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Title details for Unstoppable Octobia May by Sharon Flake - Available

Unstoppable Octobia May

by Sharon Flake
Bahni Turpin
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available

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 a 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 nontraditional. 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 unusual and probing novel yet, Sharon G. Flake takes us on a heart-pumping journey.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

    October 1, 2014

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780545746458
      • File size: 182967 KB
      • Duration: 06:21:10

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrator Bahni Turpin perfectly captures 10-year-old Octobia May, who's sent to live with her Aunt Shuma in her boardinghouse after she suffers a heart ailment at birth. Turpin portrays each of the personable boarders, skillfully re-creating men and women--Jewish, black, and white--as independent and distinct individuals. Feisty Octobia has a freedom seldom enjoyed by other "colored" girls in Eisenhower's America. She's convinced Mr. Davenport, one of the boarders, is a vampire. When she and her friend Jonah try to prove it, they have a thrilling adventure and learn that things aren't always what they seem. Officer O'Malley is Turpin's standout character--his accent and personality are pure Irish-American cop! In addition to enjoying an exciting mystery, young listeners will learn about 1950s America. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
    • School Library Journal

      January 1, 2015

      Gr 3-6-Young Octobia May and her best friend, Jonah, set out to uncover a complex, multilayered mystery in their small Southern town. More than anything in the world, Octobia wants to uncover secrets. She constantly questions the state of things, coming to her own conclusions and, more often than not, gets into trouble because of it. However, as Octobia discovers, some mysteries are so big, no one really has any idea what to do with them. Set in 1953, this story tackles some tough topics, including McCarthyism and patriotism, Jim Crow and segregation, feminism and adolescence, murder, and even vampires. Flake weaves together friendship, history, and truth-a mix of Harriet the Spy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham-in a tale that will challenge listeners to question what freedom really is. Bahni Turpin narrates with just the right tone to capture Octobia's liveliness and insightful musings.-Jennifer Mann, Ann Arbor, MI

      Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • The Horn Book

      March 1, 2015
      Octobia May gobbles garlic in defense against Mr. Davenport, one of the residents of her aunt Shuma's boardinghouse, whom she is convinced is a vampire. Listeners will suspect that Octobia May's imagination is running away with her, but they will also realize that her instincts are right -- Mr. Davenport is dangerous. Set in 1953, the story is full of specific references to the changing times for women and African Americans; Aunt Shuma's independent nature and her willingness to let Octobia May follow her own way, for example, are still met with disapproval. Turpin's performance makes the many characters distinct. She clearly conveys each one's personality and emotions, from the curious and bold Octobia May to the sinister and unpleasant Mr. Davenport. Octobia May and her pal Jonah respond to the criminal events with a convincing mix of intelligence and naivete, leading to a satisfying conclusion. susan dove lempke

      (Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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