The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown

Author:India Hill Brown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Iris and Daniel worked as long as they could before the librarian kicked them out. Daniel was upset, too, especially when he thought about his own father. “Someone’s dad is buried in that graveyard,” Daniel had said as they looked through the archives of old newspapers in the library. “Can you imagine? Not knowing where your dad was buried?”

In most articles, the students who desegregated Nelson’s Pond Middle weren’t mentioned by name. They were referred to as “colored” or “the Nelson Nine.” Once Iris and Daniel found that out, they were able to uncover more information about the nine kids who desegregated the school, even if they were only mentioned as a group.

They dove deeper and deeper into the desegregation of Nelson’s Pond Middle. With every article, Iris realized that the decision wasn’t met with open arms.

There were protests: adults showing up to the Nelson Nine’s first day of school with signs saying things like WHITES ONLY and KEEP THIS SCHOOL CLEAN. Avery and the others were spit on, their hair was pulled, and things were thrown at them, when all they wanted to do was go to school. To learn.

Iris walked home, lost in thought. The ghost of a girl who desegregated Iris’s own middle school was visiting her at night, asking to be her friend, asking to be remembered.

No wonder nobody cared about her step team. Some of the protesters’ children may have taught at Nelson’s Pond Middle; their grandchildren probably were sitting right beside Iris every day.

She walked back home, opened the door, and was bombarded by a loudly screaming Vashti.

“Iris! I have a great idea,” she said, grinning and jumping up and down. She wore a pink, frilly nightgown with a brown Barbie doll on the front. She waved an identical doll around in her hands. “We can play step team with dolls! We can put on a show in front of their dollhouse. Your doll can be the captain, and mine—”

“Not now, ’Ti,” said Iris, trying to climb up the stairs.

Vashti’s lower lip trembled. “But—”

“Babygirl! The food is almost ready.” Mr. Rose came into the foyer with a big grin on his face. He whispered to the girls, “Don’t tell your mother, but I got some fruit punch soda for us.”

Vashti squealed, looking bright eyed at Iris. It was a not-so-secret secret that Mrs. Rose hated soda, and Mr. Rose loved it.

Iris smiled weakly, but Daddy was onto her.

“What’s wrong?”

Iris couldn’t even answer this question. What was wrong? Fruit punch soda and dolls and step shows were all the things that made a perfect night. Why didn’t she feel it?

She was sleepy, but too afraid to sleep. She was sad and mad and … scared.

“I think I’m just tired,” she said, forcing a yawn, watching her mom walk to the foyer where the rest of her family was standing. “Can I eat upstairs?”

Mrs. Rose looked at Mr. Rose with raised eyebrows. “Iris isn’t feeling well,” he said, answering her silent question. He turned to Iris. “You can eat upstairs tonight, but you know the rules.

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