Mockingbird Summer
What was it like to grow up in the early Sixties?
What was it like to be a woman before Women's Rights?
A powerful coming-of-age novel set amid the profound changes of the year 1964
by the bestselling author of West with Giraffes.
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Set on the eve of massive cultural shifts, Mockingbird Summer explores the impact of great books, the burden of potential, and the power of friendship with humor, poignancy, and exhilarating hope.
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EARLY REVIEWS
from ADVANCED READER COPIES:
Every so often a book comes along that leaves me breathless, and this book is one of those rare gifts. Mockingbird Summer touches upon a lot of big issues, through the eyes of a child who begins to understand the world as a young adult. There is plenty to ponder and appreciate, 'And, as life changing stories sometimes do, it all began with a book'. If you enjoy historical fiction, American history and coming-of-age stories, this one is for you.--Susan K, Reviewer
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Hello "change." It's 1964 and the country is moving in a new direction with civil rights, women's equal rights, and let's not forget about the music… This book is ideal for classrooms studying US history. It touches on several past events including school integration, the Vietnam war, women's liberation and skips several years to the pandemic in 2020. The author clearly wanted to reveal what it was like to live in the mid 60s and gave readers a realistic image.--Jackie Sunday, Reviewer
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Moving. Haunting. Beautiful in a broken sort of way. Lynda Rutledge perfectly captures the crackle of tension in the summer air as she tells a story inspired by history. Our history. At first, I was afraid it was just going to be an imitation of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, and to be frank, there are quite a few parallels. But the parallels actually make the story more poignant as they drive home the question: "Are we learning or repeating?" This tale of friendship and crossing lines tugged at my heartstrings many times. Rutledge has a gift for showing the reader how things look from many perspectives…her characters and emotions and motivations stand out like bright colors on a history we have let fade far too quickly. --Amanda Warren, Reviewer
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Wow, what a thought provoking story written through a young child's eye. Couldn't put it down; makes you sit back and think how hard it was in that era with all the uproar. --Renelle P, Educator
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"I've been thinking about lines. Lines that we stand in. Lines that divide us. Lines that long ago, blurred for a moment at a little baseball field...And the lines others crossed to do wrong...". I believe that this quote could serve as a synopsis for this book; a summary of the summer of 1964 when Corky (Kathryn) Corcoran turned thirteen and desperately tried to become friends with America, a Haitian girl from the Southside. In her innocent, yet blundering attempts, to understand and befriend America, Corky's eyes are opened to America - the country she lives in. The heady heat of the Civil Rights movement, the hypocrisy of women's right to equality, and the escalation of the Vietnam War. In big times of change, 'normal' is what is being changed' as the librarian points out to Corky. 'Mockingbird Summer' touches upon a lot of big issues, through the eyes of a child who begins to understand the world as a young adult. There is plenty to ponder and appreciate. If you enjoy historical fiction, American history and coming-of-age stories, this one is for you.--Christy, Reviewer
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"America Willcox, what took you so long?" Mockingbird Summer ... is a sittengemälde, showing the mind and politics in the 1960s. The highly anticipated book by the author of West with Giraffes captured me right from the start. I fell in insta-love with story and characters.--KDRBCK, Reviewer
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Mockingbird Summer is one of my favorite books of the year. It is the powerful coming-of-age story of thirteen-year-old Corky Corcoran as she navigates her way into young adulthood in the midst of the 1960's racial divide…I loved Lynda Rutledge's storytelling abilities; I devoured this book in two days as I alternately devoured and savored this story, not wanting it to end. --Michelle S, Librarian
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Mockingbird Summer is a Civil Rights and Women's Rights novel set in Texas, 1964….I particularly enjoyed the concept of the drugstore sit-ins, because I learned very little about them during my high school history classes…this historical novel will make a highly debated book for book clubs. --Barbara, Reviewer
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I love this book so much! I finally got to see what it might have been like when my mom was growing up in the 1950's! 5 stars for an excellent read that I very much enjoyed! I finished in one evening. I couldn't go to sleep until I finished Corky and America's story! My thanks for an awesome read that will be on my shelf of favorite books! --Lori, Reviewer
