A touching coming of age story. Perfect for YA or anyone who enjoys YA. Some felt a little too simplistic for the topic, since things are not typically as black and white as presented in the novel. I think this would also especially resonate with someone who grew up in the 1960s like Corky and America.

I feel this book reads like a YA novel. This book took off immediately set in a small town in Texas in the 1960’s. There are some series issues/topics covered in the book which made the storyline interesting and kept your attention throughout the entirety of the book. I wanted there to be more depth and the ending was just ok for me. I’m a huge fan of West with Giraffes and I’m excited to see where Lynda Rutledge goes next with her books.
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance to read and review for my honest opinion.

1964. Texas. Segregation. Change is coming.

Corky Corcoran, town tomboy and daughter of the local pharmacist, befriends south of the tracks America Willcox and gets her onto her church girls' softball team for the summer showdown of the Baptists vs. the Methodists. Is this small town of High Cotton, Texas ready for integration in the name of some good Christian fun?

Lynda Rutledge paints a nostalgic picture of growing up amidst change and the impending Vietnam War. I could just smell her dad's drug store and soda fountain! All of the characters just came to life, whether they be optimistic but naive Corky, the athletic phenom America, Cal the pharmacist, Roy Rogers the dog, or even the village villains. While simplistic for the telling of a Civil Rights based story, the reader has to remember that it is told from the perspective of a sheltered 13-year-old girl who is just awakening to the ways of her current world. She is not going to get everything right. It is a story of female friendship, of growing up in the 60s, of Civil Rights and Women's Rights, of the power of books to open minds and hearts, and of reflecting on a discrete point in your childhood when you start to form your own opinions on the world. This is a perfect story of all ages. and an entry point to some heavy and necessary discussions for younger readers.

4.25 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Coming of age novel that takes place in a small town Texas, 1964. Two young girls, Corky and America become friends and upset the town because America is black. There is a traditional girls softball game which has dire consequences for all involved.

Heartbreaking and visceral - a great insight into the turmoil of the 60s in the American South. Historical fiction lovers won't want to miss this standout and new to me author! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I wouldn't have had this book on my radar otherwise.

Mockingbird Summer is set in the 1960s in a small Texas town, who is still under Jim Crow laws but starting to see the Civil Rights Movement coming in, and the book focuses on both the book and movie To Kill a Mockingbird as an influence. The book is told from Corky's perspective, a young girl who has made her first Black friend, America. Some of the characters are a little too neatly saying and doing the right thing for this time, but it's still a good book from a sweet perspective. I don't want to say anything about the end, but I wish we'd found out more about America and her family.

It’s the summer of 1964 in High Cotton, Texas. Not much is going on except for preparations for the girls’ summer softball tournament between the Baptists and the Methodists. Thirteen-year-old Corky (Kathryn) Corcoran is given a book to read by the liberal-thinking librarian (yay for librarians!). It’s the classic Too Kill A Mockingbird. Corky can’t put it down, but there are many issues she doesn’t understand in this book, and the grownups are reluctant to explain. Things change dramatically for Corky and the town the day her mother gets new help in the house (Evangeline), who brings along her sixteen-year-old daughter, America. Corky asks America to help her practice softball, and Corky and her brother discover that America is as fast as an Olympic runner and is soon recruited to play for the Baptist softball team. This creates problems because America is Black and the town is racially divided with existing Jim Crow laws. A lot of people are against that and will do whatever it takes to prevent this one small step toward integration.

This coming-of-age story, MOCKINGBIRD SUMMER by Lynda Rutledge, is an incredible book, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if some people would want to ban it because its discussion of touchy issues of the 1960s (and today) has the power to change people’s hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

This sweet and thought-provoking historical fiction novel explores themes of coming-of-age, friendship, and racial relations amid the civil rights movement. I read in another review that this book read very middle grade, and I’m glad I had that in mind going in because I managed my expectations. It did read very MG, which isn’t a bad thing, but it was a little strange given that it wasn’t marketed as such.

This book probably won’t really be a book that sticks with me or really stood out. Overall though, I enjoyed the story and the lessons Corkie, the protagonist, learned throughout the story.

I love books set in this era and will read any and everything set in it! I absolutely loved this book so much and can't wait for it to come out. This will be one I'll grab a physical copy of so I can reread it. Loved every minute of reading it, can't recommend it enough

3.5 stars, round up to 4 stars

When I look at the title, I'm thinking of the classic book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I'd say I can check this story out. Here are my thoughts...

