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I received an advance copy for the paperback release of this book (OUT TODAY) via Algonquin Young Readers and Susan Kaplan Carlton (so thank you so much)!

In the 1950s, GA was the epitome of racism and divided communities, so when Ruth and her immediate family (who are Jewish) moves from New York to GA after her father passes away, we witness Ruth struggling with her identity as she tries to fit in.

Though I found myself taking a while to get invested in this book (though that could just be me as YA books are generally hit or miss for me), this is a beautifully written story that I found to be prevalent with what is going on right now in reality. Overall, this is an important and vital book about identity and accountability and watching Ruth find herself and tell her truth through this difficult time was so powerful.

Many thanks to @algonquinyr and @susankcarlton for letting us join in on the blog/IG tour!

spoiler alert ** Thankyou to Negalley The Publisher and the Author for giving me a free e copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
This book is set in 1958 Atlanta during the summer Ruth Robb and her family have left New Yourk to stay with there grandmother Ruth and her sister Nettie attend the Private school there and Ruth makes friends and falls in love with a boy called Davis Jefferson while taking part in the debutuante season Ruth has secret she is Jewisih her Dad who sadly passed away was Jewish and Ruth attends temple with her mother and sister. Being Jewish and being diffrent in Atlanta is a scarey place and most people are dividied in Ruths Town. Then a big event happens and Ruth must choose between making a Stand or staying silent.
This book does not shy away form issues that feature heavliy in this book I had no idea that being Jewish was such a big thing in America in the time and it really tugged at the heartstrings for me I love Ruth and Nattie they are sisters but both so diffrent from one another Nattie embraces her faith and Ruth is still not sure as she is till greving for her Dad and wants to fit in doesnt any teenage girl. I felt her friends that she made were very shallow and you could see right through me I liked Gracie more out of all of them and I really wanted Ruth to leave Davis as i felt he wasnt righ for her long term and I wanted her to be with Max I shipped Ruth and Max loved Maxs chracuture who Ruth meets at her place of worshipp he is passonate about treating everyone the same. I did struggle with the language in places and in some parts I did get bored in places. This book is important to read and shouild be in all school libarays everyone should read this book becuase it was chilling to read as this is still going on today even thoug its set in 1958 it still does goes on today. It was a fantastic book to read I liked the Plot even though I got a little lost in some parts. even though the kids are 16 there is depections of smoking and drinking so a warning this is a older YA book not sutible for kids and it does mention words that were said at the time in 1958.
All in all a great read and I am looking forward to picking up other works by this Author
This book gets a soild 4.5 stars.

Happy paperback release day to “In The Neighborhood of True”! Thank you to @algonquinyr and @susankcarlton for my ARC and the invitation to participate in the Instagram tour for its release!

What a timely book. I was completely wrapped up in the story, and read the whole book in one sitting. This novel tells the powerful story of the cost of honest allyship in the social justice movement, as well as the weight of being who you truly are. It also made me freshly sick to think about how in many ways, we’ve not come so far from the 1950’s. I highly recommend this one for families to read alongside their teenagers to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and social justice reform, but even though it carries the #ya label, I honestly recommend it for anyone.

Back cover:

After her father’s death, Ruth Robb & her family move from New York City to Atlanta in the summer of 1958. In the land of debutantes, sweet tea, & the KKK, Ruth quickly figures out she can be Jewish or she can be popular, but she can’t be both, so she decides to hide her religion. Before she knows it, Ruth is falling for the handsome & charming Davis & sipping Cokes with him & his friends at the all-white, all-Christian Club.
It doesn’t matter that Ruth’s mother makes her go to synagogue every Saturday - as long as her friends don’t find out. Then at temple Ruth meets Max, who is serious & intense about the fight for civil rights & social justice, & now she is caught between two worlds, two religions, & two boys.
But lies can’t last forever, & violence is brewing. Soon Ruth will have to choose between all she loves about her new life & standing up for what she really believes.

