07/08/2024
Wilson (author of Kate, the Ghost Dog) captures the pain and truth of racial division in 1960s America in his latest YA novel. 12-year-old Samuel Cole has grown up enjoying his life in a small southern town, where kids swap stories about the bogeyman and the Black community is tight-knit and joyful. When his father, inspired by then-Senator John Kennedy’s impassioned rhetoric of a new frontier, moves the family to an all-White neighborhood in Los Angeles, they discover that such upbeat promises only extended so far. The Coles’s new home is soon scrawled with racist graffiti, Grant Cole’s prized Buick is vandalized, and the family must deliberate and weigh every interaction with their new neighbors. While the Coles make a place for themselves against overwhelming odds, Samuel and his new friend Patsy come face-to-face with a real live bogeyman who is lurking in this seemingly quaint neighborhood.
Wilson’s sharp character studies guide the thrust of the story. He captures the incredulity and childhood innocence of a young Black kid confronting racism for the first time. Sam and his father Grant are real people: their twinned anger and weariness at their situation will resonate with many readers. Still, Wilson manages to keep the story warm and engaging, emphasizing heartfelt moments of connection between the Coles and another family, the Wolfbergs, who bond over jazz and a shared sense of isolation.
Wilson’s writing is fresh and enlivening, and the novel pulses with the talk and culture of the period. Ray Charles is on the turntable and the twist is the latest craze hitting the dance floor. A half-realized plot about a botched kidnapping rather distracts from the otherwise fine period piece that is especially relevant in today’s political climate. The New Frontier will appeal to young readers, but Wilson’s humor and his main character’s distinctive voice will draw in a more seasoned readership as well.
Takeaway: Powerful novel of racial division in 1960s America, bursting with heart.
Comparable Titles: Kekla Magoon’s The Rock and the River, Jas Hammonds’s We Deserve Monuments.
Production grades Cover: A Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A Marketing copy: A
The New Frontier is an essential read. Wayne L. Wilson doesn’t just tell a story; he invites you into it, urging you to witness the literal and metaphorical fires that forge the strength of the human spirit.
—Pacific Book Review
In the arresting historical novel The New Frontier, a boy who's enamored of comic-book feats confronts dark truths and real villains in the suburbs.
—Foreward Clarion Reviews
Libraries seeking fictional examples of racism in America’s history would do well to add The New Frontier to their libraries and recommended reading lists.
—Donavan's Bookshelf Review
A compelling journey of self-discovery and empowerment...Set against the backdrop of societal changes and challenges in the 1960s, the narrative provides a rich historical context that deepens the story's complexity. Samuel's character development is nuanced and relatable, evolving from discomfort in a new neighborhood to becoming a resilient individual. Wilson captures the emotional depth of adolescence with sensitivity, drawing readers into Samuel's internal journey and creating a powerful connection. The engaging writing style and well-balanced pacing immerse readers in Samuel's world, making the setting vivid and the story compelling. Throughout it all, Wilson skillfully addresses themes of empathy and the power of standing up for what is right, while exploring the issues of race, prejudice, and social justice, highlighting the struggles of marginalized communities during a turbulent period in American history. A thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel that offers profound exploration of identity, courage, and the power of empathy.
—The Prairies Book Review
The New Frontier deserves classic status for its ability to charm the reader with heroes everyone can love.
—Feathered Quill Book Reviews
2024-05-04
A first-person coming-of-age tale set in 1961 that follows a preteen and his family as they become the first Black people in an all-white neighborhood.
Inquisitive 12-year-old Samuel Cole and his parents have lived in the same modest cottage in Los Angeles since his birth. Originally from Oklahoma, the couple embraces the idea of the “New Frontier,” a term used by then–presidential nominee John F. Kennedy, and they strategize ways to seek a better life, starting with purchasing a new home. Despite encountering obstacles, a year later they succeed, but that means leaving behind a tight-knit community. Samuel hates how eerily sterile his new neighborhood is: “Everything [is] amazingly clean…[Does] anyone even live here?” His reservations turn out to be well founded; the family members experience racist torments, including the vandalization of their car with a racial slur soon after they move in. In the midst of his new normal, Samuel makes friends with Patsy McGuire, a white girl who eventually helps with uncovering a neighborhood secret. Wilson infuses the story with moments of levity and occasionally charming dialogue, but the writing overall feels dated, and the execution is uneven. The author also ties history into this well-intentioned story, touching on the inner lives of Black people who believed in promised new beginnings during the tail end of the Great Migration.
An accessible but lackluster tribute to Black families who were in constant search of dignity. (publisher’s note) (Historical fiction. 12-14)
