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World News from Waverley High
A tale of identity, activism, and finding your voice in a world on fire, this coming-of-age novel set at an urban high school captures a singular moment in American history—through the eyes of one unforgettable girl.
1969. Lena Rosen is an intelligent, observant teenager torn between spontaneity and self-consciousness. During her junior year, she becomes attuned to the pulse of her times in her first-period Current History class, where rebellion, social change, and musical innovation of the 1960s dominate discussion. When Lena becomes the associate editor of the school newspaper The Beacon, she is drawn into the swirling discourse surrounding the Vietnam War, civil rights, environmental disasters, and campus protests—while also grappling with her growing attraction to Jack Stone, the paper’s editor.
As the year progresses and the antiwar movement gains momentum, the unrest builds at Waverley High. Lena wrestles with her own cultural and religious identity as a Jewish teen while she and her fellow students struggle to cope with racial discord, a bomb threat, and the emotional toll of a world that seems to be unraveling. When tragedy collapses the distance between headlines and Lena’s own life, she must decide what it means to stand for peace—and to hope for a better world.
Set during one school year against the backdrop of an America on the brink of change, World News from Waverley High reveals the crossroads of personal growth and national unrest.
1969. Lena Rosen is an intelligent, observant teenager torn between spontaneity and self-consciousness. During her junior year, she becomes attuned to the pulse of her times in her first-period Current History class, where rebellion, social change, and musical innovation of the 1960s dominate discussion. When Lena becomes the associate editor of the school newspaper The Beacon, she is drawn into the swirling discourse surrounding the Vietnam War, civil rights, environmental disasters, and campus protests—while also grappling with her growing attraction to Jack Stone, the paper’s editor.
As the year progresses and the antiwar movement gains momentum, the unrest builds at Waverley High. Lena wrestles with her own cultural and religious identity as a Jewish teen while she and her fellow students struggle to cope with racial discord, a bomb threat, and the emotional toll of a world that seems to be unraveling. When tragedy collapses the distance between headlines and Lena’s own life, she must decide what it means to stand for peace—and to hope for a better world.
Set during one school year against the backdrop of an America on the brink of change, World News from Waverley High reveals the crossroads of personal growth and national unrest.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Linda Kass
5 books70 followersLinda Kass began her career as a magazine journalist and correspondent for regional and national publications. Along with her forthcoming novel, World News from Waverley High (September 2026), she is the author of three previous works of historical fiction: Tasa’s Song (2016), A Ritchie Boy (2020), and Bessie (2023). A longtime civic leader, she is the founder and owner of Gramercy Books, an independent bookstore in Central Ohio now in its tenth year. Linda lives in Columbus with her husband, Frank; they have four children, six grandchildren, and a labradoodle named Wally.
Learn more at www.lindakass.com.
Learn more at www.lindakass.com.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 9, 2026
I really enjoyed this book!
First of all, it opens exactly a week after I was born! It was always fascinating, (and sometimes a bit creepy), to listen to adults describe events of that ‘69 summer when I was old enough to listen. The moon landing, Woodstock, the “Helter-Skelter” murders, Beatle’s anthems, etc., all were things that I grew up hearing about frequently. With a government teacher for a father, and a brother that was 12 years my senior, I suppose it was inevitable!
The reader is taken through the events of the latter part of ‘69 and some of ‘70 through the eyes and voice of seventeen-year-old Lena, a junior at an Ohio high school. She and her classmates begin to understand thoroughly, through their participation in a current events class, and with news of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights demonstrations constantly shown on tv, just how much upheaval the world is in. Problem is, as teenagers, can they really effect any actual changes, or should they just
keep silent and safe in their small town? Is that even possible?…
It was a point of interest to me that Lena’s parents, and the relatives of one of her friends, were refugees from Jewish persecution in Europe during WW2. Expressed in the writing was the impression that the troubles America was experiencing were especially depressing to these families, because they had already witnessed terrible things in the countries of their childhoods.
