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In the Neighborhood of True

Now Available in Paperback
from Algonquin Books for Young Readers

A powerful story of love, loyalty, fitting in—and speaking out.

In the sticky summer of 1958, Ruth Robb and her family move to Atlanta, the land of sweet tea, debutante dances, and the Ku Klux Klan. To fit in with the popular pastel posse, Ruth keeps the fact that she’s Jewish to herself—and soon she’s knocking back Coca-Colas with dreamy Davis at the country club. But a heartbreaking night brings Ruth’s two worlds into conflict, and she’s forced to choose between standing up for what she believes and losing everything she’s come to love about her new life.

Junior Library Guild Selection

Sydney Taylor Notable Book

Rise: 2020 Booklist

Amazon Best of the Year

Check out Bustle’s exclusive peek at the first chapter here

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Praise

“Carlton captures the racism, anti-Semitism, and social interactions of the time and place with admirable nuance. The dialogue and setting are meticulously constructed, and readers will feel the humidity and tension rising with each chapter.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Carlton does an excellent job of mixing the personal with the historical here… Ruth crisply relays her conflicted feelings, the tense situations, and characters who are well shaded and occasionally surprising.”
—Booklist

“Carlton writes with equal parts bemusement and respect for the pre-deb cohort, who are well aware of the difference between looking good and being good.”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“This YA historical novel about discrimination and social justice is painfully relevant today.”
—Bustle

“The story may be set in the past, but it couldn’t be a more timely reminder that true courage comes not from fitting in, but from purposefully standing out… and that to find out who you really are, you have to first figure out what you’re not.”
—Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things

“A gorgeous story about a teenage girl finding her voice in the face of hate, heartbreak, and injustice.”
—Nova Ren Suma, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Room Away from the Wolves

“Susan Kaplan Carlton’s snapshot of 1958 Atlanta is both exquisite and harrowing, and I will hold it in my heart for a long time.”
—Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone and Our Year of Maybe