Price: $9.99
(as of Jan 23, 2025 04:58:37 UTC – Details)
A Michael L. Printz Honor Book
“This is East Texas, and there’s lines. Lines you cross, lines you don’t cross. That clear?”
New London, Texas. 1937. Naomi Vargas and Wash Fuller know about the lines in East Texas as well as anyone. They know the signs that mark them. They know the people who enforce them. But sometimes the attraction between two people is so powerful it breaks through even the most entrenched color lines. And the consequences can be explosive.
Ashley Hope Pérez takes the facts of the 1937 New London school explosion—the worst school disaster in American history—as a backdrop for a riveting novel about segregation, love, family, and the forces that destroy people.
“[This] layered tale of color lines, love and struggle in an East Texas oil town is a pit-in-the-stomach family drama that goes down like it should, with pain and fascination, like a mix of sugary medicine and artisanal moonshine.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Pérez deftly weaves [an] unflinchingly intense narrative….A powerful, layered tale of forbidden love in times of unrelenting racism.”?starred, Kirkus Reviews
“This book presents a range of human nature, from kindness and love to acts of racial and sexual violence. The work resonates with fear, hope, love, and the importance of memory….Set against the backdrop of an actual historical event, Pérez…gives voice to many long-omitted facets of U.S. history.”?starred, School Library Journal
Customers say
Customers find the book an engaging read for mature teens and adults. They praise the powerful storyline and well-crafted writing style. The characters are described as fully developed and tender. Many find the subject matter thought-provoking and appreciate the author’s storytelling style. However, some readers found the emotional content heartbreaking and difficult to read. Opinions vary on the racial tension, with some finding it insightful while others felt it was too harsh.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
