On Both Sides - A Novel

Abstract

On August 11 and 12, 2017, Charlottesville, Virginia was the site of a rally for Unite the Right, an Alt-Right (neo-Nazi) group. This group sought to further white nationalist ideals and to protest the proposed removal of statues of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Numerous counter-protesters filled the streets of Charlottesville, defying the white nationalists. At 1:45 p.m. on August 12, 2017, James Alex Fields Jr. drove his Dodge Challenger into the crowd, injuring 19 and killing Heather Heyer. While much of the country—Democrats and Republicans alike—rallied behind Heyer and the counter protesters, President Donald Trump’s remarks did not. His initial remarks included, “hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides.” A few days later, when given the chance to fully denounce the white supremacists, he doubled down on his own remarks by saying, “Well, I do think there’s blame, yes, I think there’s blame on both sides.” On Both Sides is a young adult novel that takes place one year after the deadly 2017 protests, examining the divided nature of the United States at this time through the lens of its youth. Erica Betancourt is a 20-year-old, Black UVA student marching on the one-year anniversary. Mandy Stephenson is a 19-year-old, white UVA student and Erica’s girlfriend. Over the course of the novel, both women come to grips with how the United States views race and how they both move through a world that tries to pull them apart. Along with Erica and Mandy, other narrative voices are woven in, like a woman who is a Daughter of the Confederacy, a rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel, and a Latina State Trooper. Together, these voices unpack how deeply racism is embedded in the fabric of America and how it affects people from all walks of life.