A fire rages. Children race to escape the woods being eaten by flames. A white man in a white robe is carried away on a stretcher.
Claire, a young, northern-born white woman during the 60s, and her new husband Bruce, move to Selma, Alabama when he receives a draft notice to join the Air Force.
It doesn't take long for Claire to realize there's more to this town than meets the eye, but she has her own issues to overcome: a miscarriage, family drama, connecting with her students, and settling into her life in the Deep South.
This historical novel about teaching is also a heart-wrenching and heart-warming family story about newlyweds, new beginnings, new friends, and risky ideals. Claire will have to decide what's more important: fitting in and settling down or joining the underground sisterhood fight against racism, Fems for Freedom.
Beyond the Pettus Bridge is an exploration of several relatable themes: racial relations, transitions, sacrifice, sisterhood, loss, and reconciliation. Dolasinski expertly navigates the terrain of these complicated topics with characters that linger in the reader's mind. Ultimately, the novel gives shape to what it means to hope in an uncertain landscape.
Rudri Bhatt Patel, Writer and Co-Founder/Co-Editor of The Sunlight Press.
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In 1969, a young white teacher from the North, Claire Zuretski, finds herself unexpectedly embroiled in the local politics of Selma, Alabama, when she takes a job in an all-Black school. Refusing to bend to social pressures to quit her job, she befriends women of all races who are working quietly to unite the community. Ultimately, she learns that the solidarity of sisterhood can be a powerful force for change in the face of deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination. I loved this story of hope and found myself rooting for Claire as she summoned the courage to speak out for justice and equality-a message still needed in America today.
Susan Pohlman, Author Halfway to Each Other and A Time to Seek
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