#steffireadsabook #ieatbooks #intheneighborhoodoftrue #susankaplancarlton #newrelease #algonquinyr #socialjusticebooks #youngadultfiction

***3.5 stars***

It's crazy that this is a book taking place in the 1950's, yet we are still having the same conversations about race and religion today in 2020. While the characters, relationships, and the overarching plot are fictional, this is based off a true event—a bombing of a Jewish temple in Atlanta in 1958. 

It was nice to read a piece of Jewish historical fiction novel that didn't focus on the Holocaust. Of course the main focus during this time period and the Civil Rights movement is usually on racial discrimination as the country is slowly working towards desegregation. However, there was also also hate and discrimination within religion and because a person usually doesn't outwardly "look" Jewish, it's something a person can keep hidden about themself—like what Ruth does in the book.

For a topic that is pretty heavy, I was expecting more depth in the the characters and their relationships—everything was pretty surface level. Why did Ruth and Davis like each other? All the really did was make out, but after a few weeks they are dolling out "I love you's" and promise rings. I know that things were different back then, but it just made their relationship very unrealistic. The ending felt very rushed and seemed to leave out a lot of important information. 

There were somethings that I did enjoy. Ruthie had feisty rebellious moments that made me want to get to know her more, especially when it came to the whole debutante meetings. I wanted to see more of that because I think Ruth's perspective would have been really entertaining.  I loved her relationship with her sister Nattie—you could tell that they really genuinely liked each other despite a big age difference. Ruth and her grandfather seemed to de developing a nice relationship towards the end and of course I loved Max—an older "Buddy Holly"-type. 

Overall, despite what this was lacking, I did enjoy the book. I just wanted more.

This would be a good book for young people especially, to read now with all that is happening in our country. The impact of what was happening in the 50s and looking around at things now is a lesson in itself. The main characters journey will become your journey as she struggles with decisions that will impact her going forward.

In 1958 after the sudden death of her father, Ruth and her family move from NYC to Atlanta. Ruth is Jewish and one of the first things she discovers is that in Atlanta, she needs to choose between being Jewish and being accepted. She desperately wants to fit in and hides her religion from her new friends, including her crush Davis. She’s able to co-exist between these two worlds, attending temple with her mother and debutante balls with her friends, until a hate crime occurs that forces Ruth to confront her beliefs. ⁣
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This is historical YA and loosely based on the 1958 Atlanta temple bombing. This is a historical event that I definitely need to learn more about.⁣
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I think the author did a good job at creating a YA story that mixes relatability and history. The writing is smooth and the characters interesting. Ruth is particular was relatable as a teen who wants do the right thing (and often thinks doing nothing is not a bad thing, something that we’ve seen a lot of in the present day), but also wants to be part of the in-crowd. As YA, the book takes an understandably lighter hand at showing the antisemitism and racism going on in the world at the time and I do wish more of the book addressed the aftermath of the bombing. But it’s certainly inspired me to do my own research on the topic and I hope it does the same to others. ⁣
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It’s sad to think how little has changed in our world since the 1950s and it’s important that we don’t forget how far we still have to go.
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Thank you for @algonquinyr and @susankcarlton for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts. ⁣

Set in the 1950s, In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton is a historical ownvoice young adult novel. It follows Ruth Robb, a 16-year-old girl struggling to fit in, even if it means hiding the fact that she was a jew. A girl who wants to enjoy the best of both worlds. But is forced to pick a side, to stand up for the truth.

I enjoyed the narrative. You are transported to the 1950s. A world of tea and etiquette and elite debutantes. But also a world of Klu Klux Klan, lynching, and hate crimes. With a generous peppering of the southern slang. Although it is primarily about antisemitism, the author sheds light on the state of blacks at the time. The cross burning. The social boycott. All the while not sounding preachy.

“When hatred shows its face, you need to make a little ruckus. And you, dear Ruthie, you made a very important little ruckus.”

