The End of the Sidewalk
The End of the Sidewalk is a middle grade historical fiction novel inspired by true events that takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the 1960s. Gertrude Scuffer, better known as Trudy, is a twelve year old girl who finds everything in her life changing and she doesn’t like it. The Freedom Riders are coming into Jackson and the tension is high. Gertrude’s mom is heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement and has little time for Trudy. Trudy wants to regain her mom’s attention, but she is in turmoil over her mom’s stance and her own feelings. She turns to her housekeeper and a secret friend who help her decide how to face her fears and how she can support her mom in view of the opposition her family endures. Can she overcome the obstacles and win her mom’s approval? An exciting and timely read for children ages 10 and up.
Reviews & Praise
Reader's Choice
Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
The End of the Sidewalk by Nancy Schutt McCorkle centers on a white girl named Gertrude, or Trudy, growing up in Mississippi during the early 1960s. Segregation and clashes over civil rights are part of her everyday life. Her mother, who serves on the state’s interracial commission, invites
Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
The End of the Sidewalk by Nancy Schutt McCorkle centers on a white girl named Gertrude, or Trudy, growing up in Mississippi during the early 1960s. Segregation and clashes over civil rights are part of her everyday life. Her mother, who serves on the state’s interracial commission, invites some Freedom Riders over to their home one night, and from then on, their family faces harassing phone calls, late-night threats, and even violence as they speak out for change. At the same time, Trudy begins junior high and experiences shifts in friendships, as well as new ones. A secret bond with a Black girl she meets...
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-end-of-the-sidewalk