Half-Truths

<p>It is 1950 and 15-year-old Kate Dinsmore wants to become a journalist. But her tobacco-farming father can't afford to send her to college. She devises a plan to move from rural North Carolina to her wealthy grandparents' home in Charlotte in hopes of gaining their financial support. Now she has a new set of problems. How can she please her society-conscious grandmother and conform to her new classmates' lifestyles? She meets Lillian her grandmother's teenage maid and in spite of their racial differences they form a tentative friendship. While exploring her grandmother's attic Kate unearths a secret that rocks her world and Lillian's too. The shocking discovery reveals half-truths that threaten the girls' friendship. What will Kate do when she must choose between Lillian and her new society friends? Through a mentorship with a newspaper editor Kate realizes that journalism requires honesty. But the risks of truth-telling make Kate question herself. If she reveals what she has learned what price will she pay?</p><p></p><p>⚠ Content Rating for <em>Half-Truths - Young Adult </em></p><p><em>Half-Truths</em> is a historical fiction novel for young adult readers (13+) set in the 1950s American South. It contains themes that reflect the realities of the time period including:</p><ul><li>Racial discrimination and segregation - Includes historically accurate language and depictions of segregation.</li><li>The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and racial violence - References to the KKK's presence intimidation and racial injustice.</li><li>Historical language - The terms <em>colored</em> and <em>Negro</em> are used within the story to maintain historical accuracy.</li><li>Themes of prejudice and injustice - Explores societal norms and the impact of racism in the 1950s.</li><li>Mention of a slave having a child by a slave owner - This is an integral part of the generational trauma explored in the book.</li></ul><p>This book is written with sensitivity and historical accuracy aiming to encourage critical thinking empathy and discussions about past and present social issues. Recommended for ages 13 and up. </p>