Deschutes Public Library

Mighty inside, by Sundee T. Frazier

eng

illustrations

no index present

fiction

Mighty inside

by Sundee T. Frazier

"Melvin Robinson wants a strong, smooth, He-Man voice that lets him say what he wants, when he wantśђوespecially 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 everywheréђوnot just in the South where a boy his age has been brutally killed by two white men, but also in his own hometown of Spokanéђوis 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 riskśђوto 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" -- Jacket flap

pre adolescent