An Advisory to Readers:
There is some historical content that needs to be mentioned for its graphic nature. The My Lai Massacre is relayed on a news broadcast by an American participant, and the descriptions are brutal. As such, I would suggest adult guidance be given to any young adult that has access to this novel, before they read it.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
First of all, it opens exactly a week after I was born! It was always fascinating, (and sometimes a bit creepy), to listen to adults describe events of that ‘69 summer when I was old enough to listen. The moon landing, Woodstock, the “Helter-Skelter” murders, Beatle’s anthems, etc., all were things that I grew up hearing about frequently. With a government teacher for a father, and a brother that was 12 years my senior, I suppose it was inevitable!
The reader is taken through the events of the latter part of ‘69 and some of ‘70 through the eyes and voice of seventeen-year-old Lena, a junior at an Ohio high school. She and her classmates begin to understand thoroughly, through their participation in a current events class, and with news of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights demonstrations constantly shown on tv, just how much upheaval the world is in. Problem is, as teenagers, can they really effect any actual changes, or should they just
keep silent and safe in their small town? Is that even possible?…
It was a point of interest to me that Lena’s parents, and the relatives of one of her friends, were refugees from Jewish persecution in Europe during WW2. Expressed in the writing was the impression that the troubles America was experiencing were especially depressing to these families, because they had already witnessed terrible things in the countries of their childhoods.
An Advisory to Readers:
There is some historical content that needs to be mentioned for its graphic nature. The My Lai Massacre is relayed on a news broadcast by an American participant, and the descriptions are brutal. As such, I would suggest adult guidance be given to any young adult that has access to this novel, before they read it.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
September 27, 2026
A vivid window into 1969-1970, and a natural fit for the classroom
Reading "World News from Waverley High" felt like stepping into a time machine. Linda Kass recreates the 1960-70 school year in remarkable detail. Through the eyes of Lena Rosen, a thoughtful junior and associate editor of her school paper, readers live through the Vietnam War debates, the civil rights struggle, the rise of environmental awareness, and the growing wave of campus protests.
Lena’s perspective is really what sets the novel apart. As a Jewish teenager at an integrated urban high school, Lena sees the era’s racial and political tensions up close, in her classrooms and friendships. We see how the larger conflicts of the day play out among students of different backgrounds, while Lena wrestles with her own sense of identity and belonging. Lena’s Current History class and the newsroom of "The Beacon" become lenses for the headlines of the day, so we absorb everything the way a teenager would have: in the hallways, at the kitchen table, through overheard phone calls, and on the radio.
The music also deserves a special mention. Each chapter is titled after a song, and the soundtrack of the era runs throughout the book. At the end of the book, Kass lists all of the songs and artists mentioned— a great resource if you love the music of the 1960s, as I do!
This novel would be excellent assigned reading for high school or college history classes. It offers a wealth of material for discussion. Teachers could easily pair chapters with primary resources and the songs themselves.
Whether you lived through these years or are just discovering them, this book brings a pivotal moment in American history to life.
Reading "World News from Waverley High" felt like stepping into a time machine. Linda Kass recreates the 1960-70 school year in remarkable detail. Through the eyes of Lena Rosen, a thoughtful junior and associate editor of her school paper, readers live through the Vietnam War debates, the civil rights struggle, the rise of environmental awareness, and the growing wave of campus protests.
Lena’s perspective is really what sets the novel apart. As a Jewish teenager at an integrated urban high school, Lena sees the era’s racial and political tensions up close, in her classrooms and friendships. We see how the larger conflicts of the day play out among students of different backgrounds, while Lena wrestles with her own sense of identity and belonging. Lena’s Current History class and the newsroom of "The Beacon" become lenses for the headlines of the day, so we absorb everything the way a teenager would have: in the hallways, at the kitchen table, through overheard phone calls, and on the radio.
The music also deserves a special mention. Each chapter is titled after a song, and the soundtrack of the era runs throughout the book. At the end of the book, Kass lists all of the songs and artists mentioned— a great resource if you love the music of the 1960s, as I do!
This novel would be excellent assigned reading for high school or college history classes. It offers a wealth of material for discussion. Teachers could easily pair chapters with primary resources and the songs themselves.
