The Girl on the Outside

by Mildred Pitts Walter

Based on the 1957 Little Rock school integration, two teenage girls—one white, one black—are swept up in the fear and prejudice of their divided southern town It’s Sophia Stuart’s last year at Chatham High—only now the pretty, popular high school senior will be sharing classes with nine black students. The Stuart family has differing views. Her dad and older sister’s husband believe everything should stay segregated. Her brother, Burt, who lost an arm in the Korean War, thinks blacks should have the same rights as everyone else. And her boyfriend, Arnold, just took her to a black church because he likes the minister and the gospel music!   Fifteen-year-old Eva Collins rides in the back of the bus and goes to a separate church. But she’s finally about to achieve one of her attending Mossville’s first desegregated school. But the governor has just issued a restraining order delaying integration. With the town divided, the National Guard is called in to maintain order. When the final decision is made, an explosion of violence and an act of heroism will transform Eva and Sophia’s lives forever.

Genres: Fiction, Historical, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, African American

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1982

About the author

Delegate to the 2nd World Black and African Festival of the Arts & Culture in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1977. Graduate of Southern University with an MA in education from Antioch College. She lives in Denver, Colorado, and travels widely as an educational consultant.

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two girls from the same town, but from two very different sections. Two young ladies who want to be successful in school, enjoy activities with friends, and be noticed by young men. Just two normal teenagers, with similar hopes and dreams. The year is 1957, and schools across the South have been ordered to integrate. Sophia has been raised in a proud old southern family, who are not pleased to have their way of life challenged. Eva is one nine students chosen to make history by attending Chatman High, an all-white school. She is supported by her family and neighbors, but ultimately this difficult decision is left up to Eva to make…or choose not to.
This is a historical fiction re-telling of the events that took place in the weeks before the “Little Rock Nine” were finally permitted to enter and attend Central High in Arkansas. The story is told from the alternating voices of Sophia and Eva, who are in very different situations concerning their schooling in September 1957. The author did a masterful job of getting into the heads of both girls and showing events through their young eyes.
This book was published in 1982, about historical events taking place in the late ‘50s. Therefore, it contains some language that is considered dated and offensive by today’s standards. The powerful messages within this story would be greatly lessened without the historical language, however.
I think this book should be in every middle-grade and Y.A. classroom and be required reading. As the author states in the end notes, this story was written to speak directly to teenagers about the problems they face in accepting integration. Our country has progressed in many ways from the events of 1957. Unless children learn about the often ugly past, they will not be able to help continue the progression as they become adults.

[Megan Gladwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, written in the early 1980s, initially frustrated me. I wanted to read more about the characters' integration experience at school. Will they be ostracized? Will at least some White kids welcome them? Based on real events, nine Black students have been invited to join an all-White high school. The story leading up to the first day of school describes Sophia's (White girl) anger and confusion with integration and Eva's (Black girl) foreboding and excitement. It isn't until the very end of the book that I understood the author's point in emphasizing the tension reigning over the Southern town that summer. During the final chapter the real action takes place, and it's shocking. It mirrors what actually occurred in Little Rock, Arkansas in September 1957. Although some of the language is dated, this is a book all children should read.

[Genelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know until I read the Author's Note at the end that this is based on a true story. I think I would have liked to read a book based on the ACTUAL characters.
This book was well-written, and I did enjoy the POV from both Sophia and Eva, but Sophia was extremely unlikeable throughout, and her supposed change-of-heart felt forced and confusing. Also, I'm convinced that Walter must have written this book in absolutely unbearable heat, because every chapter had some blurb about the weather. I don't mind that it was brought up by both girls in separate chapters, because it is interesting to see both perspectives, but it kept getting mentioned throughout the entire book and since it had nothing to do with the plot, it felt unnecessary.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting time in history. Sophia's character wasn't very likable, despite her slight change of heart at the end, but probably realistic. I thought it would cover integration more, but it was really just the lead up to the event.

[Mary L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this was a a complete fictional story it was based on historical fact. Sometimes, we have to take a good hard look at ourselves and how we view others because of their differences when we are really much more alike than we are different.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a great reminder of what life used to be like, and how much the world has changed. It's still not perfect, but it's not as bad as it used to be.

[Jakki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history lesson on the earliest stages of school desegregation told through the eyes of a popular, pretty and wealthy white high school girl angry about blacks coming to her all white school. As she gets to know one black girl in particular her heart and mind is changed and she embraces the humanity of those of a different race creating tension within her family and circle of friends. I will read this book again. Written in the 80s there are still lessons for today as prejudice continues in our land.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to like this book. I like that there is a book for kids (maybe 4th/5th/6th grade?) about Brown v. Board of Education.

Character development is insufficient, though. The racist white girl at the end saves the day and has a shift in her perspective-- great, but that needs to be motivated somehow... So I'm very excited for any children's historical fiction dealing with school integration, but I'm still looking for a good story...

[Katya Smereka]

WOW!Great book