In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A powerful story of love, identity, and the price of fitting in or speaking out.

After her father’s death, Ruth Robb and her family transplant themselves in the summer of 1958 from New York City to Atlanta—the land of debutantes, sweet tea, and the Ku Klux Klan. In her new hometown, Ruth quickly figures out she can be Jewish or she can be popular, but she can’t be both. Eager to fit in with the blond girls in the “pastel posse,” Ruth decides to hide her religion. Before she knows it, she is falling for the handsome and charming Davis and sipping Cokes with him and his friends at the all-white, all-Christian Club.

Does it matter that Ruth’s mother makes her attend services at the local synagogue every week? Not as long as nobody outside her family knows the truth. At temple Ruth meets Max, who is serious and intense about the fight for social justice, and now she is caught between two worlds, two religions, and two boys. But when a violent hate crime brings the different parts of Ruth’s life into sharp conflict, she will have to choose between all she’s come to love about her new life and standing up for what she believes.

my thoughts:

What an engaging and thoughtful story! I just loved getting to know Ruth and her family.

Its 1958 and Ruth's father has passed away. Her mother decides a move is necessary and takes her family from NYC to Atlanta.  Talk about a different world.  Ruth quickly susses out that in order to fit in at her new school she must not be Jewish. Yep, she must hide her religion in order to be popular. So, she keeps her faith a secret from her new friends. However, at home, she is still Jewish.  Ruth still goes to service at the local synagogue. She even meets someone named Max at temple. He's all for social justice and embraces his Judaism.  He has Ruth questioning her decision to hide her true self from her new friends. And then something unthinkable happens, which has Ruth truly wondering about her faith, her friends, her family, and the world at large.

Talk about a riveting read! I found myself gripped from the start. I loved spending time in Atlanta with Ruth, her family, friends and Max. Such a great story!!

I would happily recommend In the Neighborhood of True to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book to bits!





Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!