Full review: Flipping Through the Pages

Why are more people not talking about this book? I am really surprised. This is such an understated and important read. This book really surprised me but I am so glad I found this gem. In the Neighborhood of true is a young adult Historical Fiction. It is hard to find a historical fiction with Jewish rep that’s not about the Holocaust. I love reading Holocaust stories but it is good to find something different set during that time.

Susan Kaplan Carlton‘s novel is set in 1958 and is about a Jewish girl, Ruth Robb, who moves to Atlanta from New York City after her father’s death, to live with her grandmother. Ruth was raised a Jewish and her grandmother was exactly not happy with this. She pushes Ruth to be a part of high society and thus she gets involved in debutante training, tea parties and lots of clubs. While doing all this, she kept her Jewish side a secret. On the other hand, she also attends prayers on Sundays with her mother. She was living two separate lives but soon, because of a violent crime, she had to expose her true self and had to choose what she really wanted to be.

This book is inspired by a true event (which is mentioned in the author’s note). I personally don’t know much about that historical time apart from the Holocaust and I was glad that this book touched such an important time of history. This book mainly addresses antisemitism and racism and what it is to view these from the eyes of a teenager. It shows us a mirror to our society which is not much different as it was 60 years ago. That time too racism was prone in the society and these days too, though we have come a long way, we often hear the instances of racism and antisemitism. I appreciate Susan Kaplan Carlton for putting this tough topic into a better perspective. The author has done a wonderful job of showing the two different lives of Ruth and hiding her religion but I loved how slowly she realised that there are far more important issues to handle.

I loved Ruth’s character. In the beginning, she wanted everything her grandmother wanted her to be. She enjoyed the social life and attention and tea parties. But her growth throughout the story was incredible and loved her even more page after page. She eventually learns to stay true to herself. Like any other teenager, she liked boys and fashion and wanted to belong. But soon she realised her privileges. While she could easily pass as another Christian, there were African Americans around her who had no way to conceal their identity. The author is beautifully shown this.

The hate crime in the story is handled pretty well. I loved the writing and the story’s settings. It takes us straight to 1950s. I was glad that the romance didn’t took a large space in the story because this book was about many other important topics than being a love story.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, though I am aware not everyone would enjoy this. But if you like quite YA and stories about less-talked time-periods and activism, then this book is for you. It looks soft and is understated but it is a strong read which makes you think. In the end, it teaches you to be your true self and to stand for what’s right.

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | Ko-fi |Amazon