Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman (From Worcester News)

Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman

12:50pm Thursday 4th February 2010 in

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Valerie's voice is as sweet as honey. She's the obvious choice to star in the Nativity.

But this is Mississippi, 1964. Things are far from simple. There is an uproar when Valerie is picked to play the angel...because she is black. As one of the first black children to attend Parnell School, she has to face violent protestors outside and vicious bullies inside the classroom.

Alice is torn between standing up for Valerie, and being popular with the in-crowd. Nicknamed "Yankee Girl" because of her accent and attitudes, Alice has found it hard to make friends since moving to the Deep South. Struggling between guilt and fear, it takes a tragegy for Alice to find the courage to act.

Yankee Girl is a truly resonant story about racism and doing the right thing, based on the author's own experiences.

RRP £4.99 available from Usborne Books.

REVIEW

Yankee Girl is a book which is based in Mississippi in 1964.

Alice Moxley has moved from Chicago and her father is a FBI agent. Alice is called Yankee girl because of her accent and attitude. She is shocked to see how black people are treated in Missippi compared to Chicago.

Valerie Taylor and her sister are some of the first two black girls to join a white school. Pupils at the school tease Valerie and then when Valerie is chosen to be the angel in the Christmas nativity things go from bad to worse!

Alice tries to make the right decision but when she sees how another girl is treated she tries to help Valerie. Alice no longer knows what to do. But then an awful thing happens and Alice never sees Valerie ever again!

I liked this book because it shows how differently black people were treated to white and how black and white people are treated today. I liked this also because it shows how making the right decision is not as easy as you think.

by Beth Haughtey Y8, Bishop Perowne, Worcester. February 2010.

REVIEW

When Alice moves to Mississippi she faces the same problems anyone moving schools would: finding new friends, working out which teachers to avoid and fitting in. But on top of that, her country (America) is going through politican upheaval. When Valerie, the daughter of Martin Luther King's right-hand man joins the school, Alice has to choose between what is right and what is easy.

This book gave a fascinating insight into America's often shameful history and is all the more moving for being based on a real-life experience. It is very well written, and generally steered clear of being preachy.

Although a little upsetting at times, it was extremely illuminating and enjoyable. I would recommend this to all readers - young adults and adults alike.

by Yvette Caster, December 4, 2008.