The Dry Grass of Autumn by Anna Jean Mayhew

A great read.  Jubie, the 13 year old narrator, lives in Charlotte, NC, and can see the changes brought by "Brown vs. the Board of Education" case.  It does not bother her a bit, nor is her family very concerned.  The family seems ahead of its time in the area of race relations.  Mary, their black maid, is almost a part of the family and Jubie sees her as a friend and confidant.  When the family decides to go on vacation, Mary goes with them, while the father stays home.  The further south they travel, the worse the treatment is for Mary.  She endures "Separate but Equal" with a quiet dignity.

When the family stops at Pawley Island, a tragedy occurs.  Jubie's sister,  Stell Ann, wants to go to a black revival and Mary takes her and Jubie along.  On the walk back, the three take a short cut through a white neigborhood, where they are accosted and Mary is kidnapped, raped and murdered.  The family is heartbroken, but it is worse for Jubie since Mary and she have a bond.  Jubie steals the family car and drives back to Charlotte for Mary's funeral. 

This was a happy and sad book.  There are several subplots included in the novel.