The Grass: A Novel: A Young Man's Journey to the Korean War

Paul Zerby s The Grass is a vividly engaging rumination on 1950s America, which is more complex than we would like to imagine. Zerby s novel allows us to journey along with young Tom Kelly as he seeks a deeper comprehension of his Catholic upbringing in Fargo, North Dakota. He protests the treatment of the University of Minnesota s lone Black faculty member, agonizes over relationships with very different women, and attempts to survive service in Korean War battles that are like the Fourth of July in hell. Kelly becomes haunted by ghosts stemming from his decision to stand up to racial injustice, but he never loses his integrity and ability to dream for a better tomorrow. I recommend it highly! Walt Jacobs Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of African American & African Studies, University of Minnesota