Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key
by Tracy Occomy Crowder (Author)
Junior Library Guild Selection
New Visions Award Winner, Tu Books
It's 2008, and ten-year-old Montgomery "Monty" Carver is out to find the origin of a golden key found in his Southside Chicago community--which may or may not host the next Olympic games, or supply the next President of the United States, or... have a potential ghost hanging around.
In 2008 Chicago, in the Southside community of Washington Park, Montgomery"Monty" Carver had hoped for the best summer ever! Unfortunately, things aren't going as planned. Monty is struggling to prove to his parents that he's old enough to be without adult supervision--especially after a very embarrassing incident with a metal detector. Man!
So when Monty finds a golden key in Old Lady Jenkins's sunflowers, he decides he's going to unravel the key's mystery all by himself, thank you very much. No parents allowed. Besides, he's ten years old now, and he's mastered the perfectly round 'fro! (It takes a protractor, you see.) Soon Monty's hunt to determine the origin of the key leads him to discover the rich history--like famous Black jockeys!--of his Chicago community, which has been speculating its future since one of their residents, Barack Obama, is running for president and the Olympics might come to town in 2016.
On top of all that speculating, there are rumors going around that a ghost is hanging out behind their apartment building, and that Monty's elementary school may have to close.
So much to solve! Should the Olympics come to Washington Park? What happens if his school closes? Is there really a ghost? And where, oh where, did the key come from anyway? Monty is determined to find out.
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Kirkus Reviews
An engaging novel drawing strength from its rich narrative voice and celebrating Black historical luminaries.
Publishers Weekly
This endearing middle grade debut by Crowder, set in 2008 on the South Side of Chicago, is an ode to community engagement. Montgomery Carver, a tennis enthusiast and bearer of an "all-that" Afro, aspires to make this summer the best ever. But when he sneaks out carrying the metal detector his parents plan to give him for his upcoming 10th birthday--and accidentally breaks it--he is tasked with finding a way to pay them back. Unbeknownst to his parents, Monty uncovered a golden key buried in neighbor Ms. Jenkins's yard. The discovery sends Monty on an investigation into the key's origins, which is punctuated by his doing odd jobs for community members and navigating his neighbors' apprehension and excitement surrounding Chicago's bid to host the Olympics. Throughout his inquiry, he learns of Black horse jockeys, train porters, and more, as well as their connections to the found key, Black history, and his beloved town. Crowder employs Monty's inquisitive and irrepressible first-person narration to rousing effect, making for a spirited novel that encourages curiosity while highlighting a protagonist alongside the neighborhood and history fueling his personal growth. Ages 9-13. (Oct.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.ALA/Booklist
Including heartfelt journal entries and vibrant illustrations from Sorra, this voice-y novel is an unforgettable adventure through a nostalgic decade, showcasing the times right before they were about to change.
Review quotes
"Tu Books' New Visions Award winner Crowder's debut depicts a vibrant community, showcasing the importance of civic responsibility and the power of grassroots organization. The narrative's first-person perspective captures Monty's infinite curiosity and endearing sense of wonder. An engaging novel drawing strength from its rich narrative voice and celebrating Black historical luminaries." — Kirkus Reviews
TRACY OCCOMY CROWDER is an avid mystery lover and community organizer. She has worked to address issues of racial equity across Illinois for the past thirty years, particularly in education, economic security, and housing. In this work, she supported parents to bring recess back to Chicago Public Schools.As an author, she enjoys creating work steeped in Black history, culture, and struggles--blending unknown historical facts with humor and everyday experiences.This is Tracy's first middle grade novel. She can be found at blackteacupmysteries.com.
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
JUV016190 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | United States - 21st Century
Mystery and detective stories
Detective and mystery fiction
Chicago (Ill.)
Communities
Locks and keys
Novels
