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The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name
In 1959, eight-year-old Davy Connors leads an idyllic life in his small Midwestern neighborhood. But when a black family moves in to the all-white community, an undercurrent of racism is exposed.
As the issue draws battle lines between friends and family, Davy finds his sympathy for the new family challenged by his father’s bigotry. Can the fragmented community overcome its prejudices and experience true change and healing?
As the issue draws battle lines between friends and family, Davy finds his sympathy for the new family challenged by his father’s bigotry. Can the fragmented community overcome its prejudices and experience true change and healing?
- GenresHistorical
355 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 22, 2008
I don't often give out 5 stars, but I loved this book.
"With hilarious narrative alongside poignant life leesons, Don Locke has captured growing up in the sixties with all its charm as well as its ignorance. Each chapter reminded me of a Wonder Years episode, causing laughter and tears. It saddened me terribly to close the book at the end."
"With hilarious narrative alongside poignant life leesons, Don Locke has captured growing up in the sixties with all its charm as well as its ignorance. Each chapter reminded me of a Wonder Years episode, causing laughter and tears. It saddened me terribly to close the book at the end."
June 5, 2019
Gripping read!
In his novel The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name, Don Locke relives his childhood in a fictional setting. Davy Conners relives a summer in his life that had once been buried. The year was 1960 and the windsd of change came to his neighborhood. As a young boy with a new newspaper route, he had access to everything going on in the neighborhood. When the Jenson's vacant house(which Davy and his friends used as a private playground when no one was looking becomes inhabited by a Negro family, the neighborhood is divided on the issue. This division leaks into private homes, husband against wife, father against children, neighbor against neighbor. Each person has to decide what side of the fence they will sit on. And all will learn what it truly means to "Go and Do thou likewise>" I recommend that this poignant, gripping novel be read by everyone that has access to it. The lessons in this book can most definitely be applied to the 21st century.
In his novel The Summer the Wind Whispered My Name, Don Locke relives his childhood in a fictional setting. Davy Conners relives a summer in his life that had once been buried. The year was 1960 and the windsd of change came to his neighborhood. As a young boy with a new newspaper route, he had access to everything going on in the neighborhood. When the Jenson's vacant house(which Davy and his friends used as a private playground when no one was looking becomes inhabited by a Negro family, the neighborhood is divided on the issue. This division leaks into private homes, husband against wife, father against children, neighbor against neighbor. Each person has to decide what side of the fence they will sit on. And all will learn what it truly means to "Go and Do thou likewise>" I recommend that this poignant, gripping novel be read by everyone that has access to it. The lessons in this book can most definitely be applied to the 21st century.
October 6, 2008
I'm a fan of Don Locke's work! This particular book should be read by every high school student and deemed "required" reading. In my opinion, I believe this is classic literature at its best! Mr. Locke does such a great job of taking you through this story of an average family living in the 1960's. In the beginning, I learned all about the neighborhood dynamics, and then suddenly everything changed. There were a lot of "hate" crimes going on when a black family moved into their neighborhood. In the 1960's there was unfortunately a lot of prejudice. The main character, Davy Connors, had a very hard time understanding this "hate" since he was such a young boy. In the end, LOVE is the message, and it was really precious. I really loved how the book ended though. You will have to pick up this book and read it for yourself! It's an inspiring story!
March 9, 2009
This book was really great. I am trying to be more prudent in my giving of 5's (Rex) so I don't want to say it is amazing....but it was great. This book is written from the point of view of the author recounting the summer he was 9 years old, but with the added wisdom and insight of an adult....very interesting. The story takes place in 1960 in a suburb where everyone wants and tries to "just fit in"....conforming was key. This "perfect" neighborhood is shaken up and the story unfolds when a black family moves into this neighborhood. How people react, what they do, and the realization that everyone has something about them that makes them different, makes for a very interesting book. Part of me wants to give this a 5 star rating, but I am holding back.
April 22, 2010
One of my all-time favorite reads. The author is funny (he's an illustrator and graphic artist for NBC's Jay Leno), relevent, inspiring, and a great story teller. He weaves a story of a 9 year-old boy growing up in 1960...the same timeframe of my youth with an ending that brings together miriads of incidents that occur throughout the book to a final and complete climax. He mentions objects, cliches, habits, and culture relevant to the times. The guy is brilliant and I can't wait to read another of his books.
March 18, 2013
Reactions:
Okay, I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I seriously had my doubts when I received this book. I mean.. it looks like it has the same kind of feel as To Kill a Mocking Bird, and even though that was an okay book, I'm not eager to read a similar story.
This book though, is about intergration and how a little boy witnesses the effects of racism when a black family moves into his neighbourhood. Some parts are kinda sad, but the morals are true and there are certainly some lessons to be learnt.
Okay, I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I seriously had my doubts when I received this book. I mean.. it looks like it has the same kind of feel as To Kill a Mocking Bird, and even though that was an okay book, I'm not eager to read a similar story.
This book though, is about intergration and how a little boy witnesses the effects of racism when a black family moves into his neighbourhood. Some parts are kinda sad, but the morals are true and there are certainly some lessons to be learnt.
September 13, 2008
Don Locke created a wonderful beach read. His laid back writing style greets you like an old friend. You’ll find yourself wandering down your own memory lane. This is a truly enjoyable novel.
Stop by my Beach Reads blog for a chance to win this novel. Drawing is September 30.
Stop by my Beach Reads blog for a chance to win this novel. Drawing is September 30.
August 12, 2009
Really liked this look into racism and society, particularly as a young person (22) who didn't grow up in a racially tense environment, and can't understand such a life. It makes it easier to understand the prevalent mindset of my parents' generation when seen through the eyes of the main character, a preteen enjoying his summer.
May 21, 2009
This book was entertaining, funny at times with some serious issues. It takes you back to the 60s when things were much simpler. To me it felt like somewhere betweeen the movies "Stand by Me" and "The Sandlot". It would make a good summer read.
backburner
August 17, 2008Amazon sent me a free copy of this with my last order. Waiting for Kay's review to see if I want to read this soon or not at all.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews