Review: Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

 

Publication Date: September 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Blurb:  (Goodreads)

In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever.

Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white Jefferson High School. An honors student at her old school, she is put into remedial classes, spit on and tormented daily.

Linda Hairston is the daughter of one of the town's most vocal opponents of school integration. She has been taught all her life that the races should be kept separate but equal.

Forced to work together on a school project, Sarah and Linda must confront harsh truths about race, power and how they really feel about one another.

This book has been on my TBR, my physical TBR at that, for 12 years! That is insane. I am trying to read some of my older TBR books this year and although I don't always do that as much as I should I thought 12 years is a ridiculous amount of time to have a book on my shelf unread for. 

The plot of this book is set around the integration of black and white students into a high school in Virginia America in 1959. The author clearly did so much research when writing the book that all of the tension, anger and behaviours of the time really rose from the page with how vivid they were. The subject was very tough to read about, especially with 2026 eyes, seeing how such hatred was allowed and encouraged by the staff, business people and adults of the time. 

The blossoming romance of Sarah and Linda was well written, but at times I felt the chemistry between them was a little lacking. I would have liked to have read some more scenes of them having emotional bonding conversations but due to the times all their moments were quick snatched pockets of time where they could be their true selves and explore their sexuality. 

Overall I found it a good read but it didn't hit the expectations I had for it. Maybe if I had read it at the time instead of leaving it on my shelf for 12 years I would have enjoyed it more! There are some other Robin Talley books on my to read list, so I'll still pick them up at some point and see if they are more my cup of tea.