Books with author Mary Ann Rodman

The year is 1964, and Alice Ann Moxley’s FBI–agent father has been reassigned from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi. Alice finds herself thrust into the midst of the racial turmoil that dominates current events, especially when a black girl named Valerie Taylor joins her sixth-grade class. When Alice finds that no one at school likes her, she figures Valerie, being the other outsider, will be easier to make friends with. No such luck, since Valerie doesn’t seem to be looking for friends. Instead, Valerie silently endures the frequent harassment from classmates, much worse than what Alice is put through. Soon, Alice decides the only way to befriend anyone is to join in the efforts to make Valerie miserable. But will Alice learn the consequences of following the crowd instead of her heart before it’s too late?

No share time! Only one recess! Writing is hard! The stories don’t end right! FIRST GRADE STINKS!It is the first day of school and Hayley is excited. Things are different now. She is a first grader. Hayley quickly finds out that first grade is different from kindergarten, but in all the wrong ways! The classroom isn’t as bright and colorful. Ms. Gray doesn’t seem to smile as much as her kindergarten teacher did, and there isn’t enough time to play outside. Finally, Hayley has had enough. “First grade stinks!” she shouts. The classroom is suddenly very quiet. But to Hayley’s surprise Ms. Gray doesn’t look mad at all.Young readers will immediately empathize with Hayley and her increasing apprehension, as she explores new expectations and challenges on the first day of a new school year.

Mississippi and integration in the 1960sThe year is 1964, and Alice Ann Moxley's FBI-agent father has been reassigned from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi, to protect black people who are registering to vote. Alice finds herself thrust into the midst of the racial turmoil that dominates current events, especially when a Negro girl named Valerie Taylor joins her sixth-grade class -- the first of two black students at her new school because of a mandatory integration law. When Alice finds it difficult to penetrate the clique of girls at school she calls the Cheerleaders (they call her Yankee Girl), she figures Valerie, being the other outsider, will be easier to make friends with. But Valerie isn't looking for friends. Rather, Valerie silently endures harassment from the Cheerleaders, much worse than what Alice is put through. Soon Alice realizes the only way to befriend the girls is to seem like a co-conspirator in their plans to make Valerie miserable. It takes a horrible tragedy for her to realize the complete ramifications of following the crowd instead of her heart.An unflinching story about racism and culture clash in the 1960s.

No share time! Only one recess! Writing is hard! The stories don’t end right! FIRST GRADE STINKS!It is the first day of school and Hayley is excited. Things are different now. She is a first grader. Hayley quickly finds out that first grade is different from kindergarten, but in all the wrong ways! The classroom isn’t as bright and colorful. Ms. Gray doesn’t seem to smile as much as her kindergarten teacher did, and there isn’t enough time to play outside. Finally, Hayley has had enough. “First grade stinks!” she shouts. The classroom is suddenly very quiet. But to Hayley’s surprise Ms. Gray doesn’t look mad at all.Young readers will immediately empathize with Hayley and her increasing apprehension, as she explores new expectations and challenges on the first day of a new school year.

It's 1964 and Alice has moved to Mississippi from Chicago with her family. Nicknamed `Yankee Girl' and taunted by the in-crowd at school, Alice soon discovers the other new girl Valerie - one of the school's first black students - has it much worse. Alice can't stand the way Valerie is treated, and yet she knows she will remain an outsider if she speaks up. It takes a horrible tragedy to finally give Alice the courage to stand up for what she believes. Set in the Deep South in the 1960s, Yankee Girl is a powerful, resonant and relevant story about racism and doing the right thing.