Hey, White Girl, Judith Bice
Hey, White Girl, Judith Bice
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Hey, White Girl

Author: Judith Bice

Narrator: Judith Bice

Unabridged: 9 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/09/2023

Categories: Fiction


Synopsis

In the summer of Woodstock and the moon landing, a traditional Virginia town forces its Black and White students to cross the city and integrate the schools, unraveling the predictable white path of the Randolph children and the plans their parents had for them.
Nell Randolph tries to make the best of her first year of high school at a black school. Her mother is unnerved by the changes she sees in Nell and arranges for her to transfer to a private girls’ school. The Vietnam War is raging in the background, inciting fear of the draft for Donald, Nell’s older brother, who involves Nell in decisions that change the trajectory of his life. Even the stability of their church life is challenged when a new priest comes to town.
Hey, White Girl by Judith Bice is told by an older Nell as she traces the fracture of her family through the lens of Civil Rights. Her memories and reflections reveal she is only at the beginning of understanding the complexities of family, race, and privilege. The reader is drawn into the narrator’s experience and compelled to examine with her the personal consequences and responsibilities of cultural change.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Literary on November 18, 2021

Hey, White Girl, is author Judith Bice’s first novel. Although it is a work of fiction, it is inspired by her own experiences of desegregation busing in the U.S. in the 1950s. Hey, White Girl can be summed up in three words: A must read. This compelling coming of age novel is well structured and conv......more

Goodreads review by Lollie on January 11, 2022

I live in Richmond VA, so it felt like I was able to see what bussing was like in Richmond, from a first hand account. This is fiction, but the author lived through bussing with her siblings. I loved how authentic all the elements felt, like the cafe for teens in the basement of the Catholic church.......more

Goodreads review by Heather on September 24, 2022

Born in the 80's to an interracial couple who lived in Richmond, I was very interested in reading this novel on mandated busing. I felt sucked right into 1969 with all of the small details and descriptions. I appreciated the author's open and honest "white girl" perspective as she makes black friend......more

Goodreads review by Ginny on January 02, 2022

This is a lovely, thought provoking story about the challenges of integration faced by students in the late 60’s. The author’s depiction of Nell, the teen protagonist who is trying to navigate both sides of the issue when she is bussed to a school outside of her neighborhood, rings true. Based loose......more

Goodreads review by Brooke on March 01, 2022

A powerful tale of life in Richmond, Virginia in the time of enforced busing, changing times and the Vietnam War. Thought provoking!......more