There are numerous coming of age young adult books out there. Books about the struggle to fit in. Some that are fun to read. In contrast, this timely novel is an important historical narrative. About true courage that comes from purposefully standing out.

As much as I liked the book, I also had a few issues with it. It did take me a while to get into the book. Ruth’s character felt too one-dimensional up until the last few chapters. Perhaps it was meant to be like that. I also felt the romance wasn’t really required and it slowed down the flow of the book.

“Jews are accepted just fine at the banks or the law offices or the hospital or whatnot. But after dinner? After five o’clock, people like to socialize with their kind.”

At times, you come across a book that may not have the best writing style or an immersive narrative. But it is an important one nonetheless. One that is timely. One that discusses antisemitism and racism that need to be talked about more. This is one such book. Although it might not work for everyone, I highly recommend reading the book. The paperback launches today, July 7th.

Thank you NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for this review copy of In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton.
This a lush and beautifully written story of a young girl navigating the racial and religious inequality of Atlanta in the 1950’s. The author handles the heavier subject matter with both heart and humor which make it a pleasure to read. I think readers of all ages will find a timely message about intolerance and inequality in our not so distant past.
I highly recommend this 5 star book and look forward to reading more by this author.

In the current sociopolitical uproar, focus is primarily on the importance of Black Lives and the prevalence of attitudes and practices of White Supremacy. As demonstrated in IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF TRUE, racism and bigotry doesn't only target People of Color. For several millennia, those of Hebrew lineage have been, and still remain, in the contempt of and often literally targeted by, individuals, groups, organizations, considering themselves superior by reason of ethnicity and /or religious preference.


In 1958, transplanting unexpectedly from New York City to Atlanta, Ruth determines that concealing her ethnicity is key to popularity among the wealthy country club set. But Truth will out, and oftentimes violence is what propels revelation.


I was particularly intrigued that this novel finds it setting in Atlanta, site of the murder of Mary Phagan in 1913, for which Leo Frank was convicted. At the commutation of his sentence for dearth of evidence, in 1915, Mr. Frank was lynched in nearby Marietta. A month later, at Stone Mountain, Georgia, the Ku Klux Klan reconvened.

Rating: 4/5

Thank you to Algonquin Books for reaching out to me to participate in this Book Tour and for providing me with a physical copy of the paperback arc!
#intheneighborhoodoftrue

This was an incredible story. The premise of the story is surrounded by the hate against people that are not white, are not Christians, are not the "ideal Southern"person/family.

After Ruth's father dies, her and her family move from non-restrictive and flexible, New York City, to old-beliefs, upheld traditions and sweet tea, Atlanta. Ruth quickly discovers that she can fit in with the popular kids, or she can be Jewish, but she cannot be both. She decides to hide her religion and soon she has these new friends and new crush, Davis, that are all apart of the all-Christians club. Deep inside, Ruth knows she can't hide her religion forever, and violence is brewing. Ruth will have to choose between all she loves in her new life or standing up for what she believes is right.

It has been a long time since I read a book that is centralized around Southern culture and beliefs. I have always found their traditions interesting and intriguing, and I like that things like the Magnolia Queen were included in this book.

I enjoyed how the author kept the injustice "silently" brewing in the background of the story until the breaking point. I know that it wasn't really silent, it was blatant and obvious, but with a character who is hiding her religion, it quietly brews until she knows she needs to stand up.

Somethings that felt a little off for me were, Max as a character and the ending. In my opinion, its always good to have a side character that can help bring the main character back to what is right, but to me Max didn't really do that. He was just kind of there as a plot guidance to help Ruth slowly realize her fault, but I didn't feel attached or interested in him at all. The ending just lacked the pack of the punch. I wanted more from it. It felt rushed and straight to the point, and even then I wasn't happy with it. There could've been more dialogue and intrigue and heartbreak. Without spoilers, there just could've been more to the ending.