Whether you lived through these years or are just discovering them, this book brings a pivotal moment in American history to life.
September 23, 2026
I had a feeling I was going to like this one as soon as I realized how central the school newspaper is to the story, and I did. World News from Waverley High follows Lena through 1969, when so much seems to be happening at once—Vietnam, protests, civil rights, environmental crises—and she is trying to make sense of all of it while also figuring out who she is.
What I liked most was the way journalism becomes part of Lena’s growing up. The newspaper isn’t just a cute backdrop; it gives her a reason to pay attention, ask questions, and think seriously about what is happening around her. I also appreciated that the book doesn’t separate the “big” historical events from ordinary teenage life. Both are happening at the same time, which felt very believable.
At times I wanted a little more depth in some of the relationships, but overall I found this thoughtful, engaging, and surprisingly relevant.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for providing me with an advance copy.
What I liked most was the way journalism becomes part of Lena’s growing up. The newspaper isn’t just a cute backdrop; it gives her a reason to pay attention, ask questions, and think seriously about what is happening around her. I also appreciated that the book doesn’t separate the “big” historical events from ordinary teenage life. Both are happening at the same time, which felt very believable.
At times I wanted a little more depth in some of the relationships, but overall I found this thoughtful, engaging, and surprisingly relevant.
Thank you to NetGalley and She Writes Press for providing me with an advance copy.
October 3, 2026
WORLD NEWS FROM WAVERLEY HIGH was an excellent 20th century historical fiction story. I felt like I learned a lot about this era and this is always a plus for me with historical fiction books. It was also a clear reminder that there was a lot of unrest in America in 1969. The personal growth theme also got my attention and made this a very interesting read.
Many thanks to Linda Kass for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
Many thanks to Linda Kass for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
The late 1960’s were years filled with major historical events: war in Viet Nam, the Cambodian war, Woodstock, Kent State shooting, to name a few. Walter Cronkite was the top reporter and news anchor, there was no internet, cellphones or fax machines; personal computers were years away.
Lena is a junior in an urban, public high school in Columbus, Ohio. She’s seriously dating and is thrilled with Current History and Journalism for electives. They play heavily into this story where she serves as the narrator; a very reliable narrator.
Chappaquiddick, Man on the Moon & Apollo 11, the rock musical, HAIR, on Broadway, assassinations of JFK, MLK, and black civil rights are topics of discussion in the history class and subjects for the school newspaper to discuss. Lena is a rising star on the school newspaper.
Reading WORLD NEWS FROM WAVERLY HIGH, by Linda Kass, was to visit my school experiences AND this historical time period. Not only are these major events burned into my memory but the plethora of music mentioned in this story was a walk down musical memory lane. Kass uses song titles as titles for the chapters, beginning with Hot Fun in the Summer and ending with Stand By Me. It was a glorious concert in writing that includes over 60 well known tunes. Kass includes a complete listing of each song in order of appearance and provides the on sale date along with a brief blurb of its importance or her assessment of what the composer’s trying to say thru the lyrics. For those who lived and listened then or do so now on an oldies station, this is pure gold. Spotify play list? Yes, please!
Kass is brilliant at creating characters and setting for this coming of age story. I can clearly remember my days that parallel the experiences and feelings expressed by Lena, her friends and family. The staff at the school are reminiscent of my high school teachers and administrators. I was fully engaged in this honest, accurate portrayal of the 60’s.
Aside from one f-bomb that appears in a direct quote, there are scant soft expletives. There’s no sexual content or descriptive violence to speak of. Interested young adults, 14+, would be reading candidates. Even better would be reading together with interested adults. The content and inclusive nature will spark discussions of value.
Highly recommended for those interested in 1960’s History, Coming of Age stories, Historical Fiction and Oldies Music📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read and Reviewed from a pdf. file via Kindle with thanks to Publisher’s Weekly, author and publisher.
Lena is a junior in an urban, public high school in Columbus, Ohio. She’s seriously dating and is thrilled with Current History and Journalism for electives. They play heavily into this story where she serves as the narrator; a very reliable narrator.
