2012 First Edition of Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood – Hardcover with Dust Jacket

Title: Glory Be.
Author: Augusta Scattergood.
Genre: Children's Historical Fiction / Civil Rights Movement / Coming-of-Age
Edition: First Edition, January 2012 (Author Signed).
Publisher: Scholastic Press.

"Be one to ask your grandma what it was like when she was twelve!"
- Author's inscription

CHAPTER TWO
Spying

Hanging Moss, Mississippi, June 1964

"Even underneath our favorite shade tree, it was so hot you couldn't hardly breathe. But when Jesslyn and her friends started whispering, and words like cute boy and football player and two-piece bathing suit drifted my way, I scooted my towel out from under that tree to get closer. They gossiped about her friend Mary Louise's party and talked about some new boy in town that Jesslyn seemed real interested in The way those girls were studying their fancy-colored toenails, you would've thought they were paintings hanging in a museum."

Set against the backdrop of the changing American South, this powerful and poignant debut novel transports readers to Hanging Moss, Mississippi, during the turbulent Freedom Summer of 1964 . For Gloriana June Hemphill, known to everyone as Glory, life has always rolled along with predictable rhythms filled with catching doodlebugs, drinking iced tea, and celebrating her birthday on the Fourth of July. However, as she prepares to turn twelve, everything she knows begins to splinter. Her older sister, Jesslyn, grows distant, preferring to whisper about cute boys, pep squad gossip, and two-piece bathing suits rather than hang out with her. At the same time, the arrival of a mysterious new girl from the North—sporting thick black socks and clodhopper sandals—sets the local townspeople on edge.

The real fracture in the community arrives when a fierce debate erupts over whether the segregated public pool should be integrated or shut down completely. As the town's adults obfuscate and the answers to Glory's questions shift daily, she is forced to examine the deep prejudices running through her hometown. Drawing directly on historical events, the story tracks Glory's path toward courage as she learns to discern truth from lies and makes difficult, defining choices about family and friendship. This moving 202-page work is an excellent read-aloud story for families looking to discuss historical justice and civil rights together.

This copy features a signed inscription by the author on the title page: "Be one to ask your grandma what it was like when she was twelve!" A question for all of us to ask our elders.

Augusta Scattergood is an American children's author and former librarian who dedicates her writing to bringing historical moments to life for young readers. Driven by her upbringing in the American South, she weaves themes of social change, resilience, and complex friendships into her historical narratives. Her widely praised debut novel, Glory Be, earned critical acclaim, appearing on multiple state award lists and cementing her reputation for accessible historical storytelling. Her other mid-grade novels include Making Friends with Billy Wong and The Way to Stay in Destiny.

Etsy.com/shop/TheCharmedBookshop
Visit TheCharmedBookshop.com for more books for children and collectors.

Condition*: Near Fine/Near Fine. Dust jacket: Mild shelf wear. Author inscribed on title page. Pages are clean, undamaged, and complete. Ephemera: Bookmark issued by Scholastic at book release.