Get ready to embark on an enchanting journey through Washington Park, Chicago with Montgomery “Monty” Carver in Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key, by debut author Tracy Occomy Crowder. Experience this nostalgic adventure with Big Library Read, the world’s largest digital book club.
This Big Library Read novel is available through more than 22,000 libraries around the world, including approximately 90 percent of public libraries in North America, and hundreds of thousands of readers are expected to participate. The program is facilitated by OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for popular ebooks, audiobooks and magazines and creator of the Libby app.
"An engaging novel drawing strength from its rich narrative voice and celebrating Black historical luminaries." —Kirkus Reviews
From November 7-21, Tracy Occomy Crowder’s Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key is available for free as an ebook and audiobook on the Libby app. Library card holders can join thousands of others around the globe in reading the digital book without waitlists or holds and access lesson plans and discussion guides from TeachingBooks.net for facilitating age-appropriate conversations about story writing, cultural representation, and historical fiction. A fabulous family read, Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key promises to captivate readers of all ages with its delightful story of discovery, resilience, and the power of community.
Allow us to set the stage for this heartwarming middle-grade novel: it’s 2008 in Washington Park, an African-American community on Chicago’s South Side, which is the center of the universe that summer. We are introduced to Monty, a ten-year old boy who likes to use the scientific method to prove just about everything. As Monty unravels the origins of a mysterious golden key he and his friends find in their backyard, he discovers the true essence of community, the power of curiosity, and uncovers the rich history and heritage of his Chicago neighborhood. From the legacy of famous Black jockeys to the excitement surrounding Barack Obama’s run for the presidency and the potential arrival of the Olympics in 2016, Monty’s summer adventure becomes an exploration of his community’s past, present, and future.
“As a community leader and new author, I want young readers to walk away with two clear messages, the importance of learning about the rich histories in our neighborhood, especially around Black history and culture, and building our communities,” says Occomy Crowder. “There is a lot developing for Monty in this novel, and I believe many kids can relate to one, two or all aspects of his summer adventure.”
Tracy Occomy Crowder was the recipient of the 2019 New Visions Award for Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key. This award is given annually by Tu Books, an imprint of LEE & LOW BOOKS INC., to a middle grade or young adult novel by an unpublished writer of color or Indigenous/Native writer.
“I felt like it was important to expand the adventure/mystery genre to include more books with Black boys like my son as protagonists,” said Occomy Crowder. “My goal is to write mysteries that involve different periods of Black history and aspects of Black culture as the backdrop for characters who experience the funny little occurrences and tensions of everyday life.”
Tracy Occomy Crowder (she/her) is a community organizer who has worked to address issues of racial equity across Illinois for the past thirty years, particularly in housing and education. In this work, she brought recess back to Chicago Public Schools. As an author, she enjoys creating work steeped in African-American history, culture, struggles, and human foibles as well as share unknown historical facts with humor and everyday experiences. Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key is Tracy’s first middle grade novel.
Legler Regional Library in Chicago, Illinois will be hosting a live event on November 21 from 5-7 PM CDT, with Occomy Crowder attending for a live reading, audience Q&A, and story writing activity from 6-7 PM. Any readers that are interested in attending virtually can register below.
Big Library Read is an international reading program that connects readers around the world with an ebook through public libraries. Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key is the 35th selection of this program which began in 2013 and takes place three times per year.
Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key was published as an ebook by Lee & Low Books and audiobook by Recorded Books. The title can be read without waitlists or holds on all major computers and devices through Libby or libbyapp.com, including iPhone®, iPad® and Android™ phones and tablets. Through Libby, readers can also “send to Kindle®” [U.S. libraries only]. The title will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, and there are no late fees.
Download Libby, use Libby in the browser (libbyapp.com), visit http://xxx.lib.overdrive.com or stop by a local library branch to get started. Montgomery and the Case of the Golden Key is available wherever books are sold, including Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
Find more information about Big Library Read.
About OverDrive
OverDrive is a mission-based company that stands with libraries. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 92,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries with the industry’s largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, video and other content. OverDrive empowers libraries and schools by expanding access for all through tireless industry advocacy and consistent innovation. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading app, Kanopy, the leading video streaming app for libraries and colleges, and TeachingBooks.net, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that enhance literacy outcomes. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. www.overdrive.com
