Night Fires by George Edward Stanley-OPTIONAL

Stanley, George Edward, Night Fires. Pgs. 190. Language: G, Violence: PG-13, Sexual Content: PG

The year is 1928 and Woodrow Harper and his widowed mother have moved to his father’s hometown of Lawton, Oklahoma. With lack of friends and little chance to make them, Woodrow befriends the black housekeeper’s son, Joshua and the neighbor’s son, Jimmy. He even adopts Jimmy’s father as a father figure to help him adjust to not having a dad. Things, however, are not safe in Lawton. The Ku Klux Klan has come to Lawton and are stirring up trouble between the whites and the blacks. As sentiments become heated and the town begins to divide, Woodrow must choose between his friends. To make matters worse, Senator Crawford, the man Woodrow, adopts as a father figure, is acting suspicious and trying to sway Woodrow to a more segregated view of life. The man is hiding some secret and ugly secrets are revealing themselves all around. What is Senator Crawford hiding? Will Woodrow be able to choose between his best friends?

A historically accurate fiction book filled with adventure, moral decisions, and friendship. The characters are well-developed. The plot is fairly thick and well-done. Readers who like coming-of-age stories, historical fiction, and friendship fiction will enjoy reading this book. EL(4-6), MS. OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Service Librarian, WHI Public Library.