About:
'The Loud Silence of Francine Green' by Karen Cushman is a coming-of-age story set in the McCarthy era of the 1950s in Los Angeles. The book follows Francine Green, an eighth-grader navigating the challenges of her Catholic school, strict father, and the impact of McCarthyism on her community. When new student Sophie Bowman arrives with a nonconformist streak, Francine's world expands as she questions authority, friendship, and her own beliefs. Through their friendship, Francine learns to find her voice amidst the societal tensions of the time.
The narrative style of the book effectively captures the atmosphere of the 1950s, painting a vivid picture of life in Los Angeles during a period marked by the Cold War, McCarthyism, and the fear of communism. The story balances moments of humor with dark and complex scenes, exploring themes of fear, friendship, and the struggle for personal identity in a time of political upheaval.
From The Publisher:
Beloved author Karen Cushman follows a young woman's progress toward her true self, this time exploring the nature of friendship and the experience of growing up Catholic in an era that is both fascinating and relevant to today's young people.
Francine Green doesn't speak up much, and who can blame her? Her parents aren't interested in her opinions, the nuns at school punish girls who ask too many questions, and the House Committee on Un-American Activities is blacklisting people who express unpopular ideas. There's safety in silence. Francine would rather lose herself in a book, or in daydreams about her favorite Hollywood stars, than risk attracting attention or getting in trouble.
But when outspoken, passionate Sophie Bowman transfers into Francine's class at All Saints School for Girls, Francine finds herself thinking about things that never concerned her before-free speech, the atom bomb, the existence of God, the way people treat each other. Eventually, Francine discovers that she not only has something to say, she is absolutely determined to say it.
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