Mockingbird Summer A Novel

This is the third book I have read by Lynda Rutledge. I find her writing style and subject matter to my liking. It is very difficult to find really good fiction books to read that are not about dysfunctional characters, violence, or bodice burners.Mockingbird Summer is very authentic about the culture and characters actions from the young adults in the 1950s and 1960s.I feel the reading audience would be women 65 years in age and up, as well as, for the daughters, granddaughters, and even great-granddaughters of older women & men. This book will give the reader a better understanding of the mores and culture in this time period. Why their parents or grandparents act and talk regarding moral, ethics, and concerns of present use of drugs. The present options open to all due to the changed culture of acceptance of racial, gender and sexual orientation on the east and west coast states and college communities. I don’t live in the South or Midwest any longer, I do not know of the culture of the people in those areas today.Chapter 9 about the Dairy Dip in small towns, was right on. I grew up in a small town in Ohio of 10,000 versus 2500 in Texas. The culture was definitely based on school, church, fraternal organizations, family, school sports for all the residence of the community. With the teachers and coaches known and participating with all the residents. The participation by police and most everyone knew the officers.Most drug stores had soda fountains and some served light meals. I worked in a drug store in high school after school and Saturdays. Though no soda fountain, but the prescriptions were filled as described and we had a young African American man who delivered drugs/supplies/filled prescriptions to the hospital, doctors’ offices and patients.The racial prejudices were more defined in the Texas town, than in western Ohio. Our schools were integrated with a few African America students who were well regarded and integrated in all sports and activities.Chapter 19 was my favorite chapter about the baseball game where the author follows inning by inning the action of the players. What a fun read!The relationship between Kate and America was delightful and that they reconnected in summer of 2021 was a great way to end the book. In my case, at our 50th high school reunion brought all our classmates together, sharing experiences no matter the race.

I really loved this book. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books, and this was a respectful nod to the classic.My only struggle with it was my brain not being able to pick the correct racial slur when they were hinted at. Regardless, I am glad that the author chose to leave that to the reader’s imagination. Those words do not deserve to be repeated anyway.

A well written, delightful read. Fell in love with the characters. Enjoyed the historical context. I found West With Giraffes first, which was also wonderful. Ms. Rutledge is a gifted author.

This is a great book that takes you back in time if you grew up in the 60s. Worth reading again.

I’m so grateful to have read this book. It’s one I’m sure I will re-read. The author incorporates inspiring and thoughtful life observations into a captivating plot. Corky is a 13-year-old girl in a small segregated town in Texas. Her family, church and love of baseball play a part in her growing awareness of herself as an individual, how bigotry affects all their/our lives, and how the choices we make affect the kind of life we live.One of the all-around best and most well-written books I’ve read. I highly recommend this to everyone, young teenagers and above.