Chappaquiddick, Man on the Moon & Apollo 11, the rock musical, HAIR, on Broadway, assassinations of JFK, MLK, and black civil rights are topics of discussion in the history class and subjects for the school newspaper to discuss. Lena is a rising star on the school newspaper.
Reading WORLD NEWS FROM WAVERLY HIGH, by Linda Kass, was to visit my school experiences AND this historical time period. Not only are these major events burned into my memory but the plethora of music mentioned in this story was a walk down musical memory lane. Kass uses song titles as titles for the chapters, beginning with Hot Fun in the Summer and ending with Stand By Me. It was a glorious concert in writing that includes over 60 well known tunes. Kass includes a complete listing of each song in order of appearance and provides the on sale date along with a brief blurb of its importance or her assessment of what the composer’s trying to say thru the lyrics. For those who lived and listened then or do so now on an oldies station, this is pure gold. Spotify play list? Yes, please!
Kass is brilliant at creating characters and setting for this coming of age story. I can clearly remember my days that parallel the experiences and feelings expressed by Lena, her friends and family. The staff at the school are reminiscent of my high school teachers and administrators. I was fully engaged in this honest, accurate portrayal of the 60’s.
Aside from one f-bomb that appears in a direct quote, there are scant soft expletives. There’s no sexual content or descriptive violence to speak of. Interested young adults, 14+, would be reading candidates. Even better would be reading together with interested adults. The content and inclusive nature will spark discussions of value.
Highly recommended for those interested in 1960’s History, Coming of Age stories, Historical Fiction and Oldies Music📚
I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.
Read and Reviewed from a pdf. file via Kindle with thanks to Publisher’s Weekly, author and publisher.
Read
July 15, 2026World News from Waverley High promises to be a thoughtful and emotionally engaging novel that explores the intersection of adolescence, community, and the wider world. Linda Kass has a gift for creating character-driven stories, and this novel appears poised to continue that tradition with warmth, insight, and compassion.
The title itself is wonderfully evocative, suggesting that even within the familiar hallways of a high school, the most significant events are often deeply personal. Schools are places where friendships are formed, identities take shape, perspectives broaden, and seemingly ordinary moments can influence an entire lifetime. A story that captures those experiences has the potential to resonate with readers across generations.
What is especially appealing is the implication that the "world news" unfolding at Waverley High extends far beyond headlines. The emotional lives of students, teachers, and families often reflect larger social questions while remaining deeply intimate and relatable. Stories set within educational communities frequently remind us that empathy, resilience, and understanding begin with everyday human interactions.
Linda Kass consistently writes with an appreciation for relationships, personal growth, and the complexities of community, and those qualities seem well suited to a novel centered on a high school environment. Readers who enjoy literary fiction grounded in authentic characters and meaningful emotional journeys will likely find much to appreciate here.
World News from Waverley High appears to offer a timely reminder that every community has stories worth telling and that the experiences shaping young lives today often become the foundations of tomorrow. It is a novel that promises heart, humanity, and enduring relevance.
The title itself is wonderfully evocative, suggesting that even within the familiar hallways of a high school, the most significant events are often deeply personal. Schools are places where friendships are formed, identities take shape, perspectives broaden, and seemingly ordinary moments can influence an entire lifetime. A story that captures those experiences has the potential to resonate with readers across generations.
What is especially appealing is the implication that the "world news" unfolding at Waverley High extends far beyond headlines. The emotional lives of students, teachers, and families often reflect larger social questions while remaining deeply intimate and relatable. Stories set within educational communities frequently remind us that empathy, resilience, and understanding begin with everyday human interactions.
Linda Kass consistently writes with an appreciation for relationships, personal growth, and the complexities of community, and those qualities seem well suited to a novel centered on a high school environment. Readers who enjoy literary fiction grounded in authentic characters and meaningful emotional journeys will likely find much to appreciate here.
World News from Waverley High appears to offer a timely reminder that every community has stories worth telling and that the experiences shaping young lives today often become the foundations of tomorrow. It is a novel that promises heart, humanity, and enduring relevance.
