Glory Be is a beautifully written, accessible historical novel. Arguably the most impactful person in Glory’s life is the family maid and cook, a colored woman named Emma, who offers Glory encouragement, love and wisdom. Glory lives with her sister, Jesslyn and her Father, the town preacher. What she learns is that the battle to end segregation is being waged in her town. Glory doesn’t get too involved in the deeper social matters, she wants to know why the pool will be closed until further notice. They see no reason for things to change and they feel that the new comers are simply trouble makers. New people have arrived in town they’ve come to work towards achieving equal rights for “colored people.” Many community members want the new arrivals banished. Glory is excited for her twelfth birthday which she is planning on celebrating at the public pool.

“During the night we kicked off our sheets and flipped our pillows to the cool side.” Her knowledge and respect of the culture come through with her spot on word choices which, although they are simple perfectly reflect the region and time of the story. Scattergood explains that her experience working in the Mississippi Delta as a college student during that era had inspired her to write Glory Be. The sun rises slowly over Hanging Moss and so should you.” You can feel the heaviness in the air as the ignorance and tension of hatred blends with the humid temperatures of summer creating an explosive mix. She also encounters many other experiences.Augusta Scattergood successfully transports her readers to the summer of 1964, Hanging Moss Mississippi.

She even writes a letter to the newspapers.

Glory begins to drift from Frankie because he and his brother are part of treating “colored” people unjustly, even pulling false statements about them! Glory learns to speak out about the issue and she thinks everyone is equal. People with color and people without are treated differently, and freedom people, people who believe everyone are equal are also treated unfairly. She holds it at the pool practically as long as she can remember! What’s more is her older sister, Jesslyn, thinks more about her friends and doesn’t want to hang out with Glory anymore. Glory is really worried about her birthday. First, the pool gets closed by the town council. Not just small things but a change in the world. However Laura comes to Hanging Moss and things are changing. Glory is living in Hanging Moss in the year of 1964.

Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood