About the Book
Coming of Age in a Time of Change - The Real Education of TJ Crowley
"When you know better, do better." -
Maya Angelou "A deftly crafted, thought-provoking, and solid work of YA historical fiction." - Midwest Book Review
In the summer of 1968, a white teen from a prejudiced family is forced to decide which side to take when a Black family and their teenage daughter move into the house next door, setting the stage for a riveting account of racial awakening in a time much like our own.
The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sparks violent protests and Wichita, Kansas, is no exception. The Fair Housing Act should open doors of opportunity for Blacks, but instead they face hostility and violence. Nevertheless, Dr. Robert Washington and his family will not be deterred from crossing the red line to their dream house. However, with ties to the Ku Klux Klan, the Crowleys are hell-bent on stopping their new neighbors from making themselves at home.
It's already been a bummer of a summer vacation for TJ, who is due to start junior high school. His dad unexpectedly takes off and his brother joins the army to fight in Vietnam, leaving TJ alone with Kate, his mentally ill, alcoholic mother. As riots erupt under the nightly curfew, they lock their doors tight. His mother fuels her fears with alcohol, while TJ stands guard at the living room window, as firebombs light the sky.
Early one morning, the doorbell rings and Kate panics when she sees a large black man. She calls her old flame, a convict and Klansman, "Uncle Ray," who quickly arrives to harass and intimidate the Washingtons. To calm Kate's nerves, TJ is forced to help Ray build a privacy fence on the property line. Despite this, TJ still hears his future classmate, Ivy, practicing her cheerleading routines, and the doctor singing spirituals in his converted garage.
TJ can't contain his excitement as he anticipates starting junior high school, where he hopes to become a sports star. But his narrow-minded beliefs are challenged in his social studies class, and he is forced to confront them through "rap sessions" with his new companions: Ivy, the self-assured soul sister from next door; and Andy, the brainy and athletic Black student from Birmingham, Alabama.
Ignoring his mother's orders, TJ bravely visits the doctor's home. His education continues as he enters their house and gains a newfound perspective. As the school year continues, TJ is banned from the basketball team due to his poor grades and behavior. But the doctor gives him secret backyard shot put lessons, and TJ joins the track team. His progress is amazing, with the doctor's coaching, and the city championship track meet turns out great for TJ and his team!
Just as TJ's life is finally starting to turn around, Ray returns with a vengeance and knows all about TJ's secret visits. In an instant, his world is thrown into chaos. TJ is faced with a life-altering decision. In a dramatic and gripping conclusion, he is forced to choose between ignorance and knowledge and decide which side of the fence will make him feel truly at home.
