White Lilacs (1993) by Carolyn Meyer is a middle-grade historical fiction novel set in 1921 Dillon, Texas. The story follows 12-year-old Rose Lee Jefferson, a Black girl whose community in Freedomtown faces forced displacement by white citizens aiming to turn their neighborhood into a city park. Through Rose Lee's perspective, the novel explores themes of racism, resilience, and injustice. As her family and neighbors navigate threats, violence, and systemic oppression, Rose Lee documents their lives and surroundings through sketches, preserving the memory of Freedomtown. Despite community resistance, their homes are seized, and they are relocated to The Flats, a poor area. Rose Lee's journey highlights the strength of family and community bonds in the face of overwhelming adversity, with her grandfather's white lilac bush symbolizing enduring hope amidst loss.
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