Just a warning-lots or content that was unnecessary related to the romance part of the book

DNF ( )

Atlanta, Georgia is the transplant home for Ruth, her sister, and their mother after her father dies. It is 1958 and Ruth, a New York city native, jokes that they "turn back the clock 30 years" as she and her grieving family cross the Mason-Dixon line to live with her maternal grandparents. She hides her Jewish identity as she finds her way as a high school junior in the segregated south.

Ruth lives between the pool parties and foot ball games of high school and the occasional service at synagog. This juxtaposition was very satisfying.

Engaging read but aside from Ruth few characters are more than two dimensional. Especially flat is the "dreamy" boyfriend Davis Jefferson; he is not alone in the froth and pastel of Ruth's elite school social circle of paper dolls, but a bit more insight would have made him a more understandable interest and given the story a bit of tension. ( )

DNF ( )

3.5 Stars

This is such a necessary and great story about identity, history, and accountability. In the Neighborhood of Truth follows Ruth Robb, New York transplant as she navigates the racially and anti semitic environment of her new home in min-1905s Atlanta. I immediately liked Ruth. Even though she’s unsure of how much of her identity she wants to reveal, she is confident in herself. And her love of all things fashion and beauty related. I also really loved the family dynamic in the story. There was a lot of honesty there - especially as Fontaine is more judgemental and ignorant than you may desire. But I really liked Mr. Hank. I didn’t really like the romance in the story. It was kinda rushed and not that well-developed. The ending of the story could have been a little more flesh out as well, but I really enjoyed the story and bringing this time in history to light.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Based loosely on the 1958 bombing of Atlanta’s oldest synagogue, In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton tells a historical tale that resonates today. Ruth Robb, her mother, and younger sister have moved from New York City to her grandparents' house in Atlanta after the death of her father. Ruth finds herself plunged in the tony whirlwind of private school, etiquette lessons, pre-debutante balls and she loves it--but Ruth has a secret that could make her lose all of it. In the Neighborhood of True explores a lot of contemporary issues--race, class, domestic terrorism--wrapped in a historical package with the universal themes of grief, love, and family. Carlton has done a great job with this book and I highly recommend it to any contemporary YA reader even though it is not a typical contemporary novel. ( )