Frazier, author of the Cleo Edison books, switches gears and transports middle-grade readers to 1950s Spokane, delivering a unique slice of local Black history. Melvin Robinson would give anything to have a strong voice that works exactly how he wants (like when talking to his crush, Millie Takazawa), but he can't seem to overcome his stutter. Unfortunately, the anxiety of starting high school exacerbates his speech impediment, making him a target for bullies. Enter Lenny Carini, a sax-playing Jewish kid who is confident, persuasive, and determined to be Melvin's best friend. They accomplish great things together ough, as the story progresses, Melvin, who is Black, realizes that racial discrimination exists insidiously in his community. He and his friends work to overcome prejudices that create roadblocks for people of color. The story weaves actual events and locations into the plot e murder of Emmett Till, the Harlem Club, Rosa Parks' visit to Spokane ilding effective historical context. Frazier authentically represents the experiences of the Robinsons and their community, with tight, warm relationships and realistic situations. Highly recommended!

As freshman year at predominantly white Cleveland High in 1955 Spokane, Washington, approaches, Melvin Robinson lives in his siblings' shadows: eldest brother Chuck, accomplished quarterback; older sister Marian, homecoming queen contender; and younger sister Maisy, who has designs on becoming Spokane's first Black journalist. What does Melvin have? A detested accordion, a pet turtle, and a severe stutter exacerbated by stress. In this vividly drawn work of historical fiction, Frazier launches readers into social issues of the time through her portrayal of the friendship between Melvin and Lenny, a Jewish boy who lives above a jazz club and uses his mother's maiden name (Carini rather than Friedman) to avoid discrimination; Melvin's crush on Millie, a Japanese American classmate whose parents refuse to discuss their internment during WWII; and historical events such as Emmett Till's murder. Melvin's authentic narration reveals a teen who is finding his voice and using it to speak out against racism and discrimination. When Melvin and Lenny win first place performing as the Swingin' Saxoccordions on a local TV variety show, Melvin gains confidence for such greater challenges as introducing Rosa Parks at an NAACP gathering. An author's note reveals that Frazier drew many elements of this compelling story from her family's own life. Michelle H. Martin

An African American teen struggles with a stutter in 1950s Spokane, Washington."Mmmmmy nuh-nuh-name is Mmmmmelvin." Starting high school is an anxiety-provoking milestone for anyone, but for Melvin Robinson, his stutter makes it that much worse. He wants a strong, smooth "he-man voice" so that he can actually say what he is thinking, especially to his crush, Millie Takazawa. But the stress of high school, where he is one of only two Black kids in his class, is making his stutter worse, and the class bully is taking every opportunity to put him down. Melvin does make a friend: saxophone-playing Lenny, a nonstop talker who lives above the Black-owned but nevertheless segregated Harlem Club and encourages Melvin to be himself. When Lenny suggests they try out for the local TV variety show with Melvin playing his accordion and Lenny on the sax, Melvin must decide if he is mighty enough to show everyone who he really is. Through a multicultural cast of characters-Lenny is Jewish, Millie is Japanese American, and Melvin and his family are Black-author Frazier explores the depth of racism everywhere and the tightknit community bonds necessary for surviving it. Infused with specificity-it's inspired by Frazier's family's real-life experiences integrating a White neighborhood in Spokane in the 1940s and '50s-it deftly explores universal themes.A gentle historical novel about finding your voice. (author's note) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

In this richly layered historical novel set in 1955 Spokane, Wash., Frazier (The Other Half of My Heart) recounts the first few months of high school for freshman Melvin Robinson, one of two Black boys in his class. Always feeling inferior to his accomplished siblings, Melvin loves science, reading, and music, but is painfully embarrassed by his stutter, which has recently ramped up. The narrative follows Melvin-s successes and setbacks in gaining control of the stutter, building a friendship with jazz-loving Jewish boy Lenny, fending off a bully, and shyly pursuing a relationship with Millie, who is of Japanese American descent. Frazier skillfully weaves in interpersonal moments (Melvin-s brother is admonished as -not those kind of Negroes-) and historical signposts (the lynching of Emmett Till) to shine a light on systemic racism in the United States. Young and adult characters are well developed, tension builds slowly and expectantly to a satisfying climax, and the author-s familiarity with the landscape (per an author-s note) is evident in the solid, detailed sense of place. A well-constructed and movingly told story of a thoughtful Black boy making his place in his family and in 1950s America. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)