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This book is about many things. It's a coming-of-age book. It's about small-town life in Texas. It's about racial tensions in the South in the 1960s. It's about a dog named Roy Rogers (Roy for short ) who can intuit when there is something in the air. All of these themes intertwine…a very satisfying read. I appreciated the Epilogue at the end of the book.--Di B.,Reviewer
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I enjoyed how the author incorporated the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, into the story. This book is all about doing the right thing, in spite of the cost. It's about the racial divide and the ugliness that can exist in the world. --Renée, Reviewer
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This was a fast-paced, exciting read and I found the characters of Corky and America to be extremely well written. The author showed remarkable insight into the time period of the 1960's and of the racial tension that was a huge part of that era.--Anne, Reviewer
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Definitely don't miss out on this one! I enjoyed watching the beautiful friendship between Corky and America develop. I also loved that this is loosely based around the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. The ending was extremely touching and emotional.--Amanda Alviz, Reviewer
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What a great book… Rutledge is a pro when it comes to writing. She keeps the story moving, plants lots of red herrings and I will read anything she writes. I highly recommend this.--Heather, Reviewer
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I am a huge fan of both 'To Kill A Mockingbird' and the author's 'West With Giraffes'… I appreciated the rich development of other characters as well, including the dog.--Melissa, Reviewer
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This brilliant coming-of-age story has jumped to the top of my favorite books list. It is compelling, complex and brilliant. I loved everything about this book, especially Corky. I need this book on my "favorites" bookshelf. I highly recommend this 5-star book to everyone. It's simply superb.--Lisa Gilbert,Reviewer
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A must read! This was such a heavy book but it didn't feel that way while reading it. I loved the characters, I loved the history, I loved what I took away from my reading experience. This is 100% going on my physical shelf. --Shasta M, Bookseller
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This is my second book by Lynda Rutledge and it is terrific! I loved the writing, the details and the entire journey of Corky, her family and her friends…It is so well done I saw myself thinking back to these times and remembering that life was different in so many ways!--Laurie, Reviewer
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This poignant novel explores the power of friendship, the impact of literature, and the inevitability of change during a pivotal summer in the lives of two young girls, Corky Corcoran and America, whose unlikely bond transcends the racial divides of their time. [She] skillfully captures the essence of a small, segregated town on the brink of significant cultural shifts [and] tackles these themes with a perfect blend of humor, poignancy, and an overarching sense of hope. Rutledge expertly weaves the impact of great literature into the narrative, showcasing its ability to shape perspectives and bridge divides.--Erin, Reviewer
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This is one of the best coming of age stories I've read in a while!...The storytelling and scene-setting throughout the whole book was amazing, the small town in Texas really came to life in every little detail. I couldn't put this book down it was so beautifully written from start to finish.--Becca Lamb, Reviewer
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...Watching Corky come of age and understand the world around her, good and bad, was an incredible experience. "This was the world Corky had grown up in. And the world you grow up in always feels like the way it has always been and will always be. Until it isn't." --Stacy40pages, Reviewer
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"Mockingbird Summer" delves into themes of friendship, the impact of literature, and the weight of unfulfilled potential. With a blend of humor, poignancy, and hope, Lynda Rutledge crafts a narrative that captures the essence of a transformative period in American history and the enduring power of human connection. Readers can anticipate a heartfelt exploration of race, friendship, and the courage to challenge societal norms in "Mockingbird Summer."--Dalton S.,Reviewer
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West With Giraffes was one of my favorite books last year, and I was very excited to read this new release from Lynda Rutledge. She crafted her characters beautifully with distinctive personalities, and the girl's naivety to the racism and an unkind world touched my heart. Also, her description of the 1960s era was well researched and very engaging. Rutledge expertly captures life in a small town and the racial tension of the era during the Civil Rights Movement and I think this novel would be perfect for bookclubs or buddy reads. I will continue to read everything Lynda Rutledge writes.--Sheila B, Reviewer