I admire how the author also based this story off of a true event and also things that have happened in her life. She attended the temple that was mentioned in the book, and one day as they were leaving the temple, her daughter asked her "did you know my classroom was bombed?" and that is where it started.

I still 100% recommend this book! It discusses important topics and the writing style is great.

Make sure to check out the hashtag #intheneighborhoodoftrue on Instagram and Twitter to see the buzz about book!

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Happy Paperback Release Day!
Thankyou to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with the ebook.
First and Foremost I love historical fiction! And this book didn't just cover antisemitism but it also covered how unjust ppl were to Blacks! Well how unjust we still are.

I liked this book because it was so easy to relate to Ruth and her struggles. I could understand her struggle and her contempt for hiding a part of who she is, a part of her late Father just to fit in, to be loved and accepted. Ruths inner battle and feelings of an outcast were very relatable and I applaud the author on how she tackled it,because reading about her struggles didnt get annoying but rather one felt connected to the girl. I loved how her character grew and how she accepted herself for who she really was. For once there was no love triangle and I was happy about that!
Davis and his ignorance did annoy me and at times I wanted to smack both him and Ruth for being so oblivious and escaping from reality.
I did enjoy this book although it didnt have much action. It focused more on the main character and her struggles and that is my only gripe because as much as I loved reading about Ruths character development and her struggles I wanted a little more coverage of hate crimes and of what was happening to Jews and Blacks at the time than Ruth and Davis's deed leap or Ruth's struggle with her identity

I also learned alot about what was going on with Blacks in the 1950s and about Jim Crows Nest. Also I loved Birdie!
I appreciate the diversity of the characters.We were shown how the Christian families who thought anti-Semitism and the anti Black culture were wrong, were still turning a blind eye towards it. I salute the author for tackling this part so tactfully.
Lastly I liked how it centred around a real incident,a real bombing that took place in the oldest synagogue of Atlanta in 1958.
I would recommend this book to everyone especially rn with hate crimes rising around the world. Its slow at times but the message, the moral is so important that you won't regret ever picking this up,pushing through and finishing it.

This book takes place in Atlanta during the 1950s. With the Klan in full force and a young Jewish girl trying to find her place in this world.
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Ruth has recently moved to Atlanta from NYC with her mother and sister after the unexpected death of her father. She wants to fit in so badly with the debutante society and her new friends, while also going to Temple.
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The book was a bit of a slow starter for me, but once I hit about a third of the way in the story grabbed my attention and tackled many hard hitting topics that are still sadly prevalent in today’s society.
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I think this book provides many topics of discussions that still need to be had.

Title: In the Neighborhood of True
Author: Susan Kaplan Carlton
Genre: YA
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

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.

I’ve always enjoyed reading about debutante life, because it seems like such a foreign concept to me, even though I was born and raised in the South. The debs Ruth ends up hanging out with were such quintessential southern girls—bless their hearts—sweet as sugar on the surface, but judgmental, mean, and ugly on the inside.

Ruth has had her entire world upended, so her struggles to figure out who she is are relatable, as are her fears. In the land of sweet tea and a façade of manners—Atlanta in the 50s—there isn’t much room for someone who is different, but Ruth’s journey taught her strength and pride in being herself—not who everyone wanted her to be.

Susan Kaplan Carlton lives in New Hampshire. In the Neighborhood of True is newly out in paperback.

(Galley courtesy of Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.)

First of all, thank you Alongquin Young readers for reaching out to me and asking me to review this in celebrated of its paperback release!

In the Neighborhood of True follows young Ruth Robb in 1958 Atlanta, where she, her sister Nettie, and her mom all move to from New York after her father's sudden death. Atlanta is nothing like New York, with etiquette, propriety, and frilly tea dresses and garden parties. It's been just over a year since the Civil Rights Act of 1957 has been passed, and the South is rampant with racism. And on top of it all, the people Ruth starts school with don't know she's Jewish.

In the Neighborhood of True loosely follows the 1958 Atlanta Temple bombing. Ruth is torn between handsome Davis Jefferson, and activist Max. Ruth decides to spend her time hiding her religion with Davis and an all-white, all-Christian club.

