Monday, 3 November 2014

Review - Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley




Title: Lies We Tell Ourselves
Author: Robin Talley
Pages: 304
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Release date: 30th September 2014

Blurb from Goodreads:  
  
In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.
Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.
Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town’s most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept “separate but equal.”
Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.








My Review:
 
*I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Harlequin TEEN and NetGalley*

3/5 stars


Jefferson High School has always been an all-white school but now several black students have enrolled.
Sarah Dunbar is one of the new students and arrives at the school on her first day to an angry crowd. She endures being spat on and verbally abused.
Linda Hairson, a white student, has been taught that integration isn't natural. Linda's beliefs are shaken as she gets to know Sarah.


This was an eye-opening and emotional read.
I wasn't taught about American History at school (as I'm British) but I had a vague idea about the segregation that happened.
The behaviour of the Jefferson High School students was appalling and I felt really sorry for the black students.
I admired Sarah and rooted for her. Linda was an okay character. I liked how she grew into a better person and felt sorry for her because of her mean father.
I was happy with the ending and while I didn't find the writing or the plot gripping, I did enjoy the story.


Overall this was a unique, eye-opening read that I would recommend.



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