For most parts of the book, I enjoyed it. I like some of the characters, and the writing is easy to follow (I would say simple, right?). The ending, however, is not what I expected to see (oh well). Overall, the book is decent, except for the ending and some parts. If you like a coming-of-age story about diversity, friendship, issues during the Civil Rights Movement, softball, and more, then this book would be for you.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All of the opinions are my own. Thank you, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley!

I love the mood of this novel, set in the 1960's during the Civil Rights era in Texas. It is told from the perspective of a 13 year old who does not understand why people are the way they are. She develops a friendship with a 16 year old Haitian girl who lives in the other part of town who is a gifted athlete. As their friendship develops, it is complicated by their racial differences and perceptions by others, notably racist whites and the increasing tensions in the very small town that becomes increasingly divided. You can feel the tension increase and you can envision this town and the era. The characters are interesting and compelling, both the good ones and the not-so-good or bad ones. The only negative is that there were a few places where the reader gets a little bogged down in some details that could have been tightened up but it was a very enjoyable read.
I rate it 4.5 stars.

This is a wonderful book. It caught my attention from the very beginning and I was invested in the story. Great character development ! Loved the dog too.

I picked up this read based on the author alone and boy, I'm glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters (okay, most. Noah IV, Bubba, and Tad excluded), I especially loved Corky's naivete and sweet question-asking tomboyishness. Her love for America (the person, not the country) was endearing and sweet. You felt for her as she failed to understand the gravity of what was unfolding around her but didn't fault her for it, really. She just wanted a friend, wanted to play and win a softball game, and wanted to read books. Corky didn't understand or even want to understand why these terrible social injustices were happening around her. You can't help but truly love her for it. And nothing beats the sweetness of Roy Rogers the dog. I do wish I understood what happened with the two strangers who hurt America and then injured Mack. Overall, great book with a very sweet ending.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review

So fun and real! Corky’s voice was so fresh and innocent. I loved the incorporation of To Kill a Mockingbird - it felt like a literary analysis and comparison to (then) modern times, but it didn’t feel too academic to understand.

Mockingbird Summer is a coming of age story that focuses on Corky Corcoran and takes place in 1960s Texas. Corky's family hires a Haitian housekeeper (Evangeline), whose daughter, America often comes along. Corky is persistent in her efforts to befriend America, but the constant racial tensions create issues between Corky and America as well as Corky's family and the town of High Cotton, who isn't as accepting of the relationship between the two girls. Much of the story revolves around the discovery that America is an incredibly fast runner, as fast as Olympian Wilma Rudolph. Corky invites America to play on her church's softball team, and again, the town of High Cotton takes action to prevent this from happening. Corky is an inquisitive 13 year old, learning about herself and the realities of the time she is living in.

There's so much more to the story, as the author touches on issues of race, gender equality, the conflict in Vietnam, I enjoyed the way that the book To Kill a Mockingbird was weaved into the story, and the transformation of Corky as an innocent, inquisitive girl who learns about herself and the realities of the time she is living in. The writing was beautiful, and there were several poignant passages that I underlined and re-read to savor them. The book leaned slightly YA in its simplicity of the characters and situations, but I don't think it's intended to be a YA book. I still greatly enjoyed the story and experiencing this time through Corky's eyes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

In MOCKINGBIRD SUMMER by Lynda Rutledge, two girls become friends and a small Texas town will never be the same. When a new housekeeper and her daughter America join Corky Corcoran's household, Corky excitedly shares TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD with her new friend America, changing both of their lives during one summer of baseball, small town life, and a family wrangling with personal and social upheavals. I enjoyed the view of small town life in 1964 Texas and the genuine friendship between the two girls as well as the lived experience of a book that captured their imaginations and inspired them to act. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