I think this story is important, and while I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, it was kind of weird for this happy-go-lucky story, when it talks about racism, civil rights, bombings, and white supremacy. I think it's an important story to be told, and while I like parts of the book, it could be really frustrating to see Ruth pretending to be something she's not. Would rate this 3.5, but I'll round it up to 4 rather than down to 3!

This is a YA contemporary based in 1958 about this girl called Ruth whose father has died so her mum moves her and her sister to her mother’s hometown of Atlanta. She realises that to fit in at her new school she must pretend that she isn’t Jewish. Ruth’s grandmother wants Ruth to go to debutante balls and become a lady of society but Ruth’s mother wants to explore more of her late husband's Jewish heritage, and Ruth has to choose between being popular or her faith.

This book starts as Ruth is getting ready for a court hearing and then goes back to 6 months earlier when Ruth first moves into town. So it is trying to keep us intrigued. This book is kind of like most YA contemporaries where the 16yo girl is trying to fit in but also trying to hide a secret. I do admit I had no idea that being Jewish was a bad thing until I read this book, so it surprised me when the white characters referred to Jews and Blacks on the same level. It was nice seeing Ruth being convicted by her faith and trying to do the little things in front of the debutante girls, like using the Black water fountain or calling the hired help, “Sir/Ma’am”.

Thank you to Kelly Doyle and Algonquin Young Readers for an e-arc copy of In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton in exchange for an honest review.

i feel so conflicted writing this review, because this book is actually NOT bad. it discusses important issues like antisemism and racism and speaking over the people concerned with the discrimination. and the message behind this story is really strong.
however, i could not get into this book. i really had a hard time immersing myself into it. and i know it’s a me thing. but i just could not get myself to finish it. maybe i’ll give it a try sometime later and will actually enjoy it (i hope i do).
with all that aside, i do recommend this book. as i said before it’s a good one. maybe it was just not the right time for me...

I wish that I had read more books in school that actually spoke to how pervasive and insidious prejudice is. Most of the required reading sort of danced around these issues or had protagonists that didn’t feel exactly relatable. “In the Neighborhood of True” is a powerful YA novel that illustrates how crucial the need to fit in can feel as a young person and how easy it is to betray ourselves to sate that need.

The novel is set in 1958 and is told through the perspective of Ruth Robb, a Jewish American teenager who is uprooted from her more liberal birthplace of New York City to Atlanta (which has a whole other set of rules and customs). Ruth is desperate to fit in with the debutante girls – Southern belles who are all painted with a superficial, judgmental nature. She changes how she dresses, how she speaks, and even what’s important to her, all in the name of blending in. Ruth begins to see the prejudice around her and chooses to keep her religion hidden from her new friends.

The setting of Atlanta is perfect to showcase the still-flourishing Ku Klux Klan in its obvious and blatant racism and prejudice but also the way more subtle discrimination was allowed (country clubs where Jews weren’t permitted for example). Ruth tries to navigate all of this while still trying to convince herself that she has nothing to hide (and that her friends would end up accepting her if they found out).

The first half of the book goes along at a simmer, but when the action picks up, it’s very compelling. I found myself spending the whole book just hoping that Ruth would tell everyone around her the truth, that she would embrace her heritage and her religion, no matter the consequences. But then I found myself also remembering what it feels like to be a teenager – when the acceptance of those around you can feel like it overshadows nearly everything else. I’ve been lucky to not have experienced much direct discrimination because of being Jewish, and so I had to remind myself that someone who is surrounded by the cold nature of prejudice wouldn’t feel so free to unburden themselves. In fact, in so many instances, it can be downright dangerous (and sometimes deadly) to fully display what makes you different. Unfortunately, this is still as true in 2020 as it was in 1958.

