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Mockingbird Summer
In segregated High Cotton, Texas, in 1964, the racial divide is as clear as the railroad tracks running through town. It's also where two girls are going to shake things up.
This is the last summer of thirteen-year-old Corky Corcoran's childhood, and her family hires a Haitian housekeeper who brings her daughter, America, along with her. Corky is quick to befriend America and eager to share her favorite new "grown-up" novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. America's take on it is different and profoundly personal. As their friendship grows, Corky finds out so much more about America's life and her hidden skill: she can run as fast as Olympian Wilma Rudolph!
When Corky asks America to play with her girls' softball team for the annual church rivals game, it's a move that crosses the color line and sets off a firestorm. As tensions escalate, it fast becomes a season of big changes in High Cotton. For Corky, those changes will last a lifetime.
This is the last summer of thirteen-year-old Corky Corcoran's childhood, and her family hires a Haitian housekeeper who brings her daughter, America, along with her. Corky is quick to befriend America and eager to share her favorite new "grown-up" novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. America's take on it is different and profoundly personal. As their friendship grows, Corky finds out so much more about America's life and her hidden skill: she can run as fast as Olympian Wilma Rudolph!
When Corky asks America to play with her girls' softball team for the annual church rivals game, it's a move that crosses the color line and sets off a firestorm. As tensions escalate, it fast becomes a season of big changes in High Cotton. For Corky, those changes will last a lifetime.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2024
2367 people are currently reading
25060 people want to read
About the author
Lynda Rutledge
3 books1,384 followersLynda Rutledge is the bestselling author of "West with Giraffes," selected by Library of Congress-affiliated Texas Center for the Book as their 2023 Great Read and translated into 15 languages. She’s also the author of "Faith Bass Darling's Last Garage Sale," winner of the 2013 Writers League of Texas Fiction Award which was adapted into the major 2019 French film "La deniére folie de Claire Darling" starring Catherine Deneuve. Her fiction has won awards and residencies from Atlantic Center for the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, and Ragdale Foundation, among many others.
Her latest novel, "Mockingbird Summer," set in a tiny segregated town in 1964 on the eve of massive cultural change, explores the impact of great books, the burden of potential, and the power of friendship with humor, poignancy, and hope.
In her eclectic career before becoming a novelist, she was a full-time professional writer––a freelance journalist, copywriter, film reviewer, book collaborator, and travel writer while also earning an MA in American literature and an MFA in creative writing,
After years residing in urban locales including Chicago and San Diego, she currently lives with her husband outside Austin, Texas. For much more information about all her books as well as Lynda, visit her website: www.lyndarutledge.com
Her latest novel, "Mockingbird Summer," set in a tiny segregated town in 1964 on the eve of massive cultural change, explores the impact of great books, the burden of potential, and the power of friendship with humor, poignancy, and hope.
In her eclectic career before becoming a novelist, she was a full-time professional writer––a freelance journalist, copywriter, film reviewer, book collaborator, and travel writer while also earning an MA in American literature and an MFA in creative writing,
After years residing in urban locales including Chicago and San Diego, she currently lives with her husband outside Austin, Texas. For much more information about all her books as well as Lynda, visit her website: www.lyndarutledge.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 931 reviews
December 21, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded down
I couldn’t wait to read Mockingbird Summer for two reasons. First, I adored West With Giraffes. But also, this takes place in 1964, and the 60s were such a time of incredible change. “Corky had just turned thirteen. During her short life, the country had already experienced the Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy assassination, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech.” This hit home for me, as I would have been just a bit younger than Corky in 1964. Turns out, Lynda Rutledge is also of a similar age and grew up in a segregated town like High Cotton. Unfortunately, the book didn’t work for me the way West With Giraffes did.
The book isn’t identified as YA, but the writing totally comes across as if YAs are the intended audience. I guess it is to be expected with a thirteen year old MC but too often I felt the author was talking down to me, explaining things that would be obvious to any adult. This excessive information slowed the pace of the story down to a crawl at times. The narrative style is omniscient and we seem to hear from everyone in the family. I could have done without Roy Rogers, the dog (not the cowboy) being anthropomorphized.
The story deals with all sorts of serious issues - racism, segregation and the civil rights movement, women’s rights and the growing conflict in Vietnam. . But it’s all very simplistic. There are good guys and bad guys. I wanted more gray shading, more nuance, in the characters. But there was still a great sense of suspense and I was invested to see what would happen and how things would play out. I liked that at least the ending of the book was ambiguous and she didn’t attempt to tie everything up in a neat bow.
My thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
I couldn’t wait to read Mockingbird Summer for two reasons. First, I adored West With Giraffes. But also, this takes place in 1964, and the 60s were such a time of incredible change. “Corky had just turned thirteen. During her short life, the country had already experienced the Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy assassination, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech.” This hit home for me, as I would have been just a bit younger than Corky in 1964. Turns out, Lynda Rutledge is also of a similar age and grew up in a segregated town like High Cotton. Unfortunately, the book didn’t work for me the way West With Giraffes did.
