Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I loved this! Deserves more than 5 stars! A heartwarming, historical, coming-of-age story that takes place during a time of massive cultural upheaval, this remarkable novel explores the power of friendship, hope, and progress.

The novel begins with this paragraph, “In 1964, a small miracle of a summer happened in Kate “Corky” Corcoran’s tiny, segregated town because of a softball game, a pastor feud, a drugstore sit-in, and a girl named America who Corky saw run as fast as Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph, the fastest woman in the world.”

After reading that sentence, I couldn’t put this book down. It’s well-written, with realistic characters, authentic dialogue, and edge-of-your-seat plotting. The book smoothly shifts from various characters’ points of view, including a dog, as well as an omniscient narrator. The suspenseful foreshadowing kept me turning the pages in anticipation. Talented author Lynda Rutledge (“West With Giraffes”) creatively takes the larger 1964 issues of racism and the Civil Rights Movement, women’s rights, the Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy assassination, Viet Nam war, Martin Luther King Jr., and makes them personal by telling the story from the perspective of naïve 13-year-old Corky.

Rutledge explains how “The moral of this novel, if it has one, is about the absolute miracle of friendship and also about the miraculous ability that books and sports possess to draw those new worlds together.” Of course the book she is referring to is “To Kill A Mockingbird” and the sport is girls’ softball. If you want to read similar heartwarming 5-star coming-of-age novels of small-town drama mixed with poignant humor after finishing this one, I highly recommend “The All-American” by Susie Finkbeiner, “The Incredible Winston Browne” and “Kinfolk,” both by Sean Dietrich.

This would be great for book clubs and is one I’ll be telling everyone to read. Don’t miss this feel-good novel! ( )

This is my second book by Lynda Rutledge and I have really enjoyed both books that I’ve read. Mockingbird Summer was more of a coming-of-age, young adult novel about some serious issues that people faced during the early sixties. She builds these issues around the popular novel of the time, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Set in the small Texas town of High Cotton, a young girl named Corky is experiencing a pivotal summer as she learns much more about the world. Having befriended an older black girl from across the tracks, Corky realizes that not everything is as it should be in terms of equality and opportunity.

Corky is lucky in that she has a wonderful family and community to guide her as she questions racism and a few other serious topics. Her older brother Mack is the big brother every kid needs and the perfect connector between Corky and her parents. He sees life from a younger perspective, which helps his parents embrace the changes the world is experiencing.

I think Rutledge accurately captured small town Texas in the 60’s. I felt some of the characters were a bit stereotypical, but I liked that there were so many in the town that had a desire to do the right thing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review. ( )

4.25 Stars

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, 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 have this author’s previous novel on my bookshelf and need to move it to the top. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest opinion. ( )