The Last House on the Street

Right from the start - this book pulled me in. I read a lot of historical fiction, yet I am always amazed by the challenges Blacks faced in the 60s, especially in the Deep South. In this book, Diane Chamberlain shows the difficulties and fears surrounding Blacks registering to vote and the dangers Whiles faced in helping them.

The story is told in two timelines. First, in 1965 Ellie, a white college student, against the advice of her parents and friends, volunteered with SCOPE - an initiative to register Black people to vote ahead of Lyndon Johnson's signing of the Voting Rights Act, to end voting discrimination. Her experiences are a sad reminder of the deep prejudice that existed and is still present today.

The other timeline took place in 2010. Kayla and her husband, both architects, build their dream house. Unfortunately, he dies in a tragic accident before the house is completed. As Kayla and her young daughter move into the home, it's bittersweet; her fond memories are mixed with sadness. But past tragedies surface and complicate things infusing the story with suspense.

Both storylines were intriguing and kept me wanting more. And in the end, the author ties everything together beautifully. This is a thought-provoking historical fiction; even better, I learned something new.