This book covers some hard themes around identity and race. It is set around the end of segregation in the American South and follows a mixed race boy who is white passing. His life is shaken up when he receives a letter from his white only school saying that he is no longer allowed to attend because he's black.
The book gives an interesting perspective on life during the end of segregation. In some states interracial relationships and marriages were legal but in others black people and white people were still segregated and some people wanted life to stay that way. Mark's father died when he was young but before he passed away, Mark thought he was just tanned because of his job working outdoors. However, he finds out that his dad was actually black and despite looking white himself, he is now also considered black. However, while he's too black for the white school, for some he's too white for the black community. Throughout the story, Mark has to challenge prejudice and discrimination from all sides but must also challenge his own internal racism. This book is definitely for older readers. It contains some challenging vocabulary and there is an incident of violence that results in the death of one of the characters so it is important to think about how to use the book within the classroom. However, the themes are important and the story talks about a unique time in America's history.