nineteen fifties

In the mid-1950s, twenty-six-year-old Jean Louis Finch, "Scout," returns to Maycomb, Alabama, to visit her father, Atticus, but her homecoming turns bittersweet and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt as she uncovers truths about her family, friends, and town which are exposed by civil rights tensions and political turmoil.

In the mid-1950s, twenty-six-year-old Jean Louis Finch, "Scout," returns to Maycomb, Alabama, to visit her father, Atticus, but her homecoming turns bittersweet and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt as she uncovers truths about her family, friends, and town which are exposed by civil rights tensions and political turmoil.

"Maryellen takes a break from practicing for the big Rock Around the Clock dance to go to the beach with her friend Davy. When they find a barnacle-encrusted ring buried in the sand, they have fun imagining that it's lost treasure from a sunken ship and that they're in an adventure like 'Treasure Island.' But they soon realize they may be in over their heads--when other people seem desperate to get the ring!"--Back cover.

Examines the dark undercurrent that lay beneath American contentedness in the 1950s, discussing McCarthyism, the escalation of the Cold War, and violent civil rights demonstrations.

Discusses the American politics and history of the 1950s.

"Scooter, Maryellen's pudgy pet dachshund, may be lazy, but he's one of the family, and Maryellen loves him dearly. And he never misses a meal! So when Scooter doesn't show up at dinnertime, she's worried. Maryellen launches a search and discovers some strange goings-on in her neighborhood. With the help of her friends and family, the search for Scooter takes Maryellen from the streets of Daytona Beach to the rocket launchpad at Cape Canaveral!"--Back cover.

In the mid-1950s, twenty-six-year-old Jean Louis Finch, "Scout," returns to Maycomb, Alabama, to visit her father, Atticus, but her homecoming turns bittersweet and her values and assumptions are thrown into doubt as she uncovers truths about her family, friends, and town which are exposed by civil rights tensions and political turmoil.

Seventeen-year-old Lark, living with her aunt in West Virginia after the death of her father in the Korean War and her mother's abandonment, struggles to understand her family's past and create a future for herself and her disabled brother, Termite.

"What if you suddenly found yourself in Maryellen's world during the 1950s? How would your life be changed, and what would you do to fit in? More importantly, what would you do to stand out? Join Maryellen on an adventure where the two of you can put on poodle skirts and head to a school dance (they were called sock hops back then!), enter a contest, or take a trip in a streamlined silver camper that looks like a rocket ship! Your journey back in time can take whatever twists and turns you choose, as you select from a variety of...options in this multiple-ending story"--Provided by publisher.

Maryellen wants to stand out, but with five brothers and sisters, it's not so easy. Giving herself a haircut doesn't go quite the way she expects - and when she draws a cartoon of her teacher on the first day of fourth grade, she draws more attention than she wants! At least her drawing skills help her make an interesting new friend. Together, they might be able to win the Geography Bee - but only if Maryellen can find a way to make her old friends overcome their prejudice.