BOOK: MOCKINGBIRD SUMMER
AUTHOR: LYNDA RUTLEDGE
PUB DATE: JANUARY 2023
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Like its title, Mockingbird Summer, this book is similar to it's (kinda) namesake, To Kill a Mockingbird. We have our white thirteen year old naive inquisitive FMC, Corky, who's trying to navigate the world and to understand why things are why they were. I liked Corky, she was inquisitive about so many things and not afraid to ask questions, and I loved that about her. Although, she can be quite annoying with those questions, but it's understandable. I liked reading Corky's naive POV. She had a good heart, but she was not aware of a lot of things, it was nice seeing discover the things wrong with the society and what she should do with it.
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Now America , although Corky is the MC, the book was kickstarted because of her. America was also an amazing character. She didn’t say much, but you could glean a lot from her silences, and I liked that. But, it would have been if we had more of her POV. I couldn't possibly understand what she was feeling, having all that talent and being unable to use it because of her skin color.
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The book also revolved around the town's softball game(the girl's team). Through this occasion, the true colors of the villagers were exposed. Most of all, I liked Pastor Pete, he did the right thing as a religious leader and that's what religion should be about. The description of the citizens were realistic too.
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I also loved Corky's family, her mother's resilience and her brother, Mac. Mac was my favorite character, he was not afraid to stand up for what was right abd he was such a good big brother to Corky.
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This book was amazing with a fresh take on racism and I enjoyed it. You should definitely read it
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I thoroughly enjoyed Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge. She did a great job hooking you into her characters. Most of the story is told from Corky’s perspective, but you also get other characters’ perspectives as well. Corky grew up a lot that summer of 1964. I appreciated the ending as well, but won’t give any detail as to why.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for an ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: January 30, 2024

Mockingbird Summer is a coming of age story following 13 year old Corky (Kathryn) Corcoran during the eventful summer of 1964. Corky is becoming more observant of the way the world works and questioning of its many injustices. Life in her small town of High Cotton, Texas becomes more interesting and challenging to her as issues of race, gender and class come to the fore. Her family’s new housekeeper brings her daughter, 16 year old America, to work one day. Corky becomes enamoured with America, and America’s speed and skills with a ball see her recruited to Corky’s church softball team. This creates a lot of tension since America is Black and comes from the wrong sides of the tracks literally and figuratively. Meanwhile Corky’s mother wants a part time job but her father objects fearing people would see it as a sign his business was failing, there’s a sit-in at the soda fountain of his pharmacy, Corky’s brother Mack is home from the college for the summer and his liberal views are juxtaposed against the town’s more conservative values, and there are signs of an effort to revive the KKK in town.

This was an easy to read story with many parallels to To Kill a Mockingbird, which was published just a few years before this story is set. At the behest of the librarian Corky borrows it early in the novel and the book is a recurring motif throughout. TKAM is set during the 1930s and it is clear that not much has changed in the South in the interim. Corky is a charming character, curious and well-meaning but rather naive. The summer of the novel really opens her mind and heart, influencing her life’s path. That the book also features a kind, influential and progressive librarian, plus a memorable dog full of personality are additional pluses.

Overall I enjoyed Mockingbird Summer and its exploration of race, civil rights, gender and class. It was a story that went down easy and would be a good pick for readers seeking a gentle approach to issues like racial discrimination. However, I was left wanting a little more. It made heavy use of foreshadowing and the recurring references to To Kill a Mockingbird meant the climax seemed a little underwhelming. Tensions simmered but didn’t boil over as violently as I feared - which isn’t to downplay the way America’s family and Mack were impacted.

I would have loved to hear more directly from America, to get her perspective on the events she was unwittingly inciting, the racism of the time, and to see Corky through her eyes. Her words and actions indicated an awareness and insightfulness that Corky, being white, had not needed to develop. A more direct juxtaposition of their thoughts and experiences could have given this story an additional layer of depth.

3.5 stars
As To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books ever, and I absolutely adored West With Giraffes, I was super happy to see Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge on the list of soon to be released novels in 2024. Set in the early 1960's, the story centers on 13-year-old Corky and her new friend, the daughter of her mother's new household help whose name is America. The novel's focus is the annual softball game between the Methodist and Baptist girls, and the hope of the Baptists to finally win a game with super-athlete America playing on their side. There is one stumbling block, however, America, who lives on the Southside of the railroad tracks, is Black and there are Baptist deacons who are not in favor of her playing.

Lynda Rutledge writes a not-too-harrowing story of the friendship between two girls on both sides of the Civil Rights movement in 1960's Texas. The story is somewhat predictable, with much less involvement of the book than I expected, and I was not as emotionally involved in it as I hoped. Through the course of the book, naive Corky develops some understanding of the racial issues facing her friend, but her insensitivity was a little disturbing at times. Overall, it was enjoyable, and a good, fairly quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the digital ARC of Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge. The opinions in this review are my own.