Roi and Me and the Double V: A WWII Story

Description: Best friends Marvel and Roi help out on the WWII homefront, but when racial injustice threatens their community, they must turn to activism for a victory of their own in this empowering middle grade novel.

As WWII rages overseas, best friends track star Marvel and future journalist Roi face injustice much closer to home. They do what they can to support the war effort--growing Victory gardens, collecting scrap--but these contributions don't feel like much of a victory when no one is fighting to protect their freedom. Patriotic Black recruits are turned away from the army, food shortages abound, and the military moves into their neighborhood.

When an industrial developer threatens to destroy the local park where Marvel runs track, this Olympic hopeful fears she'll never make it to the starting line. Galvanized, Marvel and Roi learn about the Double V campaign challenging the irony and hypocrisy of racial inequality: V for Victory Abroad and Victory at Home. With the help of their journalist teacher, can two kids support their community in an activist movement to win the battle against injustice at home?

Rich with historical detail and a convincing voice, Sandra W. Headen's immersive middle grade novel invites readers into the underexplored world of the Black WWII homefront. Roi and Me and the Double V is a story of fighting for dreams, standing up to injustice, and the power of the people--children included.

Review Quotes: Working with supportive adults, compassionate child protagonists credibly move the needle toward change and accountability. Marvel's tenacious energy and Roi's insightful intelligence propel a lively tale that supplies an illuminating look into the lives of Southern Black tweens during WWII.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Fans of old-school classic films like The Sandlot or A League of Their Own will appreciate the need for a designated place for well-being, comradeship, and equity; a highly recommended historical fiction addition to middle grade collections.
--School Library Journal

This story told in the leads' believable first-person voices is rich in period details, introducing lesser-known aspects of history. The cohesion of the neighborhood is striking, and the intergenerational interactions greatly enrich the narrative. A strong story highlighting Black communities' wartime contributions despite the discrimination they faced at home.
--Kirkus Reviews

Compassionate adults help the young characters balance their passions with the unpleasant conflicts arising from war, discrimination, and racism. Headen's coming-of-age narrative focusing on southern Black adolescents during WWII fills a void in the middle-grade historical fiction genre.
--Booklist

Narration alternates between Marvel's and Roi's distinct voices, and the action in the largely school- and sports-centered plot moves quickly. . . . Details about life during wartime and the restrictions of the Jim Crow South paint a vivid picture of the era.
--The Horn Book