The book isn’t identified as YA, but the writing totally comes across as if YAs are the intended audience. I guess it is to be expected with a thirteen year old MC but too often I felt the author was talking down to me, explaining things that would be obvious to any adult. This excessive information slowed the pace of the story down to a crawl at times. The narrative style is omniscient and we seem to hear from everyone in the family. I could have done without Roy Rogers, the dog (not the cowboy) being anthropomorphized.
The story deals with all sorts of serious issues - racism, segregation and the civil rights movement, women’s rights and the growing conflict in Vietnam. . But it’s all very simplistic. There are good guys and bad guys. I wanted more gray shading, more nuance, in the characters. But there was still a great sense of suspense and I was invested to see what would happen and how things would play out. I liked that at least the ending of the book was ambiguous and she didn’t attempt to tie everything up in a neat bow.
My thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
November 30, 2023
'I've been thinking about lines. Lines that we stand in. Lines that divide us. Lines that long ago, blurred for a moment at a little baseball field...And the lines others crossed to do wrong...'.
I believe that this quote could serve as a synopsis for this book; a summary of the summer of 1964 when Corky (Kathryn) Corcoran turned thirteen and desperately tried to become friends with America, a Haitian girl from the Southside. In her innocent, yet blundering attempts, to understand and befriend America, Corky's eyes are opened to America - the country she lives in. The heady heat of the Civil Rights movement, the hypocrisy of women's right to equality, and the escalation of the Vietnam War.
Corky invites her friend America to join the Baptist Church girl's softball team. The pastor, coach, and other girls grow to admire and rely on her skills but not everyone in the small, Texan town is so open-minded to a mixed team. Tensions begin to boil after each practice and threaten to erupt as the game against a rival team looms. 'In big times of change, 'normal' is what is being changed'.
'Mockingbird Summer' touches upon a lot of big issues, through the eyes of a child who begins to understand the world as a young adult. There is plenty to ponder and appreciate, 'And, as life changing stories sometimes do, it all began with a book'. If you enjoy historical fiction, American history and coming-of-age stories, this one is for you.
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.
I believe that this quote could serve as a synopsis for this book; a summary of the summer of 1964 when Corky (Kathryn) Corcoran turned thirteen and desperately tried to become friends with America, a Haitian girl from the Southside. In her innocent, yet blundering attempts, to understand and befriend America, Corky's eyes are opened to America - the country she lives in. The heady heat of the Civil Rights movement, the hypocrisy of women's right to equality, and the escalation of the Vietnam War.
Corky invites her friend America to join the Baptist Church girl's softball team. The pastor, coach, and other girls grow to admire and rely on her skills but not everyone in the small, Texan town is so open-minded to a mixed team. Tensions begin to boil after each practice and threaten to erupt as the game against a rival team looms. 'In big times of change, 'normal' is what is being changed'.
'Mockingbird Summer' touches upon a lot of big issues, through the eyes of a child who begins to understand the world as a young adult. There is plenty to ponder and appreciate, 'And, as life changing stories sometimes do, it all began with a book'. If you enjoy historical fiction, American history and coming-of-age stories, this one is for you.
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.
January 17, 2024
Mockingbird Summer takes the reader back to a small Southern town, High Cotton, Texas, in the summer of 1964. The Civil Rights Act was just about to be signed into law, but its implementation was far from starting. That year, thirteen-year-old Corky Corcoran meets sixteen-year-old America Wilcox, whose various talents amaze her. While trying to be America's friend, Corky, a caucasian, inadvertently does things that come across as insensitive to the fact that America is black. Since she admires America, Corky wants to make things right so they can be friends.
While enjoyable, the simplistic story-telling makes it feel like a young Adult novel. With a few exceptions, the adults seem very one-dimensional. Many are prejudiced and don't want things to change. There is a wealthy town bully, who is very stereotypical. The only tension in the novel revolves around whether or not America will play in the annual softball game between the Methodist girls and the Baptist girls. On the positive side, the novel does an excellent job of showing how a young friendship can shape a person forever.
I was fortunate to get an advanced reader copy. I found a historical error, that perhaps will be corrected before the novel is published. Corky listens to a Texas Rangers baseball game with her grandfather. The World Champion Texas Rangers did not start playing in Texas until 1972. At the time of the novel, they were still the Washington Senators.
While enjoyable, the simplistic story-telling makes it feel like a young Adult novel. With a few exceptions, the adults seem very one-dimensional. Many are prejudiced and don't want things to change. There is a wealthy town bully, who is very stereotypical. The only tension in the novel revolves around whether or not America will play in the annual softball game between the Methodist girls and the Baptist girls. On the positive side, the novel does an excellent job of showing how a young friendship can shape a person forever.
I was fortunate to get an advanced reader copy. I found a historical error, that perhaps will be corrected before the novel is published. Corky listens to a Texas Rangers baseball game with her grandfather. The World Champion Texas Rangers did not start playing in Texas until 1972. At the time of the novel, they were still the Washington Senators.
