Five childhood friends with big plans face the changing realities of life in Tennessee in the 1960s. As Sally and Emily Prince and Jed, Raymond, and Donny Tatro sit under their beloved Castle Tree in rural, segregated Tennessee, they dream big dreams. But the journey from these dreams to reality is a long one. As they move into their teens, each faces challenges they could never have imagined. Sally and Jed may take a traditional route as head cheerleader and football captain in their sports-frenzied town, but can their love survive some unexpected bumps in the road? Emily and Raymond, always the outsiders, move north during the civil rights movement and must consider their connection to Southern roots and traditional gender roles. And Donny, as an African-American teen, will endure the effects of generations of discrimination and class boundaries as he tries to live out his dreams in their small factory town. Along the way, the five will fall in love, change one another's lives, grow apart, and come together again. In this sweeping novel, Alther brings to life characters both tragic and comic as they live through the changing American socio-economic landscape of the 1950s and '60s. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lisa Alther, including rare photos from the author's personal collection.
"Lisa Alther has hooked us with sheer good writing... a sharp eye for detail... an acute ear... and a delightful talent for confronting human idiocy... A compelling novel!"
