The Summer The Wind Whispered My Name by Don Locke

Sometimes, authors just have a magical way of writing. A style that transports you into a different, yet similar world. A story-telling art that moves you and lingers after the final page is turned.

That's the kind of writing you'll find in this new release by author Don Locke.

"The Summer The Wind Whispered My Name" had been on my wish list since I discovered it in a browsing search for upcoming releases. I fell in love with his writing in "The Reluctant Journey of David Connors" (this new novel is a prequel to that one), and was eager to see if he could re-create that literary spell.

He can. He did. It is gorgeous story-telling that will take you back in time...back to a time when life was simpler, yet more complicated. Back when innocence was, and yet when it first began to vanish. Back to a time you may long for, and yet be glad has passed.

The time? 1960, and an eventful year in the life of Davy Connors, paperboy extraordinaire. While the summer first blew in the wisps of change, all is steady in young Davy's life.

Or is it? Turmoil begins to erupt in the 'Leave It To Beaver' style household of the Connors. Oldest son and dad no longer see eye to eye on anything, Mom is submissive to the point of vanishing, younger sister Peggy is a real pain (seriously...she drove me NUTS!)...

...and Davy feels the winds of change blowing, but has no idea why or how it will come. Suddenly, his hero father seems slightly tarnished in his eyes, and it comes on suddenly, like a violent gust of wind.

When a family of color moves into his white neighborhood, the winds of change blow with hurricane force. Who will be left standing when they are done? Will Davy's family survive the upheaval?

Can Davy's fledgling faith handle the pressure? What about his friendships? And the suspicious Davy has about his own father...can they possibly be true?

Written with humor and the essence of the time period, Don Locke has created a novel that is true and solid in its message. I encourage you to pick up a copy and share it with a friend or two.

I'm giving "The Summer The Wind Whispered My Name" five out of five bookmarks, with a Whiffle ball as a charm. This novel is laced with charm...a time capsule between the covers, may it bless you as it has me. Except for maybe the booger promise...
:-)!

Happy Reading!

Deena