January 29, 2024
3.5 stars rounded down - I really expected more of a tie-in to Harper Lee's classic book “To Kill a Mockingbird” in this one, but it’s really just a historical fiction piece set in a small TX town about that time (early 60's) & Jim Crow meets the Civil Rights movement. It was okay & had it's moments, just not what I expected. Oh well…
January 16, 2024
Kathryn “Corky” Corcoran lives in a town called High Cotton, in Texas and she’s thirteen. Corky loves to read and the town's librarian gives her a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and some parts she doesn’t understand and no one's willing to explain it to her.
Corky gets rather annoyed by everyone’s attitude, she does ask a lot of questions and how is she going to learn about things by staying silent. Her dad owns the drugstore in town, he worries about his wife's health and he employs a Haitian housekeeper and she brings along her sixteen year old daughter American and Corky finds her fascinating.
Corky lends her the copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, she’s rather shocked when America’s reaction is very different to her own, it's been thirty years since it was written and not much has changed, High Cotton is a segregated town, the white population lives on the North-side of the train line and the coloured folk live on the South-side.
Corky discovers America can run fast as the Olympian athlete Wilma Rudolph, she asks her to play in the annual church softball game, The Baptist girls verses the Methodist girls and she has no idea she’s about to create trouble and mayhem, not everyone in High Cotton wants a coloured teenager playing baseball, Corky is rather naive and especially about racism and people’s attitude towards people of colour.
I received a copy of Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge from Lake Union Publishing and in exchange for an honest review. The story explores the main characters Corky’s thoughts and feelings and I would class it as young adult novel and teenagers could relate to this book and learn a lot from reading it.
Corky is a chatty whirlwind and a tomboy, other characters influenced the narrative and added more emotion to the story, like her mother Belle and father Cal jr, brother Mack, America, Reverend Pete and Roy Rogers the dog. Three and a half stars from me and a tale about a young girl growing up, trying to make sense of what's happening around her, striving to be a better person and during a difficult time.
The 1960’s was poised on the eve of change, customs and their way of life, segregation and racism, the Civil Rights Movement and of course the Vietnam War were all about to start.
Corky gets rather annoyed by everyone’s attitude, she does ask a lot of questions and how is she going to learn about things by staying silent. Her dad owns the drugstore in town, he worries about his wife's health and he employs a Haitian housekeeper and she brings along her sixteen year old daughter American and Corky finds her fascinating.
Corky lends her the copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, she’s rather shocked when America’s reaction is very different to her own, it's been thirty years since it was written and not much has changed, High Cotton is a segregated town, the white population lives on the North-side of the train line and the coloured folk live on the South-side.
Corky discovers America can run fast as the Olympian athlete Wilma Rudolph, she asks her to play in the annual church softball game, The Baptist girls verses the Methodist girls and she has no idea she’s about to create trouble and mayhem, not everyone in High Cotton wants a coloured teenager playing baseball, Corky is rather naive and especially about racism and people’s attitude towards people of colour.
I received a copy of Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge from Lake Union Publishing and in exchange for an honest review. The story explores the main characters Corky’s thoughts and feelings and I would class it as young adult novel and teenagers could relate to this book and learn a lot from reading it.
Corky is a chatty whirlwind and a tomboy, other characters influenced the narrative and added more emotion to the story, like her mother Belle and father Cal jr, brother Mack, America, Reverend Pete and Roy Rogers the dog. Three and a half stars from me and a tale about a young girl growing up, trying to make sense of what's happening around her, striving to be a better person and during a difficult time.
The 1960’s was poised on the eve of change, customs and their way of life, segregation and racism, the Civil Rights Movement and of course the Vietnam War were all about to start.
September 10, 2024
It has been some years on reading to Kill A Mockingbird, and will be on my tbr list.
A heartfelt and uplifting, telling the story of a curious and brave girl growing up and learning slowly how to make a difference. She encourages us to do better, and stand up to the wrongs in this world.
A heartfelt and uplifting, telling the story of a curious and brave girl growing up and learning slowly how to make a difference. She encourages us to do better, and stand up to the wrongs in this world.
March 20, 2024
2 stars
I decided to read this novel due to it's author, Lynda Rutledge. I read her previous book West with Giraffes and just loved it. So with that recommendation I picked this one up.
I know this book was billed as 'coming of age' however I never saw or read that it was also YA. But that is my take on this book - totally YA. Not because the protagonist is a young girl, but because it read like YA. It felt like a sunny afternoon walk in the park. Due to the meat of the book I expected a really good story and was disappointed to find it more whitewashed than blatant.
This is set in the mid 60's in a town that the railroad tracks divides the town - white families on one side and black families on the other. The 'north' and 'south' that permeated so many towns back then. But low and behold a young black girl is invited to play on the - up until then - only white girls softball team. This creates big changes, not only within the town, but also within the girls' lives.
The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee plays a large part in this story as well.
I will continue to look for books authored by Rutledge, in hopes that I find them more like West with Giraffes, than like Mockingbird Summer.
I decided to read this novel due to it's author, Lynda Rutledge. I read her previous book West with Giraffes and just loved it. So with that recommendation I picked this one up.
