Glory Be in Mock Newbery 2026

Nov 25, 2012 Samantha rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, siblings, juv-fiction, civil-rights, mississippi, segregation

A historical fiction novel set in Mississippi in 1964 about the challenges of desegregating a small town. Glory is 11, soon to be 12, and her favorite thing about summer is hanging out at the community pool. When it closes down due to racial tension brought on by civil rights workers visiting from Ohio she writes a strongly worded letter to the editor of the local newspaper.

Glory stands up for what she believes is right and grows up a lot during the summer of 1964. She befriends a girl who's mo ...more

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Jun 13, 2015 Beth rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio, building-empathy, historical-fiction, middle-grade, 2015-novel-length-reads

Given the recent events in McKinney, Texas, the subject-matter of this book compelled me to bring it to the top of my TBR pile.

While I did wish that the story went deeper into the controversy of the town's pool closing, I also understand that GLORY BE is told through the eyes of a young girl, and it was likely the right amount of depth for the age it was written for. ...more

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May 04, 2012 Barbara rated it liked it

Shelves: civil-rights, community, families, bullies, reading, ncbla2013

It's the summer of 1964 in Hanging Moss, Mississippi, and Glory Hemphill has big plans for her twelfth birthday party. For reasons that she doesn't understand, the town pool where she planned to have a party is closed, and Glory is determined to get it opened again. When she realizes that the closure is an attempt to keep the pool from being integrated, she fires off a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, becoming embroiled in the civil rights movement without really understanding the co It's the summer of 1964 in Hanging Moss, Mississippi, and Glory Hemphill has big plans for her twelfth birthday party. For reasons that she doesn't understand, the town pool where she planned to have a party is closed, and Glory is determined to get it opened again. When she realizes that the closure is an attempt to keep the pool from being integrated, she fires off a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, becoming embroiled in the civil rights movement without really understanding the consequences of her actions. Although her instincts are right, they are motivated, as is often the case, by her own desires to have the pool opened so she has a place to escape the summer heat and humidity of Mississippi as well as a place for her party. Layered over this are several other considerations: the growing distance between Glory and her older sister, Jesslyn, who is hanging out with a newcomer who has a secret about his past; her disappointment in her best friend Frankie who seems unable to stand up to his father and older brother, both bullies and racists; and her budding friendship with the daughter of one of the Northern outsiders who has come to town to help. I liked the idea behind this story more than the final product, unfortunately. While Glory and her sister behave exactly the way that girls that age might have behaved during that particular era, there are too many othe characters that pass in and out of the story without much development. For instance, both Robbie and Laura have possibilities, but I felt that I hardly knew them once I reached the story's conclusion. I also didn't really know Glory's minister father. While I was glad when he stood up for his daughter against Mrs. Simpson, there was no hint prior to that response that he backed the civil rights movement and not much mention of the possible consequences of his support. He would certainly have lost some church members, if not the entire church, a likelihood that isn't addressed. The family maid, Emma, also puzzled me in some respects. At first, she seemed uncomfortable with talk about the freedom riders and civil rights, but then at some point, in the book, she seemed to change and become more involved in the movement without any reason given. While there was much to like in this story of the events that occurred during a few short weeks, the ease with which Glory and her librarian friend, Miss Bloom, challenged the status quo is somewhat unbelievable, given the intense narrow-mindedness and hot-headedness that seemed to dictate the actions of those times. Kudos to the author for providing a narrative that reminds readers how deep rooted prejudice could be and how small actions could have far-reaching consequences. ...more

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May 23, 2015 Julie rated it liked it

Quiet story about a young white girl in small town Mississippi in 1964 at the beginning of the Civil Rights Act. While I liked the main character, I found some of the plot was undeveloped and everything was nicely tied up at the end, even though the danger of the era was prevalent. The author claims in an afterword that she originally thought of it as a book about sisters who grow apart and then find their way back together again, which this truly is. She goes on to say that as it was written, h ...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Brandy rated it liked it

Shelves: civil-rights

I felt that this story was just ok. Perhaps if it had been the first book that I picked up that took place during the civil rights movement I may have liked it a bit more. However, this seems to be a genre that is gaining in popularity and therefore I have read lots of books with this setting.

Compared to the others this one wasn't that spectacular. It was a very simple story and one that I think kids could enjoy. Compared to Lions of Little Rock though, I would hand my child that book first.

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May 12, 2015 Jen rated it liked it

Shelves: kids-books, historical-fiction, bluestem-2016

It is 1964, and Gloria and her friend Frankie live in Mississippi, where the Jim Crow laws are enforced. “White” and “Colored” signs still separate drinking fountains and bathrooms and African Americans go to different schools, swimming pools, and other public places. Laura is a Northerner that comes down south for the summer with her Mom; her mom is helping at the Freedom Clinic for the “Colored” people. Laura doesn’t see what all the fuss is about; in fact she picks up an African American litt ...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Teresa Garrett rated it really liked it

Gloriana, aka Glory, is on the verge of her 12th birthday in small town Mississippi in the 1960's when life takes a dramatic turn. Her sister is keeping secrets, her best friend no longer wants to be her friend, and the newcomers in town are all anyone can talk about. Glory just wants everyone to be friendly and to have her traditional birthday party at the pool, which is closed to avoid integration. A great book to use to teach about the civil rights movement. ...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Susie rated it really liked it

Glory Be does address a time of huge upheaval in the Civil Rights movement from a younger perspective. I agree with some of the reviews that it jumps around a bit; I really liked some of the characters, but some were hard to really get a handle on. The character of Frankie is worth analyzing; you can tell that he is very conflicted between his good friend Glory and his prejudiced family. Do you think it's pandering to librarians? Worked for me. ...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Wendy Garland rated it liked it

Glory enjoys life in Hanging Moss, Mississippi, but the summer before her 12th birthday things are changing as some individuals in town question segregation. I wanted to love this book. Although it was well written and Glory grows and changes, I was expecting more.

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Oct 12, 2012 Charlotte rated it liked it

Shelves: children-s-chapter-books

Read this around the same time as Lions of Little Rock which I think was better written. But I thought this had stronger characterization or I liked the characters in this better. Again good Historical Fiction... also coming of age, sibling issues etc.

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