My only complaint about the novel was that the ending felt rushed. We’re introduced to Ruth in the very beginning of the story as a witness in a court case (although we don’t really know what it’s pertaining to). By the time the book got around to this essential part of the plot revolving around a violent hate crime, it was over rather quickly. I would have loved to read more about Ruth’s inner turmoil during this part of her life (perhaps instead of as much content about her choosing a debutante dress).

While “In the Neighborhood of True” is not based specifically on a real person, it was inspired by real events in the South at this time. There were enough historical references mentioned so that the book felt truly authentic. I hope that YA books such as this one (that discuss important themes like racism) are included more in school curriculum. It can be truly valuable to find content that is both relatable but also that lets us learn something more about the world around us.

I struggle to read books set in earlier than the 1990s. I don't know why. I'm not a fan of historical fiction, and I find any YA books tend to be written quite naively. However, this one, I really enjoyed. I found it flowed beautifully. The author establishes a strong and consistent timeline throughout and it really adds to the pressure the main character feels in this book to maintain her outside image. I liked Ruth, I think her mother and father instilled her with some really good values. She was polite to the servants wherever she went, she knew racial inequality was wrong and she knew anti-semitism needed spoken against. She was a character with a good moral compass and a good attitude. I would really recommend this book as it provides an important narrative for today, even though it was set 60+ years ago. This book is also loosely based on the 1958 Atlanta Temple Bombing, and I highly urge you to look into that as well.

Many thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me this book for my review. This turned out to be a beautiful story about being true to yourself and fight for your rights.

The author did a wonderful job in writing the story inspired by real events. The story is inspired by the bombing of Atlanta’s oldest synagogue. The bombing occurred on October 12, 1958 which made headlines. Although I had heard of this incident, this story made me research it further. Moreover, while the story might be set in the in 1950s, I could still relate to it in our present times. Although we have come a long way in accepting each other, I feel like there are still those who are racists towards other religions, skin colors and sexuality. This story does a great job in highlighting the issues. Moreover, I loved all the 1950s pop culture references, and made me feel like I was actually in the era.

Also, I thought the author did a beautiful job with her characters. I really liked Ruth as the main character. Ruth wants to live the Southern dream of wearing beautiful dresses and attending dances. She also fits perfectly into the popular crowd and country clubs, but stills feel guilty over hiding her heritage. Similarly, a lot of us face challenges on being true to ourselves, and often have two faces (one for us, and one for the world). The author did a wonderful job in highlighting Ruth’s conflict as she struggles to do the right thing.

Overall, I truly loved reading this book and encourage reading if you are in the mood for a meaningful historical fiction novel.

After a personal tragedy, Ruth Robb and her family move from New York City to Atlanta. Ruth and her sister are Jewish.

When she gets to Atlanta, Ruth finds sun, heat sweet tea and......the "Pastel Posse"- the "it" girls at school. The options are clear: Jewish or poular, not both. Ruth must decide what she wants if she she is to fit in in her new surroundings.

Then, she meets Davis at an all-White Christian club.

When she meets Max at their local Synagogue, her choices are even more complicated. With the eruption of a hate crime, Ruth must decide who she really is and what her beliefs are.

In The Neighborhood of True is a deep and meaningful portrait of life in 1958 Atlanta and explores religious conflict, culture and lifestyle. It's marketed as YA historical fiction but the themes are harsh realities even today. That's why I would call it timely.

I loved the cover and the writing style. This is my first novel by Susan Kaplan Carlton. If you want to dive into a novel that's rich in 1950s US culture and issues, this is for you.

I'm not from the US but I was drawn into this book and was hooked by it. I think this is fascinting wherever you're from. Algonquin was right in their review information for this that that people who loved Jodi Picoult's books (particularly similar in some subject matter to Small Great Things) will love this. It's meaty yet easy to follow, honest absorbing and rich.

The similarity with Jodi Picoult is something I didn't mind at all- I love her books and I want to review more by Susan Kaplan Carlton.

Thanks to Susan Kaplan Carlton and Algonquin Books for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

5 stars.