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Public Education Is Under Siege
Jessa is Back follows a young white girl returning home to Tennessee after spending time in Oregon in the 1950s who finds segregation unjust and advocates for a music education program in Black schools. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Music and Art were elements of public school education that my parents and my husband’s parents were involved in, and I was also exposed to the deplorable conditions in Black schools in the 1950’s, so it fell into line to frame an issue central to the book around the resistance of the white school board to providing even the “separate but equal” educational experience for the Black children of the town that they claimed to follow. I let Jessa promote equality in memory of her father, who had intended to pursue this, as a link to her formerly sheltered life and the strong person she becomes as the book progresses.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
My main character, Jessa, had to be stubborn to stand up to the society of her town. I wanted the reader to get an impression of how very all-encompassing the grip of racism was on Jessa’s community, so I had to have some characters, such as the stuck-up neighbor and Charlie’s stepfather, to show this stance, but I also wanted to reveal that there were individuals in the town whose experience had led them to a different conclusion. It was important that people could change their views, and Jessa’s agitation led to such changes. The gains she promoted were carried forward by others in the community, and some of those people were able to form lasting friendships that bridged the racial divide.
What draws you to this period of time and makes it ripe for you to write such a great historical fiction story in it?
Although the book is fiction, I recall the 1950’s vividly and the parallels with changes that are taking place in American society today are abundantly apparent. Racism is again an accepted stance, as are paternalistic views of women’s roles in society. Public education is under siege just as it was when “Christian Schools” were being set up to educate whites while avoiding integration. My aim was to acquaint readers with the flawed reasoning that underlies discrimination, and the way in which segregation prevented individuals from having the experiences that would contradict the lies upon which discrimination is based.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
I want to take up the story after a lapse of about 5-6 years, when the Civil Rights movement has had some impact on the South. I plan for Jessa and Janie to get back together and spend a summer in Radford.
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In the South, and also in the rest of the country, a long road stretches from the 1950s to the present, and we must judge how well we have lived up to the vision that Jessa’s discovery of interracial friendship revealed to her.
Jessa is Back
Jessa is Back by Stacia Moffett is a powerful and deeply personal historical novel set in the segregated South of the 1950s. It follows Jessa, a young girl returning to Tennessee after time in Oregon, where she formed a close friendship with a Black girl named Janie. Her homecoming is not just a return to familiar places but a jarring confrontation with the harsh realities of Jim Crow laws. As she witnesses the injustice and absurdity of segregation, Jessa struggles to make a difference, particularly by advocating for music education in Black schools. The novel paints a vivid picture of a young girl caught between her past and a growing awareness of systemic racism, all while dealing with personal grief and the challenge of belonging.
Moffett’s writing is rich with sensory details, making Tennessee feel both welcoming and suffocating at the same time. The train ride home, where Jessa marvels at the landscape she missed so dearly, is beautifully written. But that warmth is quickly contrasted with her realization that the town she loves is steeped in racial injustice. The moment when Jessa sees the segregated restrooms at the train station hits hard, especially when her younger cousin, Michael, is scolded for almost using the “wrong” one. It’s a small but telling moment that captures how deeply racism is ingrained in everyday life. Moffett’s ability to weave these details into the story makes the book both engaging and thought-provoking.
What I really loved about Jessa as a character is her unwavering determination, even when adults around her try to silence her. The dinner conversation with the Carlsons is especially frustrating. Jessa is passionately arguing for desegregation, only to be told that people are “content” with the way things are. Her frustration is palpable, and I felt it too. The book does an excellent job of showing how deeply entrenched racism is, not just in the legal system but in people’s unwillingness to question tradition. Yet, Jessa refuses to accept that answer. Her drive to push for music education in Black schools is a quiet but meaningful act of rebellion, proving that even small changes matter.
Another standout part of the book is Jessa’s relationship with her friend Janie and how it influences her perspective. Before moving to Oregon, Jessa accepted segregation as just the way things were. But after forming a true friendship with Janie, she can no longer ignore the injustice of it all. This is most painfully clear when she realizes that if Janie had come to visit, she wouldn’t have been able to use the same restrooms, sit in the same part of the bus, or even go to the same school. It’s a heartbreaking realization, and Moffett captures it with raw emotion. Jessa’s internal struggle between fitting in and standing up for what’s right is one of the most compelling aspects of the book. At times, the pacing slows down with extended discussions about race and social structures. While these moments are important, they occasionally make the story feel more like a lesson than a lived experience.
Jessa is Back is an emotional and thought-provoking read, perfect for those who enjoy historical fiction with strong, young protagonists. It’s especially suited for readers who appreciate coming-of-age stories that tackle serious social issues.
Pages: 301 | ASIN : B0DFFNMTV7
LITERARY TITAN 