September 10, 2026
A historical novel told through the youth at a high school in Ohio during the 1969-1979 school year. A school year filled with questions, change, fear, the unknown and what’s next for their generation. Lena becomes part of the school newspaper and the group she is tasked to work with all have very different ideas and topics that should be written about. Her history teacher also pushes the students to broaden their horizons of news of not just the bad or what’s currently being talked about but what overall is happening around the school, city, state and world. Many current day topics such as Vietnam are often discussed and Lena does her best to try to understand the different view points from others and not just what she and her family believes. Another interesting topic that has caught Lena’s interest is interracial relationships. Being Jewish herself and knowing her family’s strong belief in religion could she be in a relationship with someone of not Jewish origin or a different race altogether? When a scary threat of a bomb at the school is discovered, it also brings up the topic of fear, how others react and assumptions that are made on who made this threat. Protests are also everywhere and when there is one at the school, it also brings about the discussion of why, what will this do or benefit. So many topics and events were covered in this story and yet so much hasn’t changed and these are still very real issues at high schools and the world today. I really enjoyed this novel and felt like I was right back in high school again. This novel dives into some deep topics and I loved the different viewpoints and discussions that were brought about with each one. Thank you to the author and publisher for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
WOW! Linda Kass, the Author of “World News from Waverly High” has written a powerful, thought-provoking, memorable and captivating novel. The Genres for this well written, and well told story are: Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Coming of Age. The timeline for this story is set between 1969 and 1970 In Waverly High School. set in a diverse and social minded community. This time period is one in History “against the backdrop of an America on the brink of change. World News reveals the crossroads of personal growth and nation unrest.” The students use the freedom of the press and their newspaper to tell it as it is. I loved this story, and especially love the playlist of songs that the author provided from this time. I had fun playing this song as I read this story!
Linda Kass vividly describes the scenery, plot, action and the colorful and dramatic characters. The author takes us back to High School, where we meet a sampling of students that represent the leadership and creativity at the time. Lena Rosen is dealing with her own problems of identity, and becomes involved in Current Affairs, and the news of the time. Lena is the Associate Editor of the School Newspaper called “The Beacon”. She works with Jack Stone, the paper’s editor. Some of the topics they are dealing with are The Vietnam War, and the antiwar movement, civil rights, environmental issues, and racism. As tension mounts on college campuses and the community, the High School tries to think of positive solutions that the students can use. When tragedy strikes, the staff and students want to believe in peace and a better world. I highly recommend this thought-provoking and amazing Historical Fiction book to others.
September 7, 2026
Review of advanced digital galley of World News From Waverley High by Linda Kass, provided by the author, She Writes Press, and PW Grab-A-Galley
Set at a fictional Columbus high school in the 1969-1970 school year, Lena Rosen’s account of her day-to-day life as a high school junior takes the reader on a tour through history. I enjoyed the diary-like writing style, and though —because of the time period— the story was reminiscent of Forrest Gump, it was much more realistic. As an Ohio Millennial (2004 grad) I actually found a LOT of the story to be very relatable. While some of my teachers were starting their careers during this timeline, others would’ve been Lena’s peers. I felt a strong connection to not only Lena’s social groups, but also to her teachers, especially Mr. Gordon and his Current History class. The mention of several Columbus locations further immersed me into the story. The students in this story were concerned with Vietnam. My friends and I had Iraq and Afghanistan. They were worried about what would happen if they didn’t start to care about the environment. We shared the same thoughts. All the craziness of the world going on, and they still had typical teenage issues to deal with. World News From Waverley High was an enjoyable read and I look forward to exploring Kass’s other works. Thanks again to the author, She Writes Reads, and Publishers Weekly for the advanced copy.
