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Malt Shop Milestones: Vicky’s Victory
Nadine C. Keels
When Vicky is accepted to write for the high school newspaper, she can’t help but feel a little miffed that she’s put on the society and fashion column because she’s a girl. Nonetheless, she’s determined to show the editor that she can write a GREAT article.
As she faces off against sexism and high school boys who are more into her pretty face or brainy reputation than her personality, she starts to fall for a childhood friend (who also happens to be a star football player for their school.)
Vicky’s Victory is a coming of age story modeled after vintage malt shop fiction, but with a key difference: the (fictional) neighborhood of West Hill is a primarily Black neighborhood, reminding the reader that our Black community has always been a large part of US culture – including meeting friends at the local malt shop for a malt and a dance.
I enjoyed Vicky’s feminist determination to prove herself as a writer, and the commentary on Black community & music as well as women’s roles post-WWII.
Nadine C. Keels took the malt shop fiction genre and reclaimed it, featuring a predominantly Black community where there traditionally would have been whitewashing or straight up racism, and emphasizing a feminist message while remaining true to the cute, clean, nostalgic 50s vibes.
Vicky’s Victory is a great fit for teens with an interest in historical fiction, clean romance, Black stories, and feminism.
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Thank you to Nadine C. Keels for the ebook ✨
You can find more information about Vicky’s Victory and the other Malt Shop Milestones books here.
The Midnight Review 