Imagining Katherine

the long version

Katherine Weinstein has always dreamed of becoming someone special. But when she finds herself at her second new school within two years, she?d settle for just being able to fit in. Standing out against the backdrop of pretty pastel girls at Middlebrook Junior High, Katherine prefers to read and write?and quickly finds a creative confidante in bubbly blonde Genevieve.Coming of age during the tumultuous social climate of the early 1960s, Katherine has plenty of lessons to learn, courtesy of a deceptive teacher, a cute Frankie Avalon lookalike, a mother who can?t seem to stop getting pregnant, and a rabbi who?s full of questions. But when Charlotte, Middlebrook?s first black student, joins Katherine?s class, those issues fade into the background as Katherine seeks the courage to face down racism and create a welcoming home for her new friend. Set in the Jewish suburbs of Baltimore, Imagining Katherine transports readers to the heart of the civil rights movement through the eyes of a young teen discovering life?s triumphs and tragedies for the first time. A touching tale of family, friendship, and acceptance, Katherine?s story serves as a testament to true courage?and those who stood up for fairness and equality along the way.