The Liberation of Gabriel King - by K L Going (Paperback)

About the Book

Set in 1976 Georgia, this is the poignant story of Gabriel, a white boy who is afraid of everything; his best friend Frita, the only black girl in school; and the summer they learn to face down their fears.

Book Synopsis

Gabriel King was a born chicken. He's afraid of spiders, corpses, loose cows, and just about everything related to the fifth grade. Gabe's best friend, Frita Wilson, thinks Gabe needs some liberating from his fears. Frita knows something about being brave-- she's the only black kid in school in a town with an active Ku Klux Klan. Together Gabe and Frita are going to spend the summer of 1976 facing down the fears on Gabe's list. But it turns out that Frita has her own list, and while she's helping Gabe confront his fears, she's avoiding the thing that scares her the most.

Review Quotes

Exquisitely drawn. (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

Strong voice, lively dialogue, humor and important themes make this a winner. (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

About the Author

K. L. Going lives with her family in the Hudson Valley area of New York State. Since graduating from college she has worked as an adult literacy tutor, a ticket agent for a major airline, a front desk clerk at a resort hotel, and an assistant in a Manhattan literary agency. She has lived in Maine, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and New York. K.L. is the author of many books, including Fat Kid Rules The World, The Liberation of Gabriel King, and Dog in Charge. Her first novel, Fat Kid Rules the World, was a YALSA Michael L. Printz honor book.