Set at a fictional Columbus high school in the 1969-1970 school year, Lena Rosen’s account of her day-to-day life as a high school junior takes the reader on a tour through history. I enjoyed the diary-like writing style, and though —because of the time period— the story was reminiscent of Forrest Gump, it was much more realistic. As an Ohio Millennial (2004 grad) I actually found a LOT of the story to be very relatable. While some of my teachers were starting their careers during this timeline, others would’ve been Lena’s peers. I felt a strong connection to not only Lena’s social groups, but also to her teachers, especially Mr. Gordon and his Current History class. The mention of several Columbus locations further immersed me into the story. The students in this story were concerned with Vietnam. My friends and I had Iraq and Afghanistan. They were worried about what would happen if they didn’t start to care about the environment. We shared the same thoughts. All the craziness of the world going on, and they still had typical teenage issues to deal with. World News From Waverley High was an enjoyable read and I look forward to exploring Kass’s other works. Thanks again to the author, She Writes Reads, and Publishers Weekly for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a fascinating and engaging YA! A coming of age, historical fiction that takes place in the late 70’s and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lena Rosen, a junior in HS, becomes the associate editor for her school newspaper at Waverly High. It's 1969, and times are tumultuous in the world. Rebellion, social change, and musical innovation of the 1960s dominate discussion in her first period history class. She and the other students in the school are dealing with the discourse going on in the world, such as the Vietnam war, civil rights, activism, environmental disasters, and protests, This would be a fantastic read for teens to learn about the turbulent history in our country, ESPECIALLY with everything going on in politics right now. It was a quick read and held my attention. I loved the descriptions of the high school and the students. It made for the whole story to be more vivid. I also loved how each chapter was the name of a song from the 60's. I love old music and so many of these songs. Overall this was a really great read and I loved it even more than I was expecting. I'd definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
September 14, 2026
We all remember where we were when we witnessed the atrocity on September 11, 2001. World events shape our psyche, and Linda Kass, author of World News from Waverley High grabs that hopeless feeling while taking readers back to world events that shaped a generation that lived during the turbulent era of the Vietnam War coinciding with Woodstock and the rise of racial unrest.
Against the backdrop of a public high school in 1969, Kass gives readers the news of that time, told through the voice of high school junior, Lena, a Jewish girl trying to make sense of the explosive world shattering around her while dealing with normal teen challenges … parties, working on the school newspaper, and her crush on that cute, popular senior.
Kass sums up her fourth novel, World News from Waverley High perfectly in her Afterword… “I grew up without the internet. The media landscape was less fragmented—three television networks, daily newspapers, and an array of national magazines—and news was more trusted We watched the same television images in our living rooms and formed our own conclusions from a shared narrative.” World News from Waverly High is a gentle reminder that world events seen through the eyes of the young is powerful and can spur change.
Against the backdrop of a public high school in 1969, Kass gives readers the news of that time, told through the voice of high school junior, Lena, a Jewish girl trying to make sense of the explosive world shattering around her while dealing with normal teen challenges … parties, working on the school newspaper, and her crush on that cute, popular senior.
Kass sums up her fourth novel, World News from Waverley High perfectly in her Afterword… “I grew up without the internet. The media landscape was less fragmented—three television networks, daily newspapers, and an array of national magazines—and news was more trusted We watched the same television images in our living rooms and formed our own conclusions from a shared narrative.” World News from Waverly High is a gentle reminder that world events seen through the eyes of the young is powerful and can spur change.
September 25, 2026
This novel covers one of my favorite time periods: the late sixties.
Lena Rosen is a junior at a Midwestern high school in 1969, and she is fortunate to have teachers willing to talk about what is going on in their tumultuous world.
Lena attends classes such as Current History and Journalism, where students discuss world events and social and cultural issues. At first, she feels a sense of camaraderie with her classmates. But struggling with her own identity as a Jewish teen, things start to unravel as anti-war movements build, racial tensions grow, and the Kent State shooting occurs.
Covering only one school year, 1969-1970, it is amazing how much history took place in that time and what the teenagers witnessed and discussed. You can see how it was shaping this generation, for better or worse.
This novel offers a vivid snapshot of history, culture, and music, capturing the coming of age amid a volatile world and the enduring search for hope and belonging.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @linda.sternkass for the gifted book.
Lena Rosen is a junior at a Midwestern high school in 1969, and she is fortunate to have teachers willing to talk about what is going on in their tumultuous world.