I know this book was billed as 'coming of age' however I never saw or read that it was also YA. But that is my take on this book - totally YA. Not because the protagonist is a young girl, but because it read like YA. It felt like a sunny afternoon walk in the park. Due to the meat of the book I expected a really good story and was disappointed to find it more whitewashed than blatant.
This is set in the mid 60's in a town that the railroad tracks divides the town - white families on one side and black families on the other. The 'north' and 'south' that permeated so many towns back then. But low and behold a young black girl is invited to play on the - up until then - only white girls softball team. This creates big changes, not only within the town, but also within the girls' lives.
The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee plays a large part in this story as well.
I will continue to look for books authored by Rutledge, in hopes that I find them more like West with Giraffes, than like Mockingbird Summer.
July 5, 2024
Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge is a coming-of-age novel about 13-year-old Corky and 16-year-old America in 1964 Texas. The two girls meet when their mothers do, as America’s Haitian mother begins working as a housekeeper for Corky’s family. They bond over their shared love of softball, with America demonstrating her skill on the field and challenging the town's prejudices by being invited to play on a predominantly white team. As Corky lends America a book, she starts to confront complex themes such as hate, rape, and viewing the world from a non-white perspective. The novel addresses issues of racism, friendship, and bridging racial divides.
I found the book to be just okay and was ultimately disappointed. It lacked depth and was written on a YA level, which felt overly simplistic and basic.
I found the book to be just okay and was ultimately disappointed. It lacked depth and was written on a YA level, which felt overly simplistic and basic.
August 24, 2024
Such a great historical fiction book! Narration on audio was excellent!
January 12, 2024
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Set in 1964, in a small town called High Cotton, it is the coming-of-age story of Kathryn ‘Corky’ Corcoran. She’s 13 years old, pretty naive and in store for a summer that will stay with her for the rest of her life. I loved her dog ‘Roy Rogers’.
When Evangeline, a Haitian woman, and her daughter America come to town, things really start to stir up. America can run faster than the wind, and soon she’s enlisted to play softball for the local Baptist girls team. There are people who will do almost anything to stop her from playing. Corky idolizes America and quickly learns how little she truly understands about the differences of race in that time.
I enjoyed how the author incorporated the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, into the story. This book is all about doing the right thing, in spite of the cost. It’s about the racial divide and the ugliness that can exist in the world.
‘What you make of tragedy is what makes you.’
While I can say I enjoyed the ending, it felt a little too neatly wrapped up for me. It’s a story with a powerful message that I think is so important to remember. I’d recommend this book if you enjoy thought-provoking stories centered on racial/gender inequality.
CW | A bit of mild language
Set in 1964, in a small town called High Cotton, it is the coming-of-age story of Kathryn ‘Corky’ Corcoran. She’s 13 years old, pretty naive and in store for a summer that will stay with her for the rest of her life. I loved her dog ‘Roy Rogers’.
When Evangeline, a Haitian woman, and her daughter America come to town, things really start to stir up. America can run faster than the wind, and soon she’s enlisted to play softball for the local Baptist girls team. There are people who will do almost anything to stop her from playing. Corky idolizes America and quickly learns how little she truly understands about the differences of race in that time.
I enjoyed how the author incorporated the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, into the story. This book is all about doing the right thing, in spite of the cost. It’s about the racial divide and the ugliness that can exist in the world.
‘What you make of tragedy is what makes you.’
While I can say I enjoyed the ending, it felt a little too neatly wrapped up for me. It’s a story with a powerful message that I think is so important to remember. I’d recommend this book if you enjoy thought-provoking stories centered on racial/gender inequality.
CW | A bit of mild language
August 6, 2024
A child of the 60's, just like Corky, the experiences of the young people in this book caught on the sticker bushes of my memories and I was dragged along. . .and it was a good thing. White kids of those days lived a rather curated life - more than you'd think unless you lived it. Lines were drawn, boundaries were closely guarded and the grownups in our lives felt like they weren't paying attention, but I assure you they were. . .I had a friend like America. . .so this took me back. I didn't get it either, for a long time. Maybe haven't yet. . .but am working on it, and books like this help.
Corky's experience with Mockingbird was eerily close to mine. The question about a new word, shut down fast, mother-fish-eyes applied to the situation and I never asked again. It was a dictionary, encyclopedia that finally popped that bubble for me. This read gave me the chance to follow Corky and her brave brother around and was a trip right back to night-lit ball fields, wide open parks and shadowy corners without parental surveillance - at once both exciting and terrifying.
A read that brought up new thoughts, and old ones; one that shows where and how we've changed and how we've still got a long way to go. But friendships, one built at a time, further the ground gained.
Keep up the insightful, compassionate writing, Lynda Rutledge: You've got an earnest fan in this reader!
*A sincere thank you to Lynda Rutledge, Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #MockingbirdSummer #NetGalley
Corky's experience with Mockingbird was eerily close to mine. The question about a new word, shut down fast, mother-fish-eyes applied to the situation and I never asked again. It was a dictionary, encyclopedia that finally popped that bubble for me. This read gave me the chance to follow Corky and her brave brother around and was a trip right back to night-lit ball fields, wide open parks and shadowy corners without parental surveillance - at once both exciting and terrifying.
