If you were in high school in the late ’60s or early ’70s, Linda Kass’ novel, World News from Waverley High will resonate with you. The coming-of-age novel brings back memories with its news of Vietnam, campus unrest, racial unrest and politics. Music and books tie the story together during the 1969-1970 school year.
Lena Rosen begins her junior year at an integrated high school in Columbus, Ohio. She’s excited about working on the school newspaper, The Beacon. Her position as associate editor allows her to interact with various students throughout the school. Her elective class, Current History, reflects that. “Current History is filled with juniors and seniors and this class is representative of the student body – some geeks, some jocks, girls, guys, Black kids, white kids, Jews, Christians, along with other religions and nationalities.” Between that class and the newspaper, Lena is exposed to all the turmoil of the year.
Month-by-month, Lena observes the stories that affect high school students and the country during the turbulent year. She gets to know Black students, and observes their sit-in, and attends a funeral service at a Black church. Her background as the daughter of two Jewish immigrants is totally different from some of her friends. She shares the same fears as her classmates when she watches campus protests on CBS News with Walter Cronkite, but she has a personal connection because her older sister attends Kent State University. One of her classmates, who doesn’t plan to attend college, plans a concert for peace. Because she covers student council meetings, Lena interacts with students from all grade levels, and observes the actions of students who care about the pollution issue.
Although it might sound like a lot to cover in one school year; Vietnam, politics, environmental concerns, the civil rights movement, Kass handles it beautifully through the eyes of a teenager. Lena is dating a fellow student who is not Jewish, and she worries about that, worries about their relationship.She’s a student immersed in journalism and current events, who also keeps up with the current music scene, attends parties, and sneaks into movies. The music and books provide the background for the unsettled climate of 1969-70.
The inclusion of an annotated list of the music featured in the book adds to the nostalgia. But, World News from Waverley High isn’t a sweet remembrance of a high school year. There are typical high school moments, football games and pep rallies, assemblies and parties. It’s a story that begins with newspaper accounts of Woodstock, and ends with a documentary film about the event. For those of us who remember that year, it’s also a reminder of the anxiety and unrest. It’s a compelling story of history as it was made.
Linda Kass’ website is https://www.lindakass.com/
World News from Waverley High by Linda Kass. She Writes Press, 2026. 223p.
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