Have No Shame Paperback – April 13, 2013

A child's upbringing will very often determine her beliefs. Teach her hatred and intolerance, and she will most likely harbor those same feelings. Teach her "her place" in the world, and that another group of people is "less than" people of her own race, and she will most likely adopt those same prejudices. Especially if she idolizes her father, who has been teaching her those things her whole life. Especially when her fiance's idea of "sport" is chasing and beating negro boys half to death.That is... until something horrific happens. For Alison, finding a black man's dead body changes everything.This book is set in a shameful period of American history, when racial attitudes and behavior in parts of the deep South lagged far behind the actual enactment of civil rights laws. The story of a young woman's awakening to the injustices around her, and the inherent dangers involved when she and others sought to right those wrongs, is a story worth telling. In particular, Foster's description of a civil rights march gone seriously wrong rings eerily true. In fact, there are many terrific parts in this book that are well worth reading.BUT... the overnight change of heart Alison undergoes strikes me as a bit facile. I would have liked to see a more gradual change in her attitude. Interracial love affairs most certainly did happen in the '60s, but for her to go from never having spoken to, sat beside, or touched a black person in her life... to falling in love, and getting intimate with a black man scant days after meeting him didn't ring true to me. Her personal feelings for a black man certainly made the story more poignant, but the relationship was forced along too quickly. Yes, I know romance novels frequently show people "falling madly in love" after just a single glance across a crowded room, but I expected more of a realistic approach from this book. During that period of history, interracial love affairs happened, but not that easily... especially not in a deep South town saturated in KKK leanings. Alison may have been attracted to Jackson, but in my opinion, she'd be terrified by that attraction, fighting herself every step of the way, and feeling deep-set angst about bucking everything she'd ever been taught.For portraying both racial prejudice, and the courage and danger involved in the fight for civil rights so well, I laud the author, and give her five enthusiastic stars. For what I consider to be an unrealistic depiction of Alison's character, I'd only give a three. Overall, though, I'd say it averages out to a very solid four stars. The story line may be predictable, but it's also quite enjoyable. For those who weren't around to experience those days, you may even find it educational. At any rate, try it. I think you'll like it.

This was a great book...although a tad misleading when I got the book thinking it was nearly 300 pages to find out it has two versions of the same book (one with dialect one without in the narrative) so the story as a whole was only half the book. WIth less than 200 pages it was definitely a quick read and was over well before I was ready for it to be. As a whole, it was a great read with a very compelling and interesting story. It held my attention and was very well written. As a whole I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction book. My only disappoint with the book, and my reasoning for giving it a 4 star, was that it felt lacking to me. The story worked as it was, however, there could have been more...take for example, the character of Jackson. In the chapter where Alison goes to meet him at the lake, the reader is told he opens up to her and tells her his story of how life was for him and his family. The chapter ends there and the next starts with Alison at home saying she had a lot to think about from hearing him talk to her. But what did he tell her? What was his story? The reader is left in the dark and is never told. In a sense the reader never gets to know the character of Jackson beyond his name, body description, and Alison's love for him...I'd like for him to have a voice too, even if only though Alison. Perhaps, the author could have included a chapter on Alison hearing his story...there was more room in the book for that, it wouldn't have hurt to go over 200 pages. And there were a few other places where I felt more of the story or voices of other characters could have been expounded upon. Other than that one complaint, the book was amazing...just wanted more of it!!!

Melissa Foster takes us back to the 60’s and poignantly gives us a view into the life of a young girl embroiled in the bigotry and racism that consumes her world in Forrest Town, Arkansas. This story is a thought-provoking and accurate depiction of the racism and brutality that existed in the South during this time in history.Alison Tillman is a good daughter who is engaged to her high school sweetheart and seems perfectly content until. She has been sheltered by her parents all her life and seems unaware of the hatred and bigotry that is alive and consuming her town. While walking one day she discovers the body of a black man floating in the river. This discovery haunts her as she comes to realize that this man is a person with a family no different from hers and she starts to realize the prejudiced actions of her fiancé, her father and many people in Forrest Town is criminal. She meets and has a relationship with a young black man named Jackson and begins to see things that have been right in front of her all the time. As her eyes are opened she also begins to see her Mother and sister in a different light as they come together as a force to be reckoned with.I was totally hypnotized with this book and so invested in the characters of Alison and Jackson that I didn’t want the story to end. All of the supporting characters are developed with such a sense of realism and depth I could feel an emotional connection that kept me totally invested in the story. The interactions and emotions were brought to the forefront by the Author in an exceptional way.I highly recommend this book, it is a powerful story that takes on a life of its own as we are propelled back to the civil rights movement and are faced with the realities of injustice and a love that is more powerful than hatred.

Was such an interesting read. The story follows Allison from the deep South where racial segregation is still a 'normal' part of life and one that is against change. It starts with her making a startling discovery that opened her eyes to just backwards her society is, though she isn't strong enough to go against her father she remains in awe of her sister who leaves to fight against segregation. This books takes us through her progression from falling for a man she isn't supposed to, to battling with what is right but struggling to be as brave as her sister.It was a very interesting book and doesn't hold back to some of the horrors endured during this terrible time.

I was very pleased that the story had yet so much more to tell. With the final pieces falling to place, any misgivings were replaced by the coming together of a good story. Told first in the Southern dialect, it grew on me quickly and then it brought the story to life. I found myself thinking her thoughts as i followed, as she would think them, in her voice. Alison crosses the lines, but shows us why it happens. The story is fast paced from the beginning and edgy between the reality of the day to day, a life which for Alison is shaped by expectations, social laws, and a conflicted heart. She is genuine, and comes through brave. The characters are real and deep, with their own stories to tell. An easy- reading, brilliant insight into a stark but normal, social injustice, and the fight of a young woman for freedom and love.

I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. I read it in a day. It is unbelievable to think this was going on in parts of America only fifty years ago. I remember the riots in Little Rock when I was a child and this book really brought it home to me . Can highly recommend

Loved, loved, loved this book, I couldn't read it quickly enough I just had to know what happened in the end but at the same time I was heart broken when i'd finished it.. I felt so connected and involved with the characters I found myself crying on the commute to work while reading it.....you must read this book.

We all knew this happened-, but it was a great story, that I think would have been more common than we thought back in those days- made me cry in places- and angry in others. If you like civil rights stories, you will love this