New Book for Review: Historical Coming of Age ‘The Promised Land’ by Valerie Stocking

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Valerie Stocking will be touring March 5 – April 20 with her historical coming of age novel, The Promised Land.

It’s 1966, just two years after President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law, and twelve-year-old Joy Bradford’s life is changing dramatically. Born and raised in the white suburbs of Connecticut, Joy is moving to Willets Point, Florida to live with her mother Jessica because her parents are divorcing. Hoping it really is the Promised Land that her mother describes, she joins in Jessica’s enthusiasm only to find out how horribly wrong that vision is.

Unfortunately for Joy, the move does nothing to change her mother’s emotional and mental instability, resulting in a continuation of the physical and verbal abuse she is all too used to receiving. Her new school is years behind her old one, the kids dress and act differently, and on just the second day, Joy has a run-in with her geography teacher. Things are going from bad to worse until Clay Dooley, a mixed-race boy from that same geography class, offers his friendship. The two become close, sending shockwaves that dovetail with a growing sense of tension and unease in the community as a whole. Clay’s father Clytus, a well-educated black man, attempts to open his own clothing store in the white section of downtown Willets Point. This causes Jessica’s new lawyer cum boyfriend and leader of the local Klan chapter, Bill McKendrick, to join with other white citizens in using great force to block Clytus’ dreams. Tempers flare and emotions run high when Clytus refuses the Klan’s subsequent demand that he and his family move out of the white neighborhood they live in, setting off an explosive confrontation that will change them all forever.

An absorbing and suspenseful coming of age story set against the tumultuous backdrop of racial tensions in mid-1960’s America, Stocking’s blend of historical fact and fiction is as relevant today as it was during the explosive Civil Rights era. Probing the human psyche for the deep-seated fears that fuel the fires of racism and bigotry, she expertly builds characters who feel their very lives are at stake by the changing times. Full of insight and intensity, The Promised Land is a spellbinding journey you won’t want to miss.

Excerpt:

(THE STORY SO FAR): Joy Bradford has befriended Clay Dooley, a biracial boy in her seventh grade geography class. Her mother has found out, and told Joy in no uncertain terms that she is never to speak to Clay again. The day afterwards, Joy decides to try to explain her sudden coldness to Clay by writing him a letter:)

She went to the girls’ restroom at the end of the hall. Someone had put a chair inside by the towel dispenser. She sat down and opened her briefcase, taking out her notebook. She pulled a pen out of her purse and began to write:

Dear Clay,

I’m sorry for not speaking to you. My mother told me people are watching us. I am scared.

I hope you will understand. I still like you

Abruptly, tears sprang into Joy’s eyes. She paused, tapping her pen against the paper.

I wish it didn’t have to be this way.

She was crying freely now. She bent over the letter, clutching the pen. A tear dropped from her cheek onto the paper. Hastily, she tried to wipe it off, but it left a wet circle and the ink around “I still like you” was smudged. She went over it with her pen, but it just made the smudge worse. Angrily, she crossed the words out, and added them to the end of the letter. Then she signed her name, tore the paper out of her notebook and folded it in half.

She rose and studied her blotched face in the mirror.

I’m a mess.

She took a paper towel, wet it and put it against her face. The water was soothing. Her stomach really hurt now. She bent over slightly, putting her hand on it. She heard voices outside the door, and hastily put the letter in her purse. Then she squared her shoulders despite the pain and walked out of the restroom.

In Geography class, Joy sat in the fourth row on the end, as far away from Clay as possible. Miss Holmes looked around the room, taking attendance, and stopped when she got to Joy.

“Why are you sitting in that seat?” she demanded.

Joy swallowed hard and said nothing.

“Go back to your assigned seat,” Miss Holmes said. “You’re in the wrong place.”

Joy grabbed her briefcase and moved to the back row, where she sat next to Clay. He shifted in his seat and turned away from her. She hardly heard Miss Holmes, who was discussing different locations in Asia.

When can I give him this note? Now?

Joy shot a glance up at Miss Holmes, who was looking at a thick, soft-covered book as she spoke. As quietly as possible, Joy opened her briefcase and withdrew the note. Her hands were trembling. She glanced sideways at Clay, who was busy taking notes.

He was so close, she could—

Suddenly, he looked up at her. Hastily, Joy dropped her eyes. Glanced back at Miss Holmes again. She wasn’t watching. Joy stuck her hand that held the paper out towards Clay. He seemed to recoil in his seat. Quickly, she dropped it in front of him. It landed on his lap and fluttered to the floor.

What am I going to do now?

Joy watched as Clay’s eyes dropped to the paper. Miss Holmes droned on. Clay studied the paper for several moments, hesitated, then picked it up. Joy exhaled in relief.

Miss Holmes looked up at her. Joy realized she didn’t have her geography textbook open, and she hadn’t even taken out her notebook. She fumbled in her briefcase and withdrew it. Opened it up and then realized she didn’t have a pen out.

“What are you doing back there?”

Miss Holmes was staring straight at her.

Joy’s mouth was dry. “Nothing,” she whispered, but by that time Miss Holmes, her long skirt swishing around her legs, had begun marching up the aisle to her. When she reached Joy, Miss Holmes stood in front of her, so close that Joy could have reached out and touched her.

“Are you taking a break back here?” she demanded.

Joy shook her head. She couldn’t meet Miss Holmes’ stare.

“As I explained at the beginning of the class, today’s lecture is very important. What I am talking about will be on the next test. Apparently you don’t seem to care enough to take notes, or to follow along in your textbook.”

Joy was silent. She stared at the floor. There was a small ball of lint in front of her right shoe.

“I would suggest you begin paying attention in this class if you want to pass it,” Miss Holmes said.

Joy quickly glanced up at Miss Holmes, whose glare was burning a hole in the top of her head. Her eyes darted back down to the floor.

Abruptly, Miss Holmes turned and marched back to the front of the room.

Everybody was staring at Joy. A couple of girls in front of her giggled. One of them whispered something Joy didn’t catch, and then giggled again.

“Silence,” Miss Holmes commanded.

You can visit her website at www.valeriestocking.com.

If you would like to review The Promised Land, please fill out the form below or email Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com. Please mention which date would work for you. Valerie is also available for guest posts and interviews. Deadline for inquiries end March 25 or until the tour is filled. Thank you!

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach