  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 08/01/2014 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. - Copyright 2014 Booklist. School Library Journal - 09/01/2014 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 - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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