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Summary
Summary
Bestselling and award-winning author, Sharon G. Flake, delivers a mystery set in the 1950s that eerily blends history, race, culture, and family.Octobia May is girl filled with questions. Her heart condition makes her special - and, some folks would argue, gives this ten-year-old powers that make her a "wise soul." Thank goodness for Auntie, who convinces Octobia's parents to let her live in her boarding house that is filled with old folks. That's when trouble, and excitement, and wonder begin. Auntie is non-traditional. She's unmarried and has plans to purchase other boarding homes and hotels. At a time when children, and especially girls, are "seen, not heard," Auntie allows Octobia May the freedom and expression of an adult. When Octobia starts to question the folks in her world, an adventure and a mystery unfold that beg some troubling questions: Who is black and who is "passing" for white? What happens when a vibrant African American community must face its own racism?And, perhaps most important: Do vampires really exist? In her most and probing novel yet, Sharon G. Flake takes us on a heart-pumping journey.
Author Notes
Sharon G. Flake's groundbreaking novel, The Skin I'm In , brought a bold dimension to literature for young readers. Now considered a modern classic, The Skin I'm In has sold over a million copies worldwide and has been translated into numerous languages. The novel is required reading in classrooms and communities around the globe. Since its publication, Flake has authored over a dozen books, winning multiple Coretta Scott King Honor Awards; ALA Notable and Top Ten Recommended Books citations, and an NAACP Image Award Nomination, among many accolades. Her latest novel, The Life I'm In , a companion to The Skin I'm In , has earned four starred reviews, and has been deemed one of the most anticipated sequels of the decade.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
It's 1953, and 10-year-old Octobia May believes that "freedom is as big as the moon for a colored gal who ain't afraid of nothing." She's eager to follow in her Aunt Shuma's footsteps and go after what she wants, even if others disapprove. But trying to prove that her aunt's insomniac boarder, Mr. Davenport, is a vampire could be too risky, even for brave, quick-thinking Octobia May. After she thinks she sees Mr. Davenport murdering a woman on the street, she is targeted by the boarder, who is a wealthy banker, and an Irish policeman who thinks she's up to no good. Three-time Coretta Scott King Honoree Flake (The Skin I'm In) offers a fast-paced mystery that traces Octobia May's journey into dangerous territory at a time when women and African-Americans struggled to exercise their rights. Though some of Octobia May's feats push plausibility and some secrets about Mr. Davenport's past too easily discovered, Flake provides an eye-opening picture of post-WWII America. Octobia May is a determined sleuth who will win the admiration of Flake's fans. Ages 8-12. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Unstoppable indeed is the dogged and imaginative protagonist of this fast-paced mystery novel set in 1953. Once narrator Octobia May gets an idea into her head, she follows it as far as it will take her, even if that means defying gender norms and racial prejudice. African American Octobia May has lived, for the past two years, with her auntie Shuma, an unmarried woman -- and excellent role model -- who owns a boardinghouse. The boardinghouse is populated by distinctive characters with their own struggles against racism and anti-Semitism. And then there is the mysterious Mr. Davenport, who never leaves his room during the day. Octobia May is convinced he's a vampire, but no one will believe her -- including readers, who will agree that it's just her big imagination at work. The plot turns when Mr. Davenport reveals himself to be truly sinister, and Octobia May and her friend Jonah undertake an investigation to figure out what he's really up to. It's a page-turning read that never feels like a history lesson, even when the resolution is dependent on readers having grasped what they've learned from the story about racial politics; there are lots of twists and turns and dark humor. And the last page offers hope that we haven't seen the last of Octobia May. kathleen t. horning (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Octobia May is convinced that Mr. Davenport, the new tenant in her Aunt Shuma's boarding house, is a vampire, even though she thinks, the man is colored like me. Now I know the truth; vampires do not discriminate. Octobia must revise her conviction, however, when she sees Mr. Davenport outside in broad daylight (death to a real vampire), but there's still something mysterious about the man. When a series of murders then ensue and a cache of stolen jewels is discovered, Octobia May and her best friend, Jonah, are determined to find the truth at any cost. Set in 1953, Flake's novel is not only a mystery but also an examination of racial discrimination in the pre-civil rights era, and the many corollary constraints on the freedom of black Americans. Octobia May longs to be free herself free of discrimination, certainly, but also free simply to be her own rambunctious self. Flake has done a fine job of integrating her expository material into a reader-satisfying and page-turning mystery.--Cart, Michael Copyright 2014 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Octobia May has an untamed imagination. When she moves in with her Auntie Shuma, Octobia spends her days doing chores with her pretend servant friends, talking to the graves of the Before Girls at the nearby cemetery, and trying to unveil one of Auntie's boarders, Mr. Davenport, as the vampire he is. With the help of her friends, Jonah and Bessie, Octobia uncovers the dastardly deeds of Mr. Davenport, although the deeds have more to do with bank robbery and murder than with drinking blood. This story paints a realistic portrait of life for an African American girl in the 1950s, but the characterization and plot are marred by unclear writing. While the plot meanders, little information is offered about Octobia's (or any other character's) backstory, leaving readers ungrounded throughout the tale. Awkward quote attributions and murky action may have been meant to add to the mysterious nature of the plot, but fall short as one passage may take several examinations to comprehend. The way the adults, especially police officer O'Malley, in this story inexplicably flounder about with a cold-blooded murderer on the loose is unbelievable. Short chapters begin with a thick, black border, and a selected bibliography of relevant history ends the novel. While Octobia and other well-rounded characters were enjoyable and the overall plot was exciting, a less complicated writing style would have better highlighted the good this story offered.- Brittany Staszak, Glencoe Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
With elegant prose and a spunky narrator, Flake's latest offers detailed snapshots of African-American life in 1953. "Death does not look like people think it should. Sometimes it wears summer suits and fine hats, silk gloves, and handmade shoes. Like him." The "him" Octobia May refers to is Mr. Davenport, a boarder in her aunt Shuma's rooming house that she believes is a vampire. With the help of her best friend, Jonah, Octobia May stalks the man, telling everyone of her suspicions. It is a unique perspective, depicting a character of color during the 1950s who is more enraptured of horror-movie prototypes than anything else. But Octobia May's passion begins to feel like compulsion, then obsession. When she insists that she sees what others cannot, she becomes an unreliable narratorand one who sounds desperate. Then later, when the book shifts from vampires and talking to the dead to Octobia May's desire to become a detective, the plot feels crowded and loses its emotional resonance. Flake's incorporation of the social and political milestones of the era makes the story a veritable compendium. From Masons to McCarthy to Pall Malls, Camels and Lucky Strikes, the tale offers an intriguing insight into an important time in U.S. history. However, jarring transitions and a narrator who at times feels emotionally disconnected ultimately leave readers wanting. Immersive and witty, it illuminates as a historical piece yet falters when connecting the snapshots into a cohesive picture. (Historical fiction. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
