In the Neighborhood of True
New York transplant Ruth Robb hides her Jewish identity to fit into the segregated Atlanta of the 1950s, until a hate crime forces her to come to face the whole truth about the choices she’s made, the boy she might love, and the true cost of living only in the neighborhood of true. Inspired by a real-life event.
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Community Reviews
I really enjoyed reading this story of a girl who is trying to figure out who she is in a time when being who you are can be a dangerous thing. Ruth is in a new place, trying to make new friends, and is dealing with grief all at the same time. It’s no wonder she drives down the neighborhood of true.
Ruth is a Jewish young woman in the 1950’s south where Jim Crow and the KKK are still part of every day life. It may be in the shadow’s but segregation is still very much a thing, and coming from New York City where things are more ahead of the times she’s stuck in the middle of wanting to be a part of society and having to hide who she really is.
I thought that the people Susan surrounded Ruthie with were the perfect combination of acceptance and prejudice. I thought that the little nuances that Ruthie does, like saying Thank you to the negro staff or calling them yes ma’am or sir, really took you back to that time period. Even the language that is used puts you in the 1950’s where you can go down to the Steakary for a Co-Cola. I enjoyed those aspects of the book a lot.
I think that when we think of the south we only think of the segregation between white and black and forget that there were other people who were discriminated against. The book addresses the religious persecution that took place in that time as well. If you weren’t Christian than you must be of a difference race. At one point in the book people of other race or religion are called “aliens” which I found really fascinating. It really dived into the prejudices of the south and I think that makes this an important book.
Ruth is a Jewish young woman in the 1950’s south where Jim Crow and the KKK are still part of every day life. It may be in the shadow’s but segregation is still very much a thing, and coming from New York City where things are more ahead of the times she’s stuck in the middle of wanting to be a part of society and having to hide who she really is.
I thought that the people Susan surrounded Ruthie with were the perfect combination of acceptance and prejudice. I thought that the little nuances that Ruthie does, like saying Thank you to the negro staff or calling them yes ma’am or sir, really took you back to that time period. Even the language that is used puts you in the 1950’s where you can go down to the Steakary for a Co-Cola. I enjoyed those aspects of the book a lot.
I think that when we think of the south we only think of the segregation between white and black and forget that there were other people who were discriminated against. The book addresses the religious persecution that took place in that time as well. If you weren’t Christian than you must be of a difference race. At one point in the book people of other race or religion are called “aliens” which I found really fascinating. It really dived into the prejudices of the south and I think that makes this an important book.
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