Yankee Girl

The year is 1964, and Alice Ann Moxley's FBIagent father has been reassigned from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi. Alice finds herself thrust into the midst of the racial turmoil that dominates current events, especially when a black girl named Valerie Taylor joins her sixth-grade class. When Alice finds that no one at school likes her, she figures Valerie, being the other outsider, will be easier to make friends with. No such luck, since Valerie doesn't seem to be looking for friends. Instead, Valerie silently endures the frequent harassment from classmates, much worse than what Alice is put through. Soon, Alice decides the only way to befriend anyone is to join in the efforts to make Valerie miserable. But will Alice learn the consequences of following the crowd instead of her heart before it's too late?

Mary Ann Rodman’s debut novel, Yankee Girl, was based on her own childhood experience. Her most recent book, Jimmy’s Stars, was published in Spring 2008 by FSG. She lives with her family in Alpharetta, Georgia.

“In this impressive debut novel set in 1964, Rodman infuses the familiar struggle of the new girl in town with immediacy, danger and historical relevance. . . . Whether or not readers are familiar with civil rights, they are likely to find this novel memorable because it so strikingly identifies the bravery, cruelty and vulnerability of characters their own age.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review “Rich in detail and lively writing. An important addition to the field.”—Kirkus Reviews “Every once in a while, we read a book that changes the way we view the world and how we treat others.  For some readers, Yankee Girl just might be that book.”—The Reading Teacher “Written in clear language . . . the message is strong.”—Voice of Youth Advocates “The honesty of Alice’s narrative moves this beyond docu-novel. . . . The real tension is whether Alice can move from being bystander to standing up for what she believes. Rodman shows how hard it is.”—Booklist