Book excerpt: This powerful coming-of-age story from the author of Midnight Without a Moon will enlighten and enchant readers and is perfect for fans of Jacqueline Woodson and Sharon M. Draper. In 1955 Mississippi, racial tensions are coming to a boil. As a thirteen-year-old African American girl, Rose Lee Carter struggles to understand her place in the burgeoning Civil Rights movement. After the murder of Emmett Till, Rose questions her decision to stay in Mississippi. Torn between the opinions of Shorty, a boy who wants to meet violence with violence, and Hallelujah, her best friend who believes in the power of peaceful protests, Rose is scared of the mounting racial tension and is starting to lose hope. But when Rose helps Aunt Ruthie start her own business, she begins to see how she can make a difference in her community. Life might be easier in the North, but Mississippi is home and that's worth fighting for. Mid-century Mississippi comes alive in this sequel to the acclaimed Midnight Without a Moon.