A read that brought up new thoughts, and old ones; one that shows where and how we've changed and how we've still got a long way to go. But friendships, one built at a time, further the ground gained.
Keep up the insightful, compassionate writing, Lynda Rutledge: You've got an earnest fan in this reader!
*A sincere thank you to Lynda Rutledge, Lake Union Publishing, Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #MockingbirdSummer #NetGalley
April 18, 2024
After reading two absolutely wonderful books by Lynda Rutledge (FBD Last Garage Sale and WW Giraffes), I almost feel guilty giving this three stars, which is my “meh” rating. It’s just hard to hide my disappointment. Although this was labeled as an adult novel, it is more like a very YA.
In 1964, a white girl in the small town of High Cotton TX named Corky, meets her first black friend, America, through sports. Coincidentally, Corky’s summer read is her first adult library book, the classic To Kill a Mockingbird.
Segregation, sexism and racism are the themes of Mockingbird Summer. Fiction using these subjects has been done to death, but I thought this one would offer something different. It did not. I wanted more story and more heart and less description of a divided society. Unfortunately the attitude of the whole book seemed a bit preachy to me.
I wanted more of a soulful connection between Corky and America. Although the two girls were friendly, they did not seem close. Corky hero-worshipped America, but America seemed to be only polite to Corky. This, for me, made the end seem really awkward.
I knew the characters’ names, I knew their ages, and a folksy background story for each. There was no mention, however, of who they WERE. The characters were shallow with no development, defined only by their deeds.
Speaking of folksy background stories, this book drove me crazy with them. There was no subject or action that wasn’t over explained, and the frequent background stories were as meandering and off the subject as the stories of any 90 year old grandpa.
A young “tween” that has no knowledge of the 1960’s MIGHT benefit from reading this, although they would not be familiar with the book TKAM which probably would be too mature for them.
I look forward to reading the next book by Lynda Rutledge.
In 1964, a white girl in the small town of High Cotton TX named Corky, meets her first black friend, America, through sports. Coincidentally, Corky’s summer read is her first adult library book, the classic To Kill a Mockingbird.
Segregation, sexism and racism are the themes of Mockingbird Summer. Fiction using these subjects has been done to death, but I thought this one would offer something different. It did not. I wanted more story and more heart and less description of a divided society. Unfortunately the attitude of the whole book seemed a bit preachy to me.
I wanted more of a soulful connection between Corky and America. Although the two girls were friendly, they did not seem close. Corky hero-worshipped America, but America seemed to be only polite to Corky. This, for me, made the end seem really awkward.
I knew the characters’ names, I knew their ages, and a folksy background story for each. There was no mention, however, of who they WERE. The characters were shallow with no development, defined only by their deeds.
Speaking of folksy background stories, this book drove me crazy with them. There was no subject or action that wasn’t over explained, and the frequent background stories were as meandering and off the subject as the stories of any 90 year old grandpa.
A young “tween” that has no knowledge of the 1960’s MIGHT benefit from reading this, although they would not be familiar with the book TKAM which probably would be too mature for them.
I look forward to reading the next book by Lynda Rutledge.
January 25, 2024
This is one of the best coming of age stories I’ve read in a while!
It is cantered around Tom-boyish Corky and her brother Mack navigating their teenage years within 1960s in the midst of racial divide. Making their own friendships and relationships.
The story telling and scene setting throughout the whole book was amazing, the small town in Texas really came to life in every little detail.
I couldn’t put this book down it was so beautifully written from start to finish.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and the author Lynda Rutledge for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to the release date I’m so grateful
It is cantered around Tom-boyish Corky and her brother Mack navigating their teenage years within 1960s in the midst of racial divide. Making their own friendships and relationships.
The story telling and scene setting throughout the whole book was amazing, the small town in Texas really came to life in every little detail.
I couldn’t put this book down it was so beautifully written from start to finish.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and the author Lynda Rutledge for giving me the opportunity to read this book prior to the release date I’m so grateful
October 29, 2023
Mockingbird Summer is one of my favorite books of the year. It is the powerful coming-of-age story of thirteen-year-old Corky Corcoran as she navigates her way into young adulthood in the midst of the 1960's racial divide.
Corky loves to read and her librarian entrusts her with a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, feeling Corky is ready to handle this grown-up material.
Corky's father hires household help for his wife, the helper is a black woman from Haiti who brings along her daughter named America. Corky quickly befriends America, and they go outside where Corky enlists America's help in practicing softball. It is there that Corky realizes America's talent...she can run as fast as Wilma Rudolph, that fastest woman in the world. She recruits her to play on the church's softball team. This sets off a storm in racially divided High Cotton, Texas.
I loved Lynda Rutledge's storytelling abilities; I devoured this book in two days as I alternately devoured and savored this story, not wanting it to end. The characters were all so descriptively written that I felt like I knew each of them as people in my own town. Corky was such a plucky character, I loved everything about her, and it was a pleasure to see her grow and develop.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel, and many thanks to Lynda Rutledge for creating and sharing this inspiring novel with us all.
