A Summer of Kings, by Han NolanYA, 2006
from Booklist:
Overshadowed by perfect siblings and saddled with a reputation as a slow, stubborn, late bloomer, 14-year-old Esther expects the summer of 1963 to be life-changing. Her hopes are fulfilled when her parents offer a room in their Westchester, New York, mansion to an African American refugee from southern racial violence, whom some call a murderer, others a "victim of prejudice and circumstance." Recently introduced to the militant teachings of Malcolm X, 18-year-old King-Ray Johnson chafes at fraternizing with "white devils," but Esther's dogged overtures eventually result in a tentative, turbulent bond.
I enjoyed this sweet simple story, and was pleased to see Nolan's perspective on Malcolm X's ideas - ideas that rarely come out in a juvenile or young adult setting. I enjoyed watching myself both come to love and hate King-Roy. One of the final scenes is almost earth-shattering in its moment of truth, and I love that Esther 'comes into her own'. While the civil rights movements can bring a variety of emotions to surface, I appreciated that this was simpler, easier to understand. Nolan brings out the intensity of the situation without overwhelming you.
Graded a B.
1 comments:
Just an idea - you ought to have a sort function that lists all the "A" books down to the worst. I can go in and look at the "A through "B+" (which are the only ones I'll try) to find a book.
Post a Comment