Mark Childress sets your typical coming-of-age novel against the racial tensions of the recently desegregated Deep South during the early 1970’s in his latest novel, One Mississippi. Just before Daniel Musgrove is to enter the 11th grade, a number of things happen to turn his life upside down: his salesman father transfers the family from Indiana to rural Mississippi, an accident en route leads to all their possessions being destroyed, their crazy uncle comes to live with them, and his older brother enlists in the army, leaving Daniel alone in a strange place.

Fortunately, Daniel finds a quick friend in Tim Cousins, a bright, witty boy who loves to find the humor in everything life has to throw at him. The two fast friends bond over their mutual love for Sonny and Cher, involvement in an amateur Baptist church musical, avoiding quarterback and bully Red Martin, and mooning over a beautiful, popular black girl in the recently desegregated high school, Arnita Beecham . But while on a double date at the junior prom, the two teens get into an accident that leaves Arnita in a coma. Daniel and Tim manage to blame the accident on Martin, despite her mother’s suspicions. Things only begin to spiral out of control when Arnita awakes from her coma and believes she is white - promptly falling for the guilty Daniel and instigating extreme jealousy from Tim.

Daniel knew that transferring schools wouldn’t be easy, but throw in new love, jealousy, inner demons, racial tensions, manipulations, and cover-ups, and things quickly go from simple adolescent confusion to swift, mutual destruction.

One Mississippi feels like you’ve stepped into a world where the air is thick enough to chew, the lemonade is tart enough to kill a three-day thirst and the neighbours are friendly enough to invite y’all over for some southern fried chicken. This is the perfect read for the long, hot days of summer.

- Read the rest of this review at Electric Closet.