Corky loves to read and her librarian entrusts her with a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, feeling Corky is ready to handle this grown-up material.
Corky's father hires household help for his wife, the helper is a black woman from Haiti who brings along her daughter named America. Corky quickly befriends America, and they go outside where Corky enlists America's help in practicing softball. It is there that Corky realizes America's talent...she can run as fast as Wilma Rudolph, that fastest woman in the world. She recruits her to play on the church's softball team. This sets off a storm in racially divided High Cotton, Texas.
I loved Lynda Rutledge's storytelling abilities; I devoured this book in two days as I alternately devoured and savored this story, not wanting it to end. The characters were all so descriptively written that I felt like I knew each of them as people in my own town. Corky was such a plucky character, I loved everything about her, and it was a pleasure to see her grow and develop.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel, and many thanks to Lynda Rutledge for creating and sharing this inspiring novel with us all.
November 26, 2023
This book is set in 1960s Texas, and tells the story of a young white girl, “Corky” who longs to be friends with her mother’s Black housekeeper’s daughter, America. America is a nearly supernaturally athletic wunderkind, and when the adults in Corky’s sphere discover the Black girl’s superpower, they are tripping all over themselves to get her on the all-white Baptist girls’ softball team before the traditional summer face-off against the Methodists. Now I’ve told you everything you need to know to guess how the rest of the story plays out.
Obviously, Corky’s family and the Baptist pastor are the Good White People. Obviously, Corky’s brother, Mack, who’s been away at college for a year, is unusually enlightened and progressive for a 1960s era white boy. Obviously, the Baptist girls’ team (underdogs before America joined the team) are going to win the “big game”. And obviously, there are going to be some very unhappy racist white people in tiny High Cotton, Texas that decide to pick a fight.
The plot is twee and predictable, the pace is slow, the constant handing off of perspective from one character to another mid-chapter is awkward and jarring, and the dialogue and mood are very squeaky-clean in an inauthentic and preachy-preachy way. It feels very contrived, all for the purpose of making white people feel good about Corky’s “colorblind” efforts to bridge a great racial divide. I think my uber-conservative evangelical parents would love it.
To top it off, the epilogue leaves us with “20/20” Covid-era hindsight, giving us a peek at grown-up Corky’s life. We learn that she spent the rest of her life continuing to benefit from the comfort and privilege of her whiteness, always thinking back fondly about her Black “friend” America. It puts a sweet little bow on the story… without dealing in any real way with the ugliness that was exposed to many during the post-George Floyd unrest, from which most people have moved on without making any effort toward perspective shift and positive antiracist social action.
I am the first to admit that, as a middle class white American woman, I still have a long way to go. I am not, nor will I ever be, “there”: I’ve learned enough over the last few years to see that re-learning how to understand race will be a lifelong effort on my part. To me, this novel just felt tone-deaf and quite icky, frankly, in ways I couldn’t overlook. I wanted so much to love it, but I sadly did not. I guess it was too much to hope for any of the characters in this novel to have experienced a truly meaningful transformation by the end.
Obviously, Corky’s family and the Baptist pastor are the Good White People. Obviously, Corky’s brother, Mack, who’s been away at college for a year, is unusually enlightened and progressive for a 1960s era white boy. Obviously, the Baptist girls’ team (underdogs before America joined the team) are going to win the “big game”. And obviously, there are going to be some very unhappy racist white people in tiny High Cotton, Texas that decide to pick a fight.
The plot is twee and predictable, the pace is slow, the constant handing off of perspective from one character to another mid-chapter is awkward and jarring, and the dialogue and mood are very squeaky-clean in an inauthentic and preachy-preachy way. It feels very contrived, all for the purpose of making white people feel good about Corky’s “colorblind” efforts to bridge a great racial divide. I think my uber-conservative evangelical parents would love it.
To top it off, the epilogue leaves us with “20/20” Covid-era hindsight, giving us a peek at grown-up Corky’s life. We learn that she spent the rest of her life continuing to benefit from the comfort and privilege of her whiteness, always thinking back fondly about her Black “friend” America. It puts a sweet little bow on the story… without dealing in any real way with the ugliness that was exposed to many during the post-George Floyd unrest, from which most people have moved on without making any effort toward perspective shift and positive antiracist social action.
I am the first to admit that, as a middle class white American woman, I still have a long way to go. I am not, nor will I ever be, “there”: I’ve learned enough over the last few years to see that re-learning how to understand race will be a lifelong effort on my part. To me, this novel just felt tone-deaf and quite icky, frankly, in ways I couldn’t overlook. I wanted so much to love it, but I sadly did not. I guess it was too much to hope for any of the characters in this novel to have experienced a truly meaningful transformation by the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2024
Mockingbird Summer by Lynda Rutledge. Thanks to @amazonpublishing for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thirteen year old Corky Corcoran learns a lot in the summer of 1964. In segregated Texas, she makes a friend with her Haitian housekeeper’s daughter. Tension in the town grows and make for big changes.
