Turning 12 is hard enough for a girl. Old friends start acting weird, especially the slightly older ones starting high school. You can try to hold on to the magic of childhood during a carefree summer, but reality might have other plans. To turn 12 in the 1960s in segregated Mississippi only could have added to the confusion of adolescence.
Former librarian and children’s book reviewer Augusta Scattergood will sign copies of her novel, “Glory Be” (Scholastic, 2012, $16.99), March 8 at Lemuria Books (202 Banner Hall, 4465 Interstate 55 N., 601- 366-7619). This is Scattergood’s first book. She says she based the story on her experiences growing up white in the Mississippi Delta.
“I was there in 1964, Freedom Summer,” Scattergood writes on her blog (which is at ascattergood.com). “I remember how our parents tried to shelter us from what was swirling around our communities. When they weren’t sheltering, they were telling us what to think and whispering about schools, pools, and parks closing. So I thought about how a young white girl might react to the news that her community pool was closing, rather than integrating.”
Scattergood’s book signing is scheduled for 4 p.m. on March 8. For more information, call Lemuria at 601-366-7619.
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The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.