Yard War Paperback – 16 Aug. 2016

I was contacted by the author Taylor Kitchings to ask if I would be interested in giving my viewpoint on Yard War as it was up on Net Galley and seeing as I am a member, maybe I would like to 'give it a go'.So I did.I am really glad that my attention was brought to this book because its a very profound read.Its set in the South in the 60's. Its paramount subject matter is racism.We have two young youths named Trip and Dee, they form a good friendship. A bond.Trips family employ a maid. This is quite common so not unusual at all. but her son is named Dee.So this is where the problem lies.This is also based around the time of the Civil war movement. So its a good history lesson for any YA who wants to become familiar with aspects and race hatred around that time.Trip leads a privileged where he lives in Jackson, Mississippi. His father is a doctor and his Mother is of high standing in society from a well breed background.Dee and Trip are kicking a ball around the yard, nothing wrong with that, but remember, this is in the South and the year is 1960's, there is everything wrong, one is white, one is black.Neighbors looked down on this and lots of fuss and bother ensue.But Dee and Trip's bond is not to be broken.At times I found some things not to be realistic. Let me explain.Tim had a teacher which was quite liberal in her teaching and her emotions and own personal thoughts did get in the way of teaching. Could she remain in that teaching profession unnoticed to be biased? I just wasn't sure.The I could well imagine the segregation of the blacks from the whites, the prejudices that were so well documented.I personally am not racist so at times found this hard to read, and I had to keep reminding myself that this is FACT and this is really how it was. And in some cases still is.I thought this author did a superb job in keeping it inline with historical events as close as could be [this it to what I had read about and not from this book, or media news from the past]I can imagine this book to be a good read for a book class to open a great discussion that could lead to great essays etc.Thank you to the author for drawing my attention to your book. And my thanks to Random House Children's for sanctioning my the book to review.