The dry grass of august is a comingofage work of literary fiction. Written with unusual charm, wonderful dialogue, and a deeply felt sense of time and place, the dry grass of august is a book for adults and young people both a beautifully written literary novel that is a real pageturner, i have to add. It describes life in the mid 20th century in the south, before integration has become the law. Womans world written with unusual charm, wonderful dialogue, and a deeply felt sense of time and place, the dry grass of august is a book for adults and young people botha beautifully written literary novel that is a real pageturner, i have to add. It tells the story of jubie, a young white girl growing up in the midst of the civil rights movement who endures her fathers drunken tirades and her mothers indifference by relying on the sheltering compassion of mary luther, the familys black maid.
In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offe. The dry grass of august takes place in 1954 in charlotte, north carolina and tells the story of year old the dry grass of august in a really interesting and engaging novel and while a lot of people seem to be comparing it in one way or another to the help, i am not going to do this as i feel this book needs to be read and enjoyed in its own right. Explores the explosive tensions of the south in the mid1950s through the prism of a young girls friendship with her black maid and the currents of violence, infidelity, and corruption that. Which character in the book did you identify with the most. Along with their colored maid mary, the watts family takes a road trip down to florida, looking for the chance to escape from the pressures of daytoday life in north carolina.
The dry grass of august is anna jean mayhews first book and it reminded me a lot of the book, the secret life of bees. The dry grass of august book summary and study guide. When yearold jubie watts goes on a florida vacation with her family in 1954, mary, the familys black maid whos closer. On a scorching day in august 1954, yearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. Despite a crush of perhaps unwarranted latebook suffering, mayhew keeps the story taut, thoughtful, and complex, elevating it from the throng of comingofage books. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew, paperback. Reading guide for the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew discussion guide for book clubs. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew sandys book. She has been writerinresidence at moulin a nef studio center in auvillar, france, and was a member of the first board of trustees of the north carolina writers network. The dry grass of august book midcontinent public library. Mayhews first novel, the dry grass of august, won the sir walter raleigh award for fiction, and was a finalist for the book award from the southern independent booksellers alliance.
On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. The dry grass of august wake county public libraries. They are journeying south through the land of jim crow to pensacola, florida to visit her uncle. However, both books provide a frontrow viewing of how white people treated black people in the late 50searly 60s. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jub. In 1954, yearold jubie, traveling with her family and her familys black maid mary lutherwho has always been there for her, making up for her fathers rages and her mothers neglectencounters racial tension and tragedy. In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of southern life in the throes of segregation, what it will mean for a young girl on her way to adulthoodand for the woman who means the world to her. Along with their colored maid mary, the watts family takes a road trip down to florida, looking for the chance to escape from the pressures of daytoday life. The dry grass of august randolph county public library.
This summary of the dry grass of august includes a complete plot overview spoilers included. She has been writerinresidence at moulin a nef studio center in auvillar, france, and was a member of the first board of trustees of the. Anna jean mayhew in 1954, yearold jubie, traveling with her family and her familys black maid mary lutherwho has always been there for her, making up for her fathers rages and her mothers neglectencounters. Angela davisgardner, author of butterflys child anna jean mayhew has a true ear for southern speech.
Apr 01, 2011 the dry grass of august was read in the libraries of richland county, sc, in one book, one columbia, and in wilkes reads, a countywide event. Dont worry though, i took good care of it, and its sitting by the garage door, ready to be returned on my next visit. The dry grass of august anna jean mayhew, 2011 kensington publishing 352 pp. Young jubie watts learns about racism and segregation in a most dramatic way as her family travels from north carolina to florida. The dry grass of august tells the story of jubie watts, who gains wisdom beyond her years of life during the summer of 1954. Books similar to the dry grass of august goodreads. The book has been a kindle daily deal, and is featured in a promotion with southwest air and kobo ebooks. Reading guide for the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew.
Exactly 400 years ago, the first africans were brought over to the american colonies. Goodreads members who liked the dry grass of august also liked. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew 2011, paperback. The dry grass of august is a very good book and i would read it again. Reading is believing, however, and once youve experienced the dry grass of august, youll swiftly see that anna jean mayhews debut novel deserves all the early praise its getting. It describes life in the mid 20th century in the south, before integration has. Junes family maid was a loving, caring woman and very proper. Buy a cheap copy of the dry grass of august book by anna jean mayhew. The dry grass of august is a book that will hold your attention from beginning to end. It is told by june a young teen who is becoming aware of the world around her. The dry grass of august is a carefully researched, beautifully written, quietly told tale of love and despair and a.
In this beautifully written debut, anna jean mayhew offers a riveting depiction of. Were considering expanding this synopsis into a fulllength study guide to deepen your comprehension of the book and why its important. On a scorching day in august 1954, thirteenyearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with. If bill died at the end of the book, what would his obituary say if paula wrote it. The dry grass of august is a haunting debut about family bonds that stretch without breaking, and a panoramic glimpse into an older america and the dying of an age. A few months earlier, the supreme court of the united states had ruled on the case, brown v.
Apr 01, 2011 the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew on a scorching day in august 1954, yearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. Written with unusual charm, wonderful dialogue, and a deeply felt sense of time and place, the dry grass of august is a book for adults and young people botha beautifully written literary novel that is a real pageturner, i have to add. Explores the explosive tensions of the south in the mid1950s through the prism of a young girls friendship with her black maid and the currents of violence, infidelity, and corruption that run beneath the polite surface of her familys life. The dry grass of august ebook daniel boone regional. I took this book off the shelf in her study without asking.
Find books like the dry grass of august from the worlds largest community of readers. And the violent and heartbreaking resolution will leave readers breathless and members of book groups heatedly conversing into the wee hours. Crammed into the packard along with jubie are her three siblings, her mother, and the familys black maid, mary luther. The dry grass of august book the seattle public library. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover.
The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew is set in the summer of 1954 and thirteen year old june jubie watts is leaving charlotte, north caroline on a road trip with her mother, her two sisters, her baby brother and the colored maid, mary. It takes place in 1954 when jubies family leaves charlotte, north carolina to go on a vacation to see her uncle in florida taking along the black maid, mary. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew sandys book a. The dry grass of august was read in the libraries of richland county, sc, in one book, one columbia, and in wilkes reads, a countywide event. Read the dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew available from rakuten kobo. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew book cover, description, publication history.
The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew on a scorching day in august 1954, yearold jubie watts leaves charlotte, north carolina, with her family for a florida vacation. The dry grass of august book club kit chapel hill public. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew fantastic fiction. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew goodreads. The dry grass of august book charlotte mecklenburg. Dry grass is wellwritten, though not as lyrical as secret life. Young jubie watts is the perfect heroine and narrator of this tale with her cleareyed look at the inconsistencies of the adults around her, and for her courage to ask why. If you could interview jubie, what would you ask her.
Chicago turabian author date citation style guide mayhew, anna jean. Jubie becomes excited when she sees a sign for a traveling carnival just outside pensacola. The novel, the dry grass of august, opens in the summer of 1954. A girl comes of age in the tumultuous 1950s south in mayhews strong debut. Publishers weekly once youve experienced the dry grass of august, youll swiftly see that anna jean mayhews debut novel deserves all the early praise its getting. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew librarything. The dry grass of august by anna jean mayhew l summary. Anna jean mayhew booklist anna jean mayhew message board.
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