 | Finlater
Ruff, Shawn Stewart
Meet Cliffy Douglas, the 13-year-old narrator of Finlater, a coming-of-age love story set in racially-charged 1970s Cincinnati, Ohio. First day of school, the bright champion speller from the Findlater Gardens Projects is promoted over the 7th grad. In 8th grade algebra class, he is seated beside Noah Baumgarten, and the 'Nigger and Jew' are fast drawn to each other, not least because they are wearing identical striped shirts that first day. Children of their time, segregated by neighbourhood, opportunity and skin colour, neither kid has ever had a friend like the other. soon Cliffy is convinced he wants to be Jewish, and Noah a black soul brother, so each can more fully fit into the other's life. Deep complexities quickly surface, though, and their fantasies collide with reality, as the two chum around the roiling city, searching for clarity and understanding beyond the narrow notions each has about the other's world. But it is their crumbling home lives that lay their hearts bare. They discover refuge in first love ... its sweetness and bitterness too. (Ruff)
| Price: $29.95
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