Lena attends classes such as Current History and Journalism, where students discuss world events and social and cultural issues. At first, she feels a sense of camaraderie with her classmates. But struggling with her own identity as a Jewish teen, things start to unravel as anti-war movements build, racial tensions grow, and the Kent State shooting occurs.
Covering only one school year, 1969-1970, it is amazing how much history took place in that time and what the teenagers witnessed and discussed. You can see how it was shaping this generation, for better or worse.
This novel offers a vivid snapshot of history, culture, and music, capturing the coming of age amid a volatile world and the enduring search for hope and belonging.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @linda.sternkass for the gifted book.
October 2, 2026
Queue 🎼music🎼 from
Ben E. King's STAND BY ME
June 1969 through May 1970 marked one of the most pivotal 12-month periods in US history. From the Moon landing and the Manson murders to Woodstock, the draft lottery, Altamont, and the Kent State shootings, the nation underwent extreme political and cultural shifts. Most of all, this era ushered in a memorable metamorphosis in American music and cinema—and Linda Cass captures every moment earnestly in her forthcoming novel, World News from Waverley High.
A coming-of-age novel, I really had to switch gears to absorb the FMC'S POV, as she is an Ohioian teenager living through the turbulent effects of world events in her '69/'70 school year. Once done, the vernacular, the emotions, the immensity of each and every event gave me an even greater perspective on the overarching impact of these events on our future history. I think this is a great generational novel that can spark discussion anywhere and at every age and stage.
And ultimately, I feel Kass is really asking: where has the music gone?
Ben E. King's STAND BY ME
June 1969 through May 1970 marked one of the most pivotal 12-month periods in US history. From the Moon landing and the Manson murders to Woodstock, the draft lottery, Altamont, and the Kent State shootings, the nation underwent extreme political and cultural shifts. Most of all, this era ushered in a memorable metamorphosis in American music and cinema—and Linda Cass captures every moment earnestly in her forthcoming novel, World News from Waverley High.
A coming-of-age novel, I really had to switch gears to absorb the FMC'S POV, as she is an Ohioian teenager living through the turbulent effects of world events in her '69/'70 school year. Once done, the vernacular, the emotions, the immensity of each and every event gave me an even greater perspective on the overarching impact of these events on our future history. I think this is a great generational novel that can spark discussion anywhere and at every age and stage.
And ultimately, I feel Kass is really asking: where has the music gone?
September 19, 2026
This book feels like going back in time. The book takes place over the 1969-1970 school year at Waverley High School in Ohio.
The main character is Lena Rosen who is a junior. She becomes the associate editor of the school paper so we get to follow her as she writes about events that are happening.
This is a book that to me makes history come alive. Over the course of the year, real worldwide events such as the Vietnam War, the first Earth Day, and the Kent State shooting take place and are talked about.
Closer to home, Lena, who is Jewish, begins to date a senior who is not. Lena’s school receives a threatening note and a bomb threat. Racial issues also play a part on both the local and national stage.
The book does an amazing job of making the reader aware of the historical events, dropping in hot topics for the times, as well as giving us a coming of age story with Lena.
I would love a Waverley High book for every year!
The main character is Lena Rosen who is a junior. She becomes the associate editor of the school paper so we get to follow her as she writes about events that are happening.
This is a book that to me makes history come alive. Over the course of the year, real worldwide events such as the Vietnam War, the first Earth Day, and the Kent State shooting take place and are talked about.
Closer to home, Lena, who is Jewish, begins to date a senior who is not. Lena’s school receives a threatening note and a bomb threat. Racial issues also play a part on both the local and national stage.
The book does an amazing job of making the reader aware of the historical events, dropping in hot topics for the times, as well as giving us a coming of age story with Lena.
I would love a Waverley High book for every year!
September 8, 2026
I was surprised to see this book was categorized as an adult historical fiction book. To me it reads more like a YA novel. The writing is pretty simple, and the characters are lightly drawn but appealing to teenagers. All the history that happens in the book would also seem to be written for a young audience. It's all just touched on - sort of name dropped - throughout the book. I did like that the author is a journalist herself, and enjoyed the parts about the high school journalism and newspaper scenes. Overall though this wasn't sophisticated or interesting enough of a story to keep me interested.