West for Giraffes was one of my favorite books the year that I read it so I was excited to read this one, especially after hearing the plot. The time period in the book is one of my favorites to read about, about it was interesting to see it from Corky’s eyes. This book reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird, which interestingly plays a role in the story itself. Watching Corky come of age and understand the world around her, good and bad, was an incredible experience.
“This was the world Corky had grown up in. And the world you grow up in always feels like the way it has always been and will always be. Until it isn’t.”
Mockingbird Summer comes out 1/30.
Thirteen year old Corky Corcoran learns a lot in the summer of 1964. In segregated Texas, she makes a friend with her Haitian housekeeper’s daughter. Tension in the town grows and make for big changes.
West for Giraffes was one of my favorite books the year that I read it so I was excited to read this one, especially after hearing the plot. The time period in the book is one of my favorites to read about, about it was interesting to see it from Corky’s eyes. This book reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird, which interestingly plays a role in the story itself. Watching Corky come of age and understand the world around her, good and bad, was an incredible experience.
“This was the world Corky had grown up in. And the world you grow up in always feels like the way it has always been and will always be. Until it isn’t.”
Mockingbird Summer comes out 1/30.
January 3, 2024
I was super excited to get this ARC as I am a huge fan of both To Kill A Mockingbird and the author's West With Giraffes. This was a solid coming of age story featuring a white girl in a Texas small town in the 1960s. Although not officially designated a Young Adult novel, it reads like one. This book highlighted for me the remarkable contrast between the relative innocence of youth growing up in a time period well before cable TV and social media (i can not imagine a 13 year old today not knowing some of the things the main character did not know) and the terrible racist statements and behaviors that they experienced and/or were exposed to. Although the book had a clear main character, I appreciated the rich development of other characters as well, including the dog. I appreciated the author tying things up at the end after what felt like a fairly abrupt ending to the original storyline.
July 29, 2024
VERY disappointing book. The writing was so simple and repetitive, the characters were one-dimensional, the plot completely predictable and the dialogue silly. A lot of references to the book To Kill A Mockingbird which did nothing to advance the plot. At times I couldn't figure out if this was supposed to be a YA book (which wouldn't have changed my opinion because it was still bad). And to add insult to injury, I dislike when historical fiction has factual inaccuracies. Corky and her grandpa listened to a Texas Rangers game on the radio in the summer of 1964. The Texas Rangers did not begin playing in TX as the Rangers until 1972. Hard pass.
March 3, 2024
2.5. This book didn’t resonate with me at all. The topics of segregation and racism have been overdone. After loving West With Giraffes, I expected more than what the book delivered.
August 1, 2024
Fantastic totally different that her other book.
June 11, 2024
I shouldn't be surprised given how much I loved West with Giraffes, but I was blown away by the same glorious ways in which Ms. Rutledge writes a story. What a gift.
Giraffes was set in 1938 with an event and adventure that actually happened. But the characters were what made the story so memorable.
The characters also grab hold of us in this book. Mockingbird takes place in 1964 at the cusp of all that was to happen in the '60's. The author writes in her notes at the end of the book (and I paraphrase) 'If you are the same age as me, you will remember what happened. If you are younger maybe you will learn...' . Anyone that has had a history class knows the famous events of the 60's, but it is really different when you lived it. I was 11 in 1964, so everything the main character (Corky, age 13) experienced, I did at a very similar level, though I lived in the city. I was also aware of segregation but of a different sort. I was one of only a few Christian children in my Public Elementary School. I didn't have a friend who was Black until I got to High School in 1968, and attended one of the first schools to integrate the student body by bussing black children into a newly built school in an all white neighborhood. I participated in sit-ins towards the end of the Vietnam War. I dated a Vietnam Marine Vet, who drove a car with a bumper sticker that said "Vietnam, I've Been There" but perhaps I was naive (like Corky). I don't remember ever discussing the war with the boys, nor stopping to recognize the experiences of my friends from the other side of town. I was probably just pleased to be with them and didn't want to mess things up.
That's why I find Ms. Rutledge's perpectives so enveloping...it's like she has scooped me up into the story and I am one of the 'kids' in the novel watching it all play out. I went back to 1964 for a while, and I loved it. Even the scary, not so nice parts because it made it all the more real. I had to force myself to stop reading now and then to do stuff around the house. The book was nearly un-put-downable. And the way she wraps everything up at the end took my breath away.
I cannot recommend this book with enough enthusiasm. I enjoyed it immensely. Oh, and I was so lucky...my copy is SIGNED By the AUTHOR !! :D. Read this. And also read West with Giraffes.
Giraffes was set in 1938 with an event and adventure that actually happened. But the characters were what made the story so memorable.
