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Melvin Robinson wants a strong, smooth, He-Man voice that lets him say what he wants, when he wants—especially to his crush Millie Takazawa, and Gary Ratliff, who constantly puts him down. But the thought of starting high school is only
making his stutter worse.
And Melvin's growing awareness that racism is everywhere—not just in the South where a boy his age has been brutally killed by two white men, but also in his own hometown of Spokane—is making him realize that he can't mutely stand by.
His new friend Lenny, a fast-talking, sax-playing Jewish boy who lives above the town's infamous (and segregated) Harlem Club, encourages Melvin to take some risks—to invite Millie to Homecoming and even audition for a local TV variety
show. When they play music together, Melvin almost feels like he's talking, no words required. But there are times when one needs to speak up.
When his moment comes, can Melvin be as mighty on the outside as he actually is on the inside?
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
October 12, 2021 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781705044315
- File size: 196924 KB
- Duration: 06:50:15
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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Kevin R. Free narrates a thought-provoking story that takes place in 1950s Spokane, Washington. Melvin Robinson feels like a dud compared to his talented, popular siblings. Melvin has a lot to say about the murder of Emmett Till and the racism he sees in Spokane, but his embarrassing stutter keeps his words locked inside. Free expertly captures the essence of Melvin's struggle to express himself, straining over difficult sounds and carefully picking his way through the words that come more easily. What could have seemed like mockery is in safe and skilled hands. Melvin's interior monologue is nuanced as he develops a voice of his own and the emotional strength to use it. Listeners will delight in Free's voicing of Melvin's new friend, the endearing and boisterous Lenny Carini. N.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine
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