Thank you to the author, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the author, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.
September 9, 2026
It’s 1969, and Lena Rosen is excited to be associate editor of the Waverly High newspaper. She’s intrigued by everything happening in the world, including the music, but how should high schoolers react to the Vietnam War, the battle for Civil Rights, and campus protests? Lena is grappling with racial unrest at school, her Jewish identity, and her feelings for Jack, the editor, when she learns that the National Guard has been called to quell anti-war demonstrations at Kent State, where her sister is in college. World News from Waverley High is a sweet and moving novel about a difficult time in this country, as seen through the eyes of a teenage girl.
September 19, 2026
I was born in the spring of 1969 and reading about all of the major news events of that time in a linear fashion was fascinating. It was also very interesting to note the culture of teenage Americans and what coming of age in that era looked like. It's also crazy to think about how far we've come in some aspects, such as technology, but also how far we still have to go with a lot of social issues. This book manages to be informative, yet entertaining at the same time, and a fantastic look at a crucial moment in history.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2026
I enjoyed seeing 1969 through Lena’s eyes as she balances school, journalism, first love, family, and the growing unrest. Her role on the school paper gives the historical events a personal angle, while the music makes the era feel especially vivid. Lena is thoughtful and easy to root for, although a few conversations felt a little polished for teenagers. The pacing steadily builds as national events hit closer to home, and the ending left me thinking about how quickly “the news” can become your own life.
September 10, 2026
World News from Waverly High by Linda Kass is a historical fiction novel I really enjoyed.
Set during 1969-1970, the story was very authentic for time and place.
Waverly High School is a diverse community. The students are free to use their school newspaper to tell the stories of the time period.
I really enjoyed the music playlists the author included, really set the scene.
This is a wonderful historical fiction novel with well written characters.
Set during 1969-1970, the story was very authentic for time and place.
Waverly High School is a diverse community. The students are free to use their school newspaper to tell the stories of the time period.
I really enjoyed the music playlists the author included, really set the scene.
This is a wonderful historical fiction novel with well written characters.
September 12, 2026
Wow! This was a fantastic coming of age story wrapped around historical events that happened from 1969-1970. Told through the eyes of Lena, a high school journalist, it’s easy to feel the impact of multiple true events during the timeline as well as appreciate her experience as a young person navigating relationships and all the ins and outs of high school. It’s a pretty quick and powerful read that will likely educate you of the happenings of that year.
September 13, 2026
This combined two of my favorite genres - coming of age and historical fiction. I’ve read a lot of books set in the late 60s, but reading the story from a high school student's perspective was unique and enlightening. I quickly became invested in Lena and appreciated hearing about how events impacted her, other students, and their families. And I really enjoyed the cultural references to music, books, and movies.
September 17, 2026
The author blended historical fiction with a coming of age story and it worked out perfectly. The 60's and 70's were a particularly turbulent time in this country. Seeing things unfold through a young person's eyes gives the reader a different perspective. It also serves as a reminder how fantastic the music from that era was and still is. The message has always been clear, we just need to listen again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well written work about high school kids in the 60s
September 29, 2026
Should have been marked YA, altho I don't know any kids who talk like that and certainly did not in the 60s or 70s. Concept was good; writing was stiff and pedantic.
September 25, 2026
For this book, I'll stand by my mid-way analysis. It is mostly simple historical fiction that would probably best reach a teen audience. The focus is the basic retelling of major past events. The moral views are sound enough, but the perspective and character development could use some work. If you would like a quick run-down of early 70s events that reads more easily than a textbook, this is a fine choice.
September 23, 2026
I really liked the classes that Lena was a part of. They allowed open and honest discussions about current events happening during the period it was set. The teachers like them get their feelings out as long as it was in a respectful way. Lena and her classmates had to critically think and find solutions to telling the news in a captivating way and encouraged them to let their voice be heard. I liked the added romance but it did take me a little bit to get invested in it. It made me think about today’s current events and how I can do better at staying up on the latest news. A thought-provoking read.
Thank you @lindaskass @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
Thank you @lindaskass @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
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