do so many current contemporaries struggle with it?

The book started out in the “present”, with Ruth having to testify as a witness for a terrible act, but when the next chapter went back to Ruth’s arrival in Atlanta, Ruth was clearly not yet who she needed to be to get up on that stand. It is through the course of this book that she gains the strength and courage to speak up. And that gradual change, interspersed with poignant lessons for Ruth (and myself), was an incredible thing to witness in writing. I feel like I’ve personally grown through this book, and now is definitely the time — with today’s resurgence of hate and white supremacy — to read this book. It should be handed out with copies of The Hate U Give to show young people that they are important voices in the battle against intolerance and inequality.

Don’t let that lovely pastel pink cover fool you into thinking Susan Kaplan Carlton’s In the Neighborhood of True is a light and fluffy read. It is easily one of the most powerful books I’ve read so far this year.

Set in the 1950’s in Atlanta, Georgia, In the Neighborhood of True is meant to be a work of historical fiction that explores the racism and anti-Semitism that was rampant during that time period. While the story itself is inspired by the Atlanta Temple bombing that took place in 1958, what makes the book such a hard hitting read, however, is that it’s not just historical fiction. It really smacked me right in the face as I was reading this book that the hate and prejudice main character Ruth Robb was witnessing in the 50’s is still alive and well today, as people now have to contend with Islamophobia and homophobia in addition to the anti-Semitism and racism that we still haven’t managed to eradicate.

I always root for an underdog and it became apparent as soon as I started reading that Ruth Robb was my underdog. Forced to relocate to Atlanta from Manhattan after her father passes away, Ruth, with her dark eyes and wild dark curls, sticks out like a sore thumb when she first enters the land of sweet tea, magnolia balls, and debutantes and meets the blonde, perfectly-coiffed “Pastel Posse” she will be attending school with. She very quickly realizes that she has a hard choice to make: either embrace her Jewish background and become a social outcast or try to pass as a Christian so that she can participate in the balls and other pre-debutante events and hang with the popular crowd at school. Ruth is torn because she feels like she’s selling out her heritage, but there’s a part of her that wants to take the path of least resistance and do what she needs to do to just fit in.

Ruth’s inner conflict is the force that drives the plot of In the Neighborhood of True and I think the author does a fantastic job of making Ruth’s struggle feel authentic and relatable. Don’t we all want to just fit in at times and not have everything be a struggle? In Ruth’s case though, fitting in with the ‘It’ crowd at school means hiding who she is and what she believes, and it leads to her living a double life and hoping that neither side realizes the truth, a double life that is ultimately unsustainable long-term.

Even though the story is mostly about Ruth and the difficult journey she has to make in order to find and embrace her true self, In the Neighborhood of True is so much more than just a coming of age story. It takes a hard look at anti-Semitism and at racism, shining a spotlight on the violent, horrific hate crimes committed by the Ku Klux Klan. These acts were gut wrenching to read about and made me all the more sad that it’s still happening today. For this reason, Ruth wasn’t the only underdog I was rooting for as I was reading. There was an active Jewish resistance movement present in the book and I was cheering them on all the way, especially since they were working tirelessly to fight anti-Semitism and racism. As a character in the book states, “When hatred shows its face, you need to make a little ruckus.”

In the Neighborhood of True is an important and timely read, but it’s also a beautifully written story. The author perfectly captures the nostalgic atmosphere of the South in the 1950’s – the music, the dances, the fashion and hair, the Co-Colas, and more, while at the same time, exposing that dark underbelly. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, novels with an element of social justice, or even just a good coming of age story.

”When hatred shows its face you need to make a little ruckus. And you dear Ruthie, you made a very important little ruckus.“

Susan Kaplan Carlton has written a compelling story that is loosely based on the 1958 Atlanta temple bombing. My mom was a northerner who moved to the south in the 1950s. I remember her telling me stories of colored water fountains and standing up for Land of Dixie, of debutante balls and sweet tea. It always seems so different from my own upbringing in the melting pot of Southern California. So I can only imagine how different it was for Ruth from New York city. Throw in the fact that she was also Jewish, and I think the girl must have gone through some major culture shock. I will never truly understand hate, it is just something I’ve never had in my heart. What is unfortunate is even though this book was set 60 years ago it is still relevant today. I like to believe that most people are extremely accepting of all people, but there are those few that just can’t seem to let go of the hate and the anger. I probably could go on anon, but I will spare you all!

Ruth is a junior in high school who finds herself in the deep south after the death of her father. The world of pastels and blondes is a far cry from NYC, and Ruth realizes real quick that she cannot be both Jewish and popular. Soon Ruth finds herself ensconced in the debutante world, trying on dresses, attending parties, and striving to be the Magnolia queen. And there is a boy, named Davis Jefferson no less. But is Ruth being true to herself pretending she is something she’s not? And what happens when the unthinkable happens and Ruth is caught between two worlds?

I found Ruth tremendously relatable and likable. I got her, I would have done exactly what she did at her age in her situation. She was all about friendship, and fashion, and fitting in. The romance between Ruth and Davis was so sweet and adorable, yes it was a little Insta but they are teenagers, seems to happen that way quite a bit. I also really liked Ruth’s mother and Ruth’s relationship with her mother. Her mother was strong and a bit righteous, but she let Ruth do her thing. Fontaine Ruth’s grandma was such an authentic character, I truly think she represented how her generation in the south saw things. She herself didn’t feel as though she hated anyone, however she didn’t think anything needed to change either, in fact she felt as though she supported Jewish people because she shopped at a department store owned by Jewish people. I also appreciated that she did not have some major epiphany and completely change how she felt. My only tiny complaint is I wish that the bombing took place a little earlier in the book, so we could really see how the conflict resolved itself.

A riveting and important story that I strongly encourage everyone to pick up!

*** A huge thank you to Algonquin for my copy of this book ***

To begin with, Ruth Robb, a clever and multi-faceted girl stole my heart from the beginning of the novel to the end. She is snarky, a bit sarcastic and has a huge heart. Part of the reason I fell in love with Ruth is that I see myself in her. Not only am I a "words girl" like Ruth, I am a Jewish teen growing up in a troublesome time. Seeing Ruth's bravery has inspired me to stand up to the anti-semitism in my life. In YA there is an underrepresentation of Jewish characters and culture and I am beyond thrilled that Carlton has written a novel with an honest representation of what it is like to be Jewish in a tumultuous time. Ruth is torn between the two parts of her world: the pre-debutante part and the Jewish part. In her pre-deb world, she falls head-over-heels for Davis, the All-American perfect boyfriend and enjoys spending time with her traditionally Southern group of friends for T&E (Tea and Etiquette). Ruth trades in synagogue time for time with her "pastel posse" and her boyfriend. She feels comfortable with these new people yet there is one barrier between them: Ruth has not told them she's Jewish. Ruth is afraid that telling them the truth will prevent her from advancement in her community. This book was an emotional read for me because it is so easy to get attached to the characters and I have a personal connection to the subject matter. While the events of this book are a bit hard to read because of the shock value, In the Neighborhood of True is an important book to read for people of all ages but especially young adults living in this time