Freeze

The year is 1962, and twelve-year-old Kate Dunn refuses to give up the fight. All her life she has heard people speaking about her limitations. She should dream of being a stewardess, not a pilot. She could be a nurse, but not a doctor. Kate rejects these ideas. She’s going to become a success, and it all starts with Black’s Law Dictionary and an invitation to attend the Sacred Heart of Mary Academy. As Kate studies the legal dictionary, she dreams of her fabulous high school career at SHM. Not only will she be going to one of the most prestigious girls’ schools in New York, but she’ll also be attending with her best—and only—friend.

As Kate discovers a secret that could completely derail her dreams, her family members are all dealing with troubles of their own. Her mother is saving a secret fund for an unknown purpose. Her father is still haunted by the things he saw during World War II. Her aunt is trying to escape her alcoholic husband. As Kate comes of age, she realizes the truth behind the quiet dreams of adults and an era that defined an entire generation.

Ron DeBoer used his own life experiences as the inspiration for his new historical novel, The Freeze. DeBoer spent his childhood in Washington Heights and now lives with his wife, Helen, on the Jersey Shore.