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Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley6/23/2023 ![]() ![]() In these halls, we’re introduced to Sarah Dunbar, one of the African. Talley begins her first novel in 1959, in the hallways of Jefferson High School located in the fictional town of Davisburg, VA. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management. Robin Talley’s Lies We Tell Ourselves is a beautiful yet painful reminder of America’s history of segregation, desegregation, and integration. Chapters begin with lies that Sarah and Linda disprove, such as "I'm not brave enough for this" and "None of this has anything to do with me." Talley details the girls' growth as they learn to form their own moral codes, while steeping readers in a pivotal moment of history. Linda, as a result of her abusive father's influence, views integration as an irritating disruption, while Sarah eloquently debates Linda's negative perceptions. When Linda and Sarah are forced to work together on a class project, they are immediately drawn toward one another and mutually terrified of their attraction. ![]() The story unfolds through the alternating narratives of two high school seniors: Linda Hairston, the white daughter of a journalist who writes editorials opposing integration, and Sarah Dunbar, one of 10 new black students at their recently integrated high school, where racial tensions are running high. Talley's first novel takes a close, honest look at school integration and sexual identity in a small fictional Virginia town in 1959. ![]()
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