Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Feb 2017
384 pages
Genre: Mysteries
Publication Information
Some bodies won't stay buried.
Some stories need to be told.
When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family's property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past... and the present.
Nearly one hundred years earlier, a misguided violent encounter propels seventeen-year-old Will Tillman into a racial firestorm. In a country rife with violence against blacks and a hometown segregated by Jim Crow, Will must make hard choices on a painful journey towards self discovery and face his inner demons in order to do what's right the night Tulsa burns.
Through intricately interwoven alternating perspectives, Jennifer Latham's lightning-paced page-turner brings the Tulsa race riot of 1921 to blazing life and raises important question about the complex state of US race relations - both yesterday and today.
"Starred Review. Mystery fans will enjoy this cleverly plotted, suspenseful work, while the broader social issues will draw a wide audience." - School Library Journal
"Starred Review. An unflinching, superbly written story about family, friendship, and integrity, set during one of America's deadliest race riots." - Kirkus
"Starred Review. Latham skillfully uses the chapter-by-chapter narrator switch to ratchet up tension, all the while keeping readers guessing as to the true identity of the skeleton and to the ultimate fate of Will and the friends he helps save. This timely story gives readers an unflinching look at the problem of racism, both past and present, while simultaneously offering the hope of overcoming that hatred." - Booklist
"Populated with vivid, relatable characters and structured to maximize mystery, tension, and dread, Latham's novel provides a gripping education in the real-life horror story that was the Tulsa race riot, shines a light on the current state of race relations, and inspires hope for the future." - Publishers Weekly
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Jennifer Latham is an army brat with a soft spot for kids, books, and poorly behaved dogs. She's the author of Scarlett Undercover and lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her husband and two daughters.
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