Play Book Tag discussion

Told from the perspective of 13-year-old Kathryn “Corky” Corcoran, this is a story about a small Texas town named High Cotton and the events that occurred in the summer of 1964 that shaped Corky’s young life. The Civil Rights Act was not yet signed into law, which made High Cotton a segregated town.

Due to her mother’s poor leg, which resulted from contracting polio as a child, Corky’s family needs help around the house. As the story opens, we are introduced to the new Haitian housekeeper, Evangeline, who brings her 16-year-old daughter America with her. Corky has always wanted an older sister, and when she discovers America can play softball and run like the wind, she is determined to become friends. Corky is also determined for America’s talents to be utilized in the annual girls’ softball game, where the Baptists play the Methodists, and invites America to play in the game. This integration is not welcomed by everyone in the town, and lines get drawn and blurred as the townsfolk make their stances known.

This book landed on my TBR because I was interested in reading the perspective of a young adult on the historical cultural changes occurring at the time. Corky is inquisitive and also reads “To Kill A Mockingbird” over the course of the book. She attempts to work out big and difficult questions, and they, in addition to her friendship with America, lead her to see herself, her town, and her country in a new way. Seeing Corky’s new awareness unfold was my favorite part of the book. Since the story is from the perspective of a 13-year-old, I found the writing to be simplistic, and I often felt like I was being told perspectives that were obvious. I am glad that I read this, and I’ll be seeking out this author’s first book West With Giraffes.