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A beautiful, yet sad touching story of friendship in a racially tense small Texas town set in 1964. I felt like I knew the characters and loved the majority of them including Roy Rogers, the dog...I cried buckets of tears at the end. An engaging story with well-crafted characters that I highly recommend.-- Kimberley Jamie, Reviewer
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My second Rutledge book; West With Giraffes is one of my all time favorite so I was excited to dive into this. It definitely did not disappoint. This did take me by suprise being a coming of age story...but it was still so good! ...[T]he last 25% of the book was the best. I found myself emotional and crying my eyes out at Corky's letter. Just one of those books that you hug as soon as you read the last page. On that note, I'm pretty sure I'm now going to have to read To Kill A Mockingbird.-- Stacey E., Reviewer
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The writing was beautiful, and there were several poignant passages that I underlined and re-read to savor them... --Jessica Bearak, Reviewer
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We all have that summer, the one where we come to understand so much, the one that defines us. Summer, 1964 is THAT summer for naive, 13 year old Corky. Her brother is home from college and seems different. She meets 16 year old America from the other side of the tracks and wants to be friends, but is discouraged. Her parents are arguing and she doesn't know why. A beautifully written book set in a small town in Texas, but it could be any town in the US. The characters are well written; their innocence, hope, ugliness, the fear of change and the ability or Inability to accept it. I loved the depiction of summer in a small town with its endless days, walking to the library, soda fountains and ice cream cones, watching or listening to ball games, Sunday dinners and the family unit. The developing friendship between Corky and America was unique. A minor character, Roy the dog, steals my heart. As with its famous To Kill a Mockingbird, the tough topic of racism is tackled, along with emerging Civil Rights Movement. I found the ending emotional and satisfying...I highly recommend this book.--Lori Boyd, Reviewer
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AUTHOR'S NOTE (from end of novel)
A good novel is not about something, it is something, a wise editor reminded me. But, in one sense, historical novels are a hybrid of sorts, the setting telling a tale all its own. Winston Churchill, by way of philosopher George Santayana, is famously quoted as saying that those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.
Or as some anonymous wit put it: "Don't make me repeat myself." —History
I don't know about you, but I'd rather not repeat it.
While history can be dry, dry, dry, a novel has the ability to bring it to life through fictional characters' experiences, both true and truth, as Kate/Corky expressed. That was my goal.
A child of the '60s, I lived through the decade's changes. I grew up in one of those segregated towns with a railroad track as its dividing line. I watched via television and news reports as American women found their voice, ultimately benefiting from it like Kate did. And I watched Black Americans do the same: I witnessed the first attempt at school desegregation through "school choice" my senior year, in which students from the Black high school across the tracks could choose to go to our school. Five years later, I found myself teaching middle school for three years during full integration in Fort Worth. That's what the 1964 Civil Rights Act was about, slowly, surely raising consciousness to forward change that was going to be hard for some in the short-term but worth it for most in the long haul. And one of the worthiest changes is that Black Americans have, slowly, surely, gotten a full-throated chance to tell their stories in the same way women of all backgrounds finally have . . . in the same way I bet you'd agree that everyone should, even if it's just telling our stories to each other.
If you are my age, you experienced the '60s along with me. If you weren't born yet, I hope the novel offers a living, breathing view of those years to balance with the history you've learned and the world we now share.
Sure, we're still divided in far too many ways, but nowhere near as much as we were, and remembering that fills me with hope. After all, by definition, progress is a forever thing, isn't it? And, more than not, a deeply individual thing. The moral of this novel, if it has one, is about the absolute miracle of friendship, how, if given half a chance, it can cross any divide and open new worlds. It's also about the miraculous ability that books and sports possess to draw those new worlds together. It was true then; it's true now. If this novel has done the trick of bringing to life for you the giant strides we now take for granted from that tumultuous decade of my youth, then the novelist is happy. Here's hoping we continue to live and learn, never forgetting the progress we've made for the progress we can still make in becoming more human in the best sense of that word.