The characters also grab hold of us in this book. Mockingbird takes place in 1964 at the cusp of all that was to happen in the '60's. The author writes in her notes at the end of the book (and I paraphrase) 'If you are the same age as me, you will remember what happened. If you are younger maybe you will learn...' . Anyone that has had a history class knows the famous events of the 60's, but it is really different when you lived it. I was 11 in 1964, so everything the main character (Corky, age 13) experienced, I did at a very similar level, though I lived in the city. I was also aware of segregation but of a different sort. I was one of only a few Christian children in my Public Elementary School. I didn't have a friend who was Black until I got to High School in 1968, and attended one of the first schools to integrate the student body by bussing black children into a newly built school in an all white neighborhood. I participated in sit-ins towards the end of the Vietnam War. I dated a Vietnam Marine Vet, who drove a car with a bumper sticker that said "Vietnam, I've Been There" but perhaps I was naive (like Corky). I don't remember ever discussing the war with the boys, nor stopping to recognize the experiences of my friends from the other side of town. I was probably just pleased to be with them and didn't want to mess things up.
That's why I find Ms. Rutledge's perpectives so enveloping...it's like she has scooped me up into the story and I am one of the 'kids' in the novel watching it all play out. I went back to 1964 for a while, and I loved it. Even the scary, not so nice parts because it made it all the more real. I had to force myself to stop reading now and then to do stuff around the house. The book was nearly un-put-downable. And the way she wraps everything up at the end took my breath away.
I cannot recommend this book with enough enthusiasm. I enjoyed it immensely. Oh, and I was so lucky...my copy is SIGNED By the AUTHOR !! :D. Read this. And also read West with Giraffes.
November 6, 2023
Mockingbird Summer is a powerful coming of age story detailing 13 year old Corky navigating the racial divide in Texas in the 60s. She meets and befriends America whose Haitian mother has been hired to work for Corky’s family. While Corky doesn’t understand the racial division, the town definitely shows who belongs where. It turns out America is a very fast runner and also good at softball. America joins the softball team but struggles with fitting in. I enjoyed watching the beautiful friendship between Corky and America develop. I also loved that this is loosely based around the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. The ending was extremely touching and emotional. Definitely don’t miss out on this one!
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 18, 2024
A coming of age story featuring Corky Corcoran, a 13-year old girl living in a very small, very segregated and very religious town in Texas in the summer of 1964. Mockingbird of course refers to the book "To Kill a Mockingbird" which also plays a part in this drama. I loved Rutledge's writing in "West with Giraffes" and loved it again here - great pacing through this drama with great well drawn characters. A lot happens in the summer of 64 in this town, as a lot was happening in America at that time. Events that happen on a large scale oftentimes don't have the same impact as the events that are personal. That is the case in this story, in the things that happen to the Wilcox family and the Corcoran family. I won't give away more - read it yourself and get drawn in from the first page.
February 10, 2024
Lynda Rutledge is becoming one of my favorite authors . I loved her previous book West with Elephants and her latest novel Mockingbird Summer did not disappoint. I truly felt like I was sitting at the lunch counter circa the 1960’s in small town Texas with 13 year old Corky at her dad’s drugstore . The characters are lovable and complex and the story is both sweet and heartbreaking. I loved it.
February 25, 2024
Written at Pre-teen level. Picked this book because I enjoyed West With Giraffes so much but this was disappointing. Seems to be written for kids and it did nothing for me. I finally put the narration speed at 1.5x just to finish it.
January 25, 2024
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.
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.
March 13, 2024
Since West With Giraffes is one of my favorite books, I had to get this one immediately. It is a lot of set up in this book, but really sets you right in the 1960s civil rights movement in Texas and what it was like during that time. This gets SO good at 75% of the way and is so quick to get through the end. Really thought provoking and makes you think of yourself and the summer you grew up. Also legit on the end of my seat the whole time about Corky’s dog, Roy Rogers. If anything happened to the dog I would die lol
October 23, 2024
Wow this story has it all- coming of age buddy tale and a profound book woven through a challenging time. It was a tender take on the civil rights movement from a clueless young girl who befriends a natural athlete. I heard the author talk about this and thank god she assured us that the dog would be fine (I checked spoilers but really I can’t read books worrying over dogs 🥺.) also if you see a remake of her ‘west with giraffes’ from the giraffes’ perspective I take credit for that as when she said there was a chapter from the dog’s perspective I suggested she redo WWG from their pov. I really hope she does it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2024
A beautiful, hopeful story about a young girl who experiences the joy of a good book, the thrill of a competitive softball game and the depth of a friendship while discovering the harsh realities that life brings in a small Texas town in 1964. Loved this book!
“Don’t let the world close you down. God knows it’s gonna try—and God knows it can do it. Stay open so your heart can do what it’s supposed to do. If you do, I know it’s going to be something good.”
“Don’t let the world close you down. God knows it’s gonna try—and God knows it can do it. Stay open so your heart can do what it’s supposed to do. If you do, I know it’s going to be something good.”
May 31, 2025
A sweet, sweet novel inspired by the classic, To Kill A Mockingbird. As far as I can tell, this book technically isn’t YA, but it sure reads like it. And I’m ok with that. In fact, as I am an 8th-grade literature teacher, I’m considering using Mockingbird Summer in my curriculum in place of TKAM since it contains the same themes and lessons. “Summer” is also slightly more relevant to today’s young people, especially the last chapter which ties in the Covid pandemic.
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