The time is 1950. The place is a small town in the Midwest. The girl is Claire, and she has a new black friend. But in an all-white town, how open can the girls be about their friendship? Now Claire faces being the “new girl” in school. A year later, she is confronting betrayal . . . and sin. Finally, she is fifteen and in love. But it is not a love that can be spoken of, least of all by Claire. In five interrelated stories, Claire grows into a young woman, learning about racism, sex, and love along the way. Most of all, she learns about truth. "Thought-provoking and beautifully literary." School Library Journal "[Readers] will find a sympathetic character in Claire, whose inability to acknowledge her heart's truth will resonate with questioning teens." Booklist, ALA "These autobiographical tales are tinged with nostalgia and a sense of a world long gone." Kirkus Reviews "The stories resonate with an emotional clarity and force that will speak to young readers across the years." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books MARION DANE BAUER has written more than 80 children's books, including picture books, easy readers, early chapter books, and novels.  She won a Newbery Honor for On My Honor , a middle grade coming-of-age story. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit her website at mariondanebauer.com .   Used Book in Good Condition