Unstoppable Octobia May

By Sharon G. Flake

A curious girl in the 1950s uncovers secrets about race, identity, and possible vampires.

3.5/5 Goodreads · 698 ratings

288 pages

$7.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In the 1950s, ten-year-old Octobia May, with a heart condition and a curious mind, lives in her Auntie's unconventional boarding house. As she questions the world around her, Octobia stumbles upon a mystery involving race, identity, and whispers of vampires. With her community's hidden truths at stake, Octobia's journey challenges societal norms and unearths unsettling secrets. Can she unravel the truth before it's too late?

From the publisher

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

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