Five years after the Supreme Court of the United States ordered the end of public school segregation, the practice is still alive and well in Pine Grove, South Carolina. In fact, the Freedom of Choice program initiated by the school board is solely to satisfy the federal government and NAACP while keeping the status quo. This clash between federal regulations and local social standards comes to an explosive reality for elementary school principal Ron Guy when his African-American custodian Ben submits a Freedom of Choice form to transfer his step-daughter to Ron's all-white school. Ron quickly finds himself caught in a whirlwind of passion, fear, hate, and a growing sense of violence as Ben's wife Lilith demands that the system accommodate the request. An immovable object meets an irresistible force as Lilith refuses to allow Ben to withdraw the filed form and the all-white school board prepares to impose its will at all costs. This impasse produces a butterfly effect as backdoor dealings, sexually charged alliances, and explosive passion and betrayal threaten to tear the town apart. When everything erupts in violence and murder, Ron is left with a decision that will alter his life forever: walk away, or stay and fight for what he believes to be right. A historical novel of extraordinary resonance and uncommon grace, John Hamby's debut novel is an unsettling look at the horrific power of prejudice. Exploring a topic as relevant today as it was fifty years ago, he delves deeply into the human psyche, exposing the fears and passions that drive our behavior and unleash torrents of devastation. As entertaining as it is provoking, Freedom of Choice is a searing portrayal of the darker aspects of human behavior.