“Mockingbird Summer,” by Lynda Rutledge
Thirteen-year-old Corky Corcoran has a long hot Texas summer ahead of her. She will work at the soda fountain in her Dad’s pharmacy, play a little softball and experience her first kiss.
When she meets America, the daughter of her family’s house cleaner, she is immediately intrigued. America is several years older, has a Haitian background and lives on the “other side of the tracks” — all intriguing facts to the eternally-curious Corky. Most interesting of all — America is an amazingly fast sprinter and gifted athlete.
When Corky’s family pastor learns about America’s athletic skills, he immediately sees an opportunity for his church to finally win the annual girls’ softball game: Baptists vs. Methodists. He recruits America, buys her a pair of athletic shoes and holds practices, which are attended by many curious town citizens. One of the most amusing and fast-paced sections of this nostalgic book is the part where the big game is detailed.
The title of this novel refers to the book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which Corky’s local librarian recommends to her. There are sections of the book that Corky doesn’t really understand, and when she lends the book to America (who loves books but has no access to the library), Corky learns that there is underlying darkness embedded in the story.
Kerry Pettis is a retired elementary school teacher and children’s librarian who has lived in Broomfield since 1975. Reading is her favorite occupation.
