The Lions of Litlte Rock (YA)

Book #65 Read in 2012
The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

This is a great historical fiction book for young adults.  This book is set in the late 1950s in the south and address the issue of segregation of races in schools.  In this book, Marlee is very shy and basically doesn't talk to anyone outside of her immediate family.  Then she meets Liz, the new girl at school.  The two strike up a friendship.  Liz wants to help Marlee speak more so they work together on an oral report for class.  Then Marlee finds out that Liz is actually an African American passing as a white person and that Liz will no longer be attending the same school as Marlee.  Marlee does not want to lose her as a friend so she ends up contacting her, not truly understanding the danger that this friendship can cause the girls, their families and their communities.

This book was extremely well written and gave an accurate view of a horrific time in our not so past history.  The characters are well developed and interesting.  This book sucks you right in